Month: December 2023

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud ~ A Poem by William Wordsworth

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I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

William Wordsworth

I WANDERED lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed–and gazed–but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Source


Today’s Inspiring Quote – Never Quit, Try One More Time

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“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas A. Edison

What is Carb Cycling & Is It As Healthy as the Mediterranean Diet?

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Carb cycling is a dietary approach where you alternate between high and low carbohydrate intake on different days or weeks. It’s often used by athletes and bodybuilders to maximize physical performance, manage weight, or overcome a weight loss plateau. The idea is to time carbohydrate intake to when it’s most needed, such as on days of high physical activity, while reducing carbs on days with less or no exercise.

The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, is a heart-healthy eating plan based on typical foods and recipes of Mediterranean-style cooking. It’s rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and lean protein, and it’s known for its benefits in reducing the risk of heart disease and improving overall health.

Comparing carb cycling to the Mediterranean diet:1.

Comparing carb cycling to the Mediterranean diet:

1. Purpose: Carb cycling is more focused on physical performance and weight management, while the Mediterranean diet is aimed at overall health and longevity.

2. Flexibility: Carb cycling requires strict monitoring of carbohydrate intake, making it less flexible than the Mediterranean diet.

3. Nutritional Balance: The Mediterranean diet is generally considered more balanced, offering a wider variety of nutrients from different food groups.

4. Long-Term Sustainability: The Mediterranean diet is often considered more sustainable and easier to follow in the long term compared to the more regimented approach of carb cycling.

5. Health Benefits: While both can be healthy, the Mediterranean diet has more robust evidence supporting its long-term health benefits, especially for heart health.

Source: ChatGPT

Episode 14: Journey from Grief to Healing, The Feeling Of Emptiness Overwhelmed Me

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In Episode 14 of my podcast, Journey from Grief to Healing, M asks me what I am feeling. She makes the distinction between how I feel and what I feel. It took me a while to process my grieving feelings. I described Babe’s death as an emptiness that could never be filled. M helps me to understand why the feeling emptiness accompanies grieving.
You can listen to the podcast on any podcast venue or you can click the following link.
https://raycalabrese.podbean.com/e/episode-15-the-feeling-of-emptiness-overwhelmed-me/

Thinking Out Loud:

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“For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

NOTE: The new year is will be here in a few days. It offers 366 days (2024 is a leap year) of adventures. Will you choose to be an adventurer or will you chose to watch life pass by? Age doesn’t matter. Adventures await us. Now is the time to start dreaming of the adventures you want to take. Adventures come in all sizes and shapes. No two adventures are exactly alike. Think of an adventure as experiencing life differently than you’ve been experiencing it. Sometimes life thrusts an adventure upon us. Other times, we can choose to explore new and exciting adventures. Yes, there still are so many things each of us has never seen.

Today’s Inspiring Photo: Hope Endures

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It’s Time to Exercise Your Brain – Take the Anagram Challenge 

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Today’s mind sharpening anagram is a two or three word phrase. Can you unscramble the anagram to discover the two or three word phrase? It’s time to exercise your brain! 

Today’s Anagram:    

QUIZ START

Today’s Inspiring Quote: One Who Lights the Way

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I need someone who believes that the sun will rise again but who does not fear my darkness. Someone who can point out the rocks in my way without making me a child by carrying me. Someone who can stand in thunder and watch the lightning and believe in a rainbow.

Joe Mahoney

Love  ~ A Poem by Czeslaw Milosz

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Love 

Czeslaw Milosz

Love means to learn to look at yourself
The way one looks at distant things
For you are only one thing among many.
And whoever sees that way heals his heart,
Without knowing it, from various ills—
A bird and a tree say to him: Friend.

Then he wants to use himself and things
So that they stand in the glow of ripeness.
It doesn’t matter whether he knows what he serves:
Who serves best doesn’t always understand.

Source

5 Strategies to Prevent UTI

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Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) can be uncomfortable and sometimes serious, but there are several strategies that can help prevent them. Here are five effective ways:

  1. Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, helps to dilute urine and ensures that you’ll urinate more frequently. This allows bacteria to be flushed from your urinary tract before an infection can begin.
  2. Practice Good Hygiene: For women, wiping from front to back after using the bathroom can help prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra. For both men and women, keeping the genital area clean is also important.
  3. Urinate After Intercourse: Urinating soon after sex helps to flush out bacteria that may have entered the urethra during intercourse.
  4. Avoid Irritating Feminine Products: Using certain products such as deodorant sprays, douches, and powders in the genital area can irritate the urethra. Staying clear of these can help reduce the risk of UTIs.
  5. Change Your Birth Control Method: Some forms of birth control, particularly diaphragms and spermicidal agents, are associated with a higher risk of UTIs. If you experience recurrent UTIs and use one of these methods, you might want to discuss other options with your healthcare provider.

It’s important to note that while these measures can reduce the risk of UTIs, they do not guarantee prevention. If you suspect that you have a UTI, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider for appropriate treatment.

Source: ChatGPT

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