In Times of Stress

Bitter or Better

In a way, stress must be a good thing. It doesn't take much to realize that without stress we're dead. Stress often challenges us to be creative, to be expressive with our bodies and voices, and even to laugh a lot. Dr. Esther Sternberg notes that in a society where “flight or fight” responses have become all pervasive we need to use or manage our stress optimally. My reaction to that was to think of how someone maintains a well-running car. All equipment is oiled and performs smoothly, temperature regulators are giving accurate readings, and rust is kept at an absolute minimum. Now while cars are not human beings yet it does take effort (and money) to keep our cars running optimally and likewise to keep our emotional energies / engines running evenly. As Sternberg points out, stressors come from virtually every area of life: relationships, finances, health, career, safety issues, and home. So for example, say I get stressed when my wife makes a change of plans without consulting me, or goes out and purchases a car or a vacuum cleaner without any forewarning, and I react by feeling helpless and dependent as others make decisions for me, and I internalize all this anger until, like my car, the pressure builds and I blow a gasket. Once I let the emotional engine cool I can start some maintenance and look for some options other than rage on how to respond differently to that stress, using reason and compassion - for both her and myself. This kind of outcome provides insight for the next stressor and the strength to then choose better over bitter.

Puppet or Puppeteer

Learn new approaches to different situations

It was a joy to watch my wife manipulate a glove on her hand with an attached face and hat in front of some kids. As the puppet moved and talked, the children would appear wide-eyed and completely taken up by the magic of it all.

Welcome to the wonderful world of puppets! Virtually every living creature seems to be represented by a puppet of one kind or another. Animals, people, characters, storytellers, plush, marionettes, theatre, monster, Biblical, even retired puppets like me are making their debut. Puppets are said to be “extensions of oneself and motivated by the need to explain, explore, embrace or critique the human condition”.

This draws me to an area of inward learning and change not exactly like the physical manipulation using puppet strings, etc., but one which has the potential to empower individuals to achieve a measure of personal creativity and and sense of control. Psychodrama is a milieu in which participants can communicate and simultaneously explore inward conflicts through acting out emotions and reactions with others on a stage. It is said that opportunities to engage in psychodrama challenge participants to learn new approaches to different situations. It's similar to role playing and facilitates opposing roles of both puppet and puppeteer. Now take the director's chair and watch this short video which puts a hilarious twist on the art of ventriloquism.

Nutrition for the Engine,

And a world of difference since childhood

My friend Les said to me how much better he felt after eating broccoli. It was a statement as rare as the vegetable is spelled. Why would a simple vegetable become an important part of a conversation? When you read about what this "little green giant" does you'll know why.

1. Broccoli is loaded with Vitamins C, A, K, folate, fibre, omega-3 fatty acids which are great for the heart. You can stir-fry, steam, or microwave it with a little water to preserve its compounds.

2. Similar to cabbage , cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, broccoli regulates enzymes that fight cancer cells. Five servings of fruit and veggies per day are recommended.

3. Eat broccoli, chicken, and tomatoes in combination and you've got a sulforphane, selenium, and lycopene cancer fighting combo known as a weapon and antioxidant. It's a lot better than taking supplements.

4. Broccoli in soup with your meal cuts calories.

5. My next project is to see how broccoli affects my memory, especially after reading that older women who eat green leafy vegetables experience less cognitive decline than those who eat little or none.

Now why does broccoli taste so much better than when I was a kid?

Extracted from "5 Essential Reasons to Eat Broccoli" NewsMax Health

Thank you for your comments. I am always pleased to respond to your emails.

Contact us

407-4901 Buckley Avenue
Niagara Falls ON L2E 7G8
905-371-1813
website|email

Music & Reminiscence
With Quality of Life in Mind

Some people stay so far in the past that the future is gone before they get there.

Unsubscribe / Subscribe

We thank our sponsors.