Write as precisely and as lucidly and as richly as you can about what you find truly mysterious and irreducible about human experience, and not obscurely about what will prove to be received opinion or cliché once the reader figures out your stylistic conceit. There’s all the difference in the world between mystery and mystification. ~ Paul Harding
Month: July 2019
The Song of Hiawatha ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Excerpt from "The Song of Hiawatha"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"O my children! my poor children!
Listen to the words of wisdom,
Listen to the words of warning,
From the lips of the Great Spirit,
From the Master of Life, who made you!
"I have given you lands to hunt in,
I have given you streams to fish in,
I have given you bear and bison,
I have given you roe and reindeer,
I have given you brant and beaver,
Filled the marshes full of wild-fowl,
Filled the rivers full of fishes:
Why then are you not contented?
Why then will you hunt each other?
"I am weary of your quarrels,
Weary of your wars and bloodshed,
Weary of your prayers for vengeance,
Of your wranglings and dissensions;
All your strength is in your union,
All your danger is in discord;
Therefore be at peace henceforward,
And as brothers live together.
Today’s Reflection: Patience
Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it. ~ Tagore
Sleep Hack: Get the ZZZZ’s to Remember
Not only, for example, do “you need sleep after learning to essentially hit the save button on those new memories so that you don’t forget,” you also “need sleep before learning to actually prepare your brain, almost like a dry sponge ready to initially soak up new information.”
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Stress Hack: Chew Gum
For a super easy and quick stress reliever, try chewing gum. One study showed that people who chewed gum had a greater sense of wellbeing and lower stress . One possible explanation is that chewing gum causes brain waves similar to those of relaxed people. Another is that chewing gum promotes blood flow to your brain. Additionally, one recent study found that stress relief was greatest when people chewed more strongly.
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Longevity Tip: If You Think You’re Old, You’re Old
According to Deepak Chopra, “While the body appears to be material, it is really a field of energy and intelligence that is inextricably connected to the mind. We now know that what used to be considered the “normal” experience of aging – a progressive descent into physical and mental incapacity—is in large part a conditioned response. The mind influences every cell in the body and therefore human aging is fluid and changeable. It can speed up, slow down, and even reverse itself.” Our health and life expectancy are not predetermined when we are born. We have to take action and make changes in order to further our longevity.
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Health Hack: Healthy Foods for Healthy Eyes
The same foods that are protective of blood vessels in your heart are also good for those in your eyes. Eat plenty of whole foods including grains, dark leafy greens, and citrus fruits. Nutrients like zinc, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are especially protective for your eyesight. They help ward off age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or slow its progression if you already have it. Zinc-rich foods include oysters, poultry, and lean meat. Vegetarian sources of zinc include beans, peanuts, and peas. Beta-carotene is found in brightly-colored yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. Your body turns into vitamin A that benefits eyesight. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in leafy greens like kale, spinach, and collard greens. Lower amounts of these nutrients are found in corn, green peas, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and eggs.
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Writers Wisdom: Steinbeck on Dialogue
If you are using dialogue—say it aloud as you write it. Only then will it have the sound of speech. ~ John Steinbeck
Time ~ Henry Van Dyke
Time
Henry Van Dyke
Time is
Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice;
But for those who Love,
Time is not
Today’s Reflection: Doing Good
Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. ~ Desmond Tutu
