Month: August 2024

Today’s Poem: Touched by an Angel by Maya Angelou

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Touched by an Angel

Maya Angelou

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

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Health Facts: Is It Time to Destress?

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Here are two little-known but important health facts about stress:

1. Chronic Stress Can Alter Your Brain Structure:

Chronic stress can lead to long-term changes in the brain. Prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol can shrink the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. At the same time, it can enlarge the amygdala, which is involved in emotional responses, particularly fear and anxiety. These changes can make it more difficult to manage stress effectively and can contribute to a cycle of ongoing stress and anxiety.

2. Stress Can Affect Your Gut Health:

The gut-brain axis is a complex communication network that links your emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. Stress can disrupt this axis, leading to a variety of gastrointestinal issues. Chronic stress can alter gut microbiota composition, leading to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive disorders. This disruption can also affect your immune system, as a significant portion of immune function is located in the gut.

Source: ChatGPT

Today’s Joke: Joe’s Addicted

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Joe: “I’m addicted to brake fluid.”

Pete: “That’s terrible. Are you getting help?”

Joe: “It’s not bad, realy. I can stop any time.”

Today’s Thought: The Interdependence of Humanity

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We depend on each other. That’s the way life is. The moment I get in my car I’m depending on those on the same roads as me to drive safely. They are depending on me as well. When I go to the supermarket, I am depending on farmers, ranchers, the folks who pick and pack the crops so they reach the markets. I’m dependent on those who provide electricity, water, sewerage, and make the Internet work to enhance the quality of my life. You get the idea. We’re interdependent. Our lives and livelihood share a mutually beneficial connection. When we seek ways to work together, everyone benefits.

Brain Teaser Alert: Can You Decode This Anagram?    

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Welcome to our daily anagram challenge! Test your word-solving skills with today’s anagram puzzle. Unscramble the letters to reveal the hidden word or phrase, and submit your answer to see if you’re correct. Happy puzzling!

Today’s Anagram:  

QUIZ START

Today’s Quote: Never Quit – Never Give Up!

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Night never had the last word. The dawn is always invincible. ~ Hugh B. Brown

Today’s Poem: Dawn Song by George William A. E. Russell

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Dawn Song

George William A. E. Russell

WHILE the earth is dark and grey
How I laugh within. I know
In my breast what ardours gay
From the morning overflow.

Though the cheek be white and wet        
In my heart no fear may fall:
There my chieftain leads and yet
Ancient battle trumpets call.

Bend on me no hasty frown
If my spirit slight your cares:        
Sunlike still my joy looks down
Changing tears to beamy airs.

Think me not of fickle heart
If with joy my bosom swells
Though your ways from mine depart,        
In the true are no farewells.

What I love in you I find
Everywhere. A friend I greet
In each flower and tree and wind—
Oh, but life is sweet, is sweet!        

What to you are bolts and bars
Are to me the arms that guide
To the freedom of the stars,
Where my golden kinsmen bide.

From my mountain top I view:        
Twilight’s purple flower is gone,
And I send my song to you
On the level light of dawn.

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Health Facts: Want to Maintain Healthy Kidneys?

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Stay Hydrated, but Don’t Overdo It

While it’s common knowledge that drinking water is good for the kidneys, it’s less known that overhydration can also be harmful. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition called hyponatremia, where the sodium levels in your blood become too diluted. It’s important to find a balance. The general recommendation is to drink about 8-10 glasses of water a day, but this can vary depending on your activity level, climate, and overall health. Listening to your body’s thirst cues is a good practice.

2. Be Cautious with Over-the-Counter Painkillers

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin, while effective for pain relief, can be harmful to your kidneys if used frequently or in high doses. These medications can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, which can impair their function over time. It’s important to use these medications sparingly and under the guidance of a healthcare professional. If you have chronic pain or another condition that requires regular pain management, talk to your doctor about safer alternatives for your kidneys.

Taking care of your kidneys involves a combination of good hydration practices, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and cautious use of medications. Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider can help monitor kidney function and catch any potential issues early.

Source: ChatGPT

Today’s Joke: Joe’s Thinking of Breaking Up With His GF

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Joe: “I’m thinking of breaking up with my girlfriend.”

Pete: “What’s the problem?”

Joe: “She has multiple personalities and I’m bad with names.”

Today’s Thought: Anyone Can Criticize

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There’s a country expression that goes something like this, ‘When you’re pointing your finger at someone, there’s three fingers pointing back..We live in an age where criticizing is part of the everyday fabric of life. It’s criticizing that gives talk shows life. It’s criticizing that gives news and sports shows life. I’m surprised I haven’t heard of a college major in criticizing. Criticizing is easy when we use digital means by which to criticize. We can say something nasty in a social media post or more directly in an email or text without facing the other person. I think it’s much better to show the way through a challenge. I also think that criticism seldom improves a situation. When criticizism is helpful the critic offers a helping hand to the perso he/she is criticizing. Be a positive force. Lift people up.

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