In the song, MacArthur’s Park by Richard Harris, the lyrics read in part, “Someone left the cake out in the rain/I don’t think that I can take it/‘Cause it took so long to bake it/And I’ll never have that recipe again.” That’s the way it is with relationships if we don’t work at them each day. Relationships are growing or decaying, they are never static. Here’s hoping you don’t leave the cake out in the rain. Work the relationship every day.
Month: December 2022
Today’s Poem ~ Romance
Romance
Edgar Allan Poe
Romance, who loves to nod and sing
With drowsy head and folded wing
Among the green leaves as they shake
Far down within some shadowy lake,
To me a painted paroquet
Hath been—most familiar bird—
Taught me my alphabet to say,
To lisp my very earliest word
While in the wild wood I did lie,
A child—with a most knowing eye.Of late, eternal condor years
So shake the very Heaven on high
With tumult as they thunder by,
I have no time for idle cares
Through gazing on the unquiet sky;
And when an hour with calmer wings
Its down upon my spirit flings,
That little time with lyre and rhyme
To while away—forbidden things—
My heart would feel to be a crime
Unless it trembled with the strings.
With drowsy head and folded wing
Among the green leaves as they shake
Far down within some shadowy lake,
To me a painted paroquet
Hath been—most familiar bird—
Taught me my alphabet to say,
To lisp my very earliest word
While in the wild wood I did lie,
A child—with a most knowing eye.Of late, eternal condor years
So shake the very Heaven on high
With tumult as they thunder by,
I have no time for idle cares
Through gazing on the unquiet sky;
And when an hour with calmer wings
Its down upon my spirit flings,
That little time with lyre and rhyme
To while away—forbidden things—
My heart would feel to be a crime
Unless it trembled with the strings.
Today’s Health Tip ~ Want Healthy Skin?
Tips for Great Skin
If you don’t look after your skin, you can become dry and age prematurely; on the other hand, regular skin care like moisturizing and exfoliating and occasional skin treatments can maintain a youthful appearance and ensure that you have healthy-looking skin throughout the year.
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- Moisturize your skin. When you don’t moisturize your skin, it becomes dry or oily, which leads to skin irritation, acne, wrinkles, and more; on the other hand, moisturizing daily gives you skin that is smooth, shiny, and healthy. Before you moisturize, there are a few things you need to know for the best results.
- Avoid soap on your face. Conventional soaps are made from fat or oils with alkali elements that strip vital oils from the skin and obliterate healthy bacteria. Avoid using soap on your face in the shower; instead, use oil cleansing products, exfoliating treatments, or natural scrubs that support healthier skin.
- Wear sunscreen. There might be low light levels in winter, but the sun’s UV radiation is still impacting the skin’s tissue; wearing sunscreen is the best way to protect your skin from the harmful rays that age your skin prematurely and cause wrinkles to form. Wear sunscreen when you leave the house.
- Consider skin treatments. Consider a skin treatment every now and then. Skin treatments can nourish your skin, remove blemishes and dead skin cells, and stimulate the growth of new collagen and elastin to firm up your skin, remove wrinkles and stay youthful.
- Avoid foods that harm the skin. Avoid processed meat, alcohol, fatty meats, fast foods and sugary drinks and foods.
Today’s Joke
Joe: “I’m really into astronomy.”
Pete: “How’s it going?”
Joe: “Everything is looking up.”
What if I gave thanks for my food each time I ate?
“Before eating, always take time to thank the food”.(Arapaho wisdom). What if I gave thanks for my food each time I ate? Each meal is a gift. It is the product of farmers or ranchers. The workers on the farms and ranches. It is brought to us by men and women driving trucks. It’s processed, checked for safety, and packaged. Our food comes to our markets where we shop. There are thousands of people who have a hand in each of our meals. Without them, we’d go hungry. Yes, it is good to give thanks for the food and all who made each meal possible.
Today’s Inspiration ~ Awareness of What Lies Within
“The scariest monsters are the ones that lurk within our souls.” ~ Edgar Allan Poe
Today’s Health Tip ~ What Are Smart Foods for Quick Nutrition?
Smart Foods for Quick Nutrition
Some foods can give your brain or health a boost. Weave them into your day, beginning with a good breakfast of oatmeal with blueberries. Try ending it with a dinner of salmon and vegetables.
Healthy Nutritious Snacks
Healthy grab-and-go snacks include:
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- Fruit
- Nuts
- Granola bars
Healthy Food Substitutions
Try to substitute unhealthy food with healthier food. You won’t go without, but you will be eating something to help boost your brain.
| Instead of This | Try This |
|---|---|
| Refined grains (white bread, white rice) | Whole grains (whole grain bread, brown rice) |
| Fried food (french fries, fried chicken) | Grilled or baked foods (baked potato, grilled chicken) |
| Baked goods, sweets, specialty desserts | Fruit |
| Whole milk | Low-fat or skim milk, soy milk |
| Sugar-sweetened drinks | Water or seltzer |
Today’s Joke
Joe: “My boss said I intimidate my co-workers.”
Pete: “What did you say?”
Joe: “I just stared at him until he turned away.”
Think About It
Some decisions are more difficult than others. When confronted with a difficult decision we often try to weigh all the choices. While we’re weighing the choices, we feel our stomach being tied into knots. Whoever is tying the knots in our stomach is pulling the knots tighter the longer we delay in making our decision. Once we decide, the weather clears and the road is wide open for us. What is the best decision? I’ve always felt the answer resides in my stomach. If every choice doesn’t satisfy my stomach, I’ve learned once I choose and force myself not to look back, it always works out. It has for me.
A Better Life ~ It’s All About Today
Don’t let your yesterdays grab hold of today. Today is new. Told is filled with promise.
Today offers the hope of something special.
