Winter is fast approaching. Nights will be their longest. But hope beacons from the lights on our Christmas tree. The evergreen symbolizes eternity. But we do not want our old plastic tree to sit in a landfill forever either. For this reason, artificial trees are not environmentally friendly. In addition to this, syntheitc trees are made from petroleoum-based PVC.
To have a truly green Christmas, select a live, uncut tree that can be replanted. If this is not feasible, select a real tree cut from a tree farm. As they grow they release oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. When the season is over it can be turned into mulch. Do not put tinsel or artificail snow on it.
“In everything natural there is something marvelous.” Aristotle
Posted by: Alexandra Casanova / Category: Inspiration
“Youthfulness is not determined by age. It is determined by one’s life force. One who possesses hope is forever young. One who continually advances is forever beautiful”.
Daisaku Ikeda
“Life loses its dynamism from the moment we lose the passion with which to live it. No matter what our age, we cannot afford to let the flame within our heart grow dim. We do not become unhappy because we grow old. We become unhappy only when we grow ever more unwilling to change as we age”.
‘Tis the season to be merry. Consuming garlic is a great way to increase one’s mood. Did you know that garlic stimulates testosterone, the male hormone that helps build muscle and stimulate sexual desire? It works wonders for females as well. The truth is our bodies are constantly being bombarded with chemicals that act like the female hormone estrogen. These chemicals get leached into foods stored in plastic containers. Even some canned food items are lined with plastic! In addition to this, a lot of processed foods contain soy products. Soy can also act like estrogen. This is creating a metabolic problem for men and women alike. Here is my suggestion: eat whole, non-processed, organic foods.
Garlic has also been shown to have powerful antimicrobial and antiviral properties. In other words, this might be another step you can take to ward off that winter illness. Here is an easy way to get it into your diet. Peel a clove or two of garlic. Place it in a ceramic bowl with some olive oil and a dash of salt. Heat it in the microwave for about thirty seconds, or until it becomes soft. Spread it on some whole grain toast or eat it on its own.
So haul out the garlic if you want to spice up your life and perk up your immune system.
When I was a kid, I enjoyed the Jungle Jim Movies starring Johnny Weissmuller. I actually saw them when they were first made, and I saw them in the movie theaters that had “kiddie matinees.”
Then, I saw a re-release of “Tarzan the Ape Man” (made in 1932). I thought it was absolutely fantastic. I did not know that the actor who played Tarzan was the young Johnny Weissmuller.
The Tarzan I was used to was Lex Barker. Be that as it may I have seen all the Tarzan movies through the years. Do you know what stays with me beyond Tarzan as just another action hero, and what may have contributed to the long-lasting appeal of this character?
Tarzan protected the jungle from destruction by outsiders. He especially protected the elephants from ivory hunters. He was really an environmentalist and way ahead of his time. Boy, do we need him today!
Have you seen the 1933 science fiction movie “The Invisible Man” recently? Remember it starred the great character actor Claude Rains as the “Invisible One.” It may be more than just an entertaining movie with clever special effects for its time.
Perhaps, people who have felt ignored by society or somehow apart from society can relate to the invisible one since they are treated as if they are not there. It is ironically sad to think the character is visible only when he has died.
Of course not! You know that asbestos is a fibrous mineral that can get into the air and damage your lungs.It was placed in buildings to prevent the spread of fires – and very effective at doing so.PBDE’s are also effective at preventing the spread of fires. They are a class of fire retardants that are used in everything from baby clothing to carpeting.But did you know that it is also being detected in the blood of whales? The chemicals are prevalent enough in whales that they are experiencing breast cancer. Even worse, chemicals like those found in flame retardants are getting into the food chain.They are everywhere. It is time to get the word out about these harmful chemicals and start working to find a safe alternative.
Lately have you stopped to smell the roses?This morning I was driving to work and the sky was still dark.As the minutes passed the sky became pink and blue. I thought to myself, “It looks like cotton candy.” I have never seen the sky so colorful, but then again, every morning I am usually anxious and worried about being late for work. It has become a challenge to step away from life and inhale the scenery.
So now, for just a minute, I think about my favorite flower, and although I love roses and their sweet smell; my favorite flower is the lotus.The lotus represents the immense power of the human spirit.It grows stronger and more beautiful in muddy water.
The Earth, as I sit in front of my synthetic computer, is becoming submerged in man-made mud. It is my belief that the Earth, just like the flower it grows, will emerge more radiant and more beautiful. But how? I want to be the one to make a significant change, but I feel too helpless, too poor, and too insignificant to make any sort of progress. This should not be an excuse. The least I can do is show appreciation- afterall, appreciation doesn’t cost a thing.
It saddens me that we do not stop ourselves enough to think about our favorite flower, or listen to the birds chirping in the morning. They sing for anyone who is willing to listen.When was the last time you felt the air tickle your skin?
I cannot believe that in my short time on Earth I can afford to forget to do such things. I have forgotten to stop and smell the roses; therefore I have abandoned my earth. It has never abandoned me. So, for the sake of my home I promise to stop and smell the roses. Tomorrow morning I will look up and say, “It is cotton candy that looks like the sky.”
Saturday, March 28th is world-wide Earth Hour. Earth Hour is when, for one hour, people all over the world will be shutting off their lights. It started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. It has reached over 35 countries! We prompt you to turn off your lights between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 28th.
A lot of people make the popular New Year’s resolution to lose weight. This can be a pretty big undertaking for some people. By this time of the year some folks have already given up.
Try taking small steps to attain this goal. For example, try consuming at least one serving of green vegetables a day. Vegetables like kale, chard, collard greens, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts offer a lot of nutrients and fiber. Prepare these foods steamed or raw. Fresh organic is best, but plain frozen veggies are good too. These vegetables may be topped with a teaspoon or two of olive oil. This monounsaturated fat is good for one’s heart and helps the body absorb the vitamins and minerals offered by these greens.
Each time you attain this goal make a note of it-in a journal, or on a calendar. It takes about three weeks for your mind and body to make a change. After that time it should come more naturally. Then, make another small dietary change while maintaining the first. For example, you might want to make at least half of your grains in your diet whole, as suggested by the government’s food pyramid. Whole grain foods include, whole-wheat pasta, quinoa and steal cut oatmeal. Also, consider eliminating things from your diet like sweetened beverages.
Continue making small positive changes to your diet and before you know it you will be on the right path towards your goal. Live long and healthy Earthlings.
“The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” - Lao Tzu
