“The more you know yourself, the more patience you have for what you see in others.”
~ Erik Erikson
Month: June 2020
✒️ Writers’ Wisdom ~ The Writing Craft
“The most crucial thing is to learn the craft: how to string sentences together, how to make your dialogue sound like real people, how to properly pace a story, how to develop interesting characters.”
~ Stephen Coonts
👊 Today’s Power Thought ~ Go to the Edge
At the edge, one can become detached from the chaos in the middle. Thinking becomes clearer. Insights arise.
🍎 Today’s Health Tip ~ Muscle Cramps Bothering You?
Send Cramps Packing
Muscle cramps happen when your muscles tense up and you can’t relax them. While painful, usually you can treat them yourself. Exercise, dehydration, and menstruation are common causes. One way to stop cramps is to stretch or massage your muscles and to eat enough of these key nutrients: potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. You probably know that bananas are a good source of potassium. But they’ll also give you magnesium and calcium. That’s three out of four nutrients you need to ease muscle cramps tucked under that yellow peel. Avocados, melons, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds and dark leafy greens are other foods that will help you to send cramps packing.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Have a News Free Day
A great diet, let go of the news (print or electronic media for a day). Can’t do it? Cut back to a few minutes early on and let it go.
Other Tips:
Hang out with upbeat folks.
Watch shows that will make you laugh.
Listen to music that makes your feet want to dance.
Today’s Smile 😃
Did you hear about the guy who got hit in the head with a can of soda?
He was lucky it was a soft drink.
🌾 Today’s Poem ~ A Poem of Faith
A Poem of Faith
Paul Dunbar
I think that though the clouds be dark,
That though the waves dash o’er the bark,
Yet after while the light will come,
And in calm waters safe at home
The bark will anchor.
Weep not, my sad-eyed, gray-robed maid,
Because your fairest blossoms fade,
That sorrow still o’erruns your cup,
And even though you root them up,
The weeds grow ranker.
For after while your tears shall cease,
And sorrow shall give way to peace;
The flowers shall bloom, the weeds shall die,
And in that faith seen, by and by
Thy woes shall perish.
Smile at old Fortune’s adverse tide,
Smile when the scoffers sneer and chide.
Oh, not for you the gems that pale,
And not for you the flowers that fail;
Let this thought cherish:
That after while the clouds will part,
And then with joy the waiting heart
Shall feel the light come stealing in,
That drives away the cloud of sin
And breaks its power.
And you shall burst your chrysalis,
And wing away to realms of bliss,
Untrammelled, pure, divinely free,
Above all earth’s anxiety
From that same hour.
🍎 Today’s Health Tip ~ Want to Clear a Busy Mind?
Here’s A Simple Technique to Calm the Mind
Step 1: Place the index finger of one hand on the outside of the pinky finger on your other hand. As you breathe in, trace up to the tip of your pinky, and as you breathe out, trace down the inside of your pinky.
Step 2: On your next inhale, trace up the outside of your ring finger, and on the exhale, trace down the inside of your ring finger.
Step 3: Inhale and trace up the outside of your middle finger; exhale and trace down the inside of your middle finger.
Step 4: Continue finger by finger until you’ve traced your entire hand.
Step 5: Reverse the process and trace from your thumb back to your pinky.
🌾 Today’s Poem ~ The Light of Stars
The Light of Stars
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The night is come, but not too soon; And sinking silently, All silently, the little moon Drops down behind the sky.
There is no light in earth or heaven But the cold light of stars; And the first watch of night is given To the red planet Mars.
Is it the tender star of love? The star of love and dreams? O no! from that blue tent above, A hero's armor gleams.
And earnest thoughts within me rise, When I behold afar, Suspended in the evening skies, The shield of that red star.
O star of strength! I see thee stand And smile upon my pain; Thou beckonest with thy mailed hand, And I am strong again.
Within my breast there is no light But the cold light of stars; I give the first watch of the night To the red planet Mars.
The star of the unconquered will, He rises in my breast, Serene, and resolute, and still, And calm, and self-possessed.
And thou, too, whosoe'er thou art, That readest this brief psalm, As one by one thy hopes depart, Be resolute and calm.
O fear not in a world like this, And thou shalt know erelong, Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong.
👊 Today’s Power Thought ~ Keep on Going
This morning I went to the gym (I’m there 6 days a week). A friend walks in and says, “Ray, do you live here?”
I answered, “If I’m not going, I’m not growing.”
Something to think about. Have a great day.
