Joe: “I kissed a perfect 10, but there was a problem.”
Pete: “What was that, Joe?”
Joe: “The mirror was really cold on my lips.”
Month: April 2022
🍎 Today’s Health Tip ~ 3 Ways to Make a Baked Potato a Healthy Choice for Dinner
Amping up Your Baked Potato
Vegetarian Chili – Packed with fiber and protein, vegetarian chili on a baked potato can make for a satisfying meal. Make your own from fresh ingredients rather than using canned chili for the healthiest result. Much healthier than beef, 1 cup of kidney beans provides over 13 grams of protein as well as over 13 grams of fiber. The tomato, pepper and onions, and any other veggies you decide to add, will supply abundant phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals for minimal calories.
Mexican-Style – Black beans, salsa and guacamole are delicious as well as nutritious toppings for a baked potato. Black beans are loaded with antioxidants, fiber and protein. Salsa is low in calories and high in antioxidants. Guacamole supplies heart-healthy fats along with fiber, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin and beta-carotene. Consuming high-fiber foods may help reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Antioxidants help prevent free radical damage that can lead to cancer and other diseases.
Hummus – Not just for dipping carrots and crackers, hummus can make a flavorful dressing for a baked potato. You can quickly and easily make hummus in a food processor with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and spices, or you can purchase it pre-made at the store — but look out for extra fat and sodium in store-bought hummus. Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein and fiber, while the tahini — sesame seed paste — offers healthful fats. Spoon a few dollops on your potato in place of sour cream.
🌾 Today’s Poem ~ Serenade
Serenade
Djuna Barnes
Three paces down the shore, low sounds the lute,
The better that my longing you may know;
I’m not asking you to come,
But—can’t you go?Three words, “I love you,” and the whole is said—
The greatness of it throbs from sun to sun;
I’m not asking you to walk,
But—can’t you run?Three paces in the moonlight’s glow I stand,
And here within the twilight beats my heart.
I’m not asking you to finish,
But—to start.
💡 Something to Think About
When I engage with others, I listen to their stories. They tell me about experiences I’ll never have. I listen to opinions that never entered my mind. I listen to stories of love, tragedies, and dreams broken or made. When we take the time to listen to another’s stories, we learn, new ideas come to mind, and we acquire a deep compassion for a person whose journey was far different from ours.
🌞 Today’s Inspiration ~ What are Your Rules?
“Some rules are nothing but old habits that people are afraid to change.” ~ Therese Anne Fowler
👊 Today’s Power Thought ~ Fan the Flames
Is it time to ignite the flame to fire your passions? It takes heaps of courage to go all in. Once you do, everything changes, the flames spread and grow stronger. Go on, light the fire, we all need your passion and gifts.
👍 Today’s Good Word ~ Thoughtful
Thoughtful – Def: (1) kind and always thinking about how you can help other people. (2) quiet because you are thinking about something
Thoughtful folks remember important days like birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions. They recognize and acknowledge the talents in others. They make other people feel better. It’s not easy to be thoughtful in a fast paced world. One becomes thoughtful by quieting the noise and chatter that constantly bombards us. They reflect, think, and weigh what they hear and learn before offering opinions. We need more thoughtful people in all parts of society.
🤗 A Better Life ~ Getting Past the Tough Times
Life can be tough. The tough moments are borne more easily when we have a special friend or partner whose strength and encouragement bolsters and supports us. Perhaps today, you can be that special friend or partner and be the wings under his/her wings.
💡 Something to Think About
I know folks who seek happiness in the past. I also know folks who seek happiness in the future. Both choices are as illusive as a mirage in the desert. Happiness is now, this moment, in the place I find myself. Happiness doesn’t just happen. It happens in a happiness nurtured environment. And, in most cases, it happens through the interaction with others.
👊 Today’s Power Thought ~ Are Outdate Myths Holding You Back?
Change is woven through the fabric of life. Don’t let outdated myths or beliefs hold you back. My mom believed tossing two quarters in the skillet when she was sautéing mushrooms my dad picked could detect if the mushrooms were poisonous if the coins turned black. She believed this false myth as long as my dad picked mushrooms. Fortunately, he knew what he was doing. Test everything. Question everything. Always seek the truth.
