“If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.”
―
Courage
Silence, loved one, my heart!
Cracking, let it not break!
Breaking, break not with thee!
What if I won the lottery? How many folks have thought about that question? It’s why state sponsored lotteries are big money makers. They operate successfully on our dreams. Yet, the chances of winning the top prize in the lottery are slim. One time I was traveling and the woman sitting next to me on the flight told me her husband won the Texas state lottery for twenty million dollars. He died shortly after that and now she was traveling to all the places they talked about seeing. I wondered if it were possible, would she exchange the twenty million for the life of her husband. The bible offers this advice, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is your treasure (lottery)?
They’re high in antioxidants – Antioxidants are substances that help protect cells from environmental toxins such as pollution and cigarette smoke. Antioxidants are known to help prevent and repair DNA damage that can lead to cancer. Pomegranate juice alone won’t keep cancer at bay, but studies suggest it may be a nutritious addition to a healthy, plant-based diet such as the Mediterranean diet.
They may benefit prostate health – Some research found that components in pomegranate juice helped inhibit the movement of cancer cells by weakening their attraction to a chemical signal that promotes the spread of cancer. Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles found that pomegranate juice appeared to suppress the growth of cancer cells and decrease cancer cell death in men and those assigned male at birth who’ve had preliminary treatment for prostate cancer.
“There are some studies with pomegranate that suggest a role in slowing the growth of prostate cancer,” Zumpano says. “But it should be noted that the studies suggest pomegranate juice and pomegranate fruits should be part of a healthy plant-based diet.”
They promote heart health – Pomegranates have been used for thousands of years as an Ayurvedic medicinal food because of its antioxidant properties. Oxidative stress is related to many chronic diseases including diabetes and heart diseases. Because of its antioxidant properties, some studies have discovered pomegranates can improve oxidative stress factors and, therefore, positively impact these conditions. In a 2022 comprehensive review of 10 of the most commonly available fruits and their effects on cardiovascular diseases, researchers noted pomegranates and pomegranate juice can have significant benefits for improving a number of heart conditions like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. Another 2021 study conducted on rats showed that pomegranate juice reduced the concentration of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol that forms plaque, by 39%, and indicated that it increased the concentration of HDL, the “good” cholesterol, by 27%. “There are some studies that show pomegranates may help to prevent plaque buildup in your arteries,” Zumpano says. “If heart disease runs in your family, it might make sense to add pomegranate to your diet.”
Family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” While that may sound like a lot of hugs, it seems that many hugs are better than not enough.So, how many hugs should you have a day for optimal health? According to the best science, we should have as many as possible if we want to reap the greatest positive effects. Unfortunately, most Western people today — especially people in the United States — are touch-deprived. Many people live solitary or busy lives with reduced social interaction and touching. Our modern social conventions often push people not to touch others who aren’t directly related to them. However, it seems people could benefit a lot from touching others a bit more.So, if you want to feel better about yourself, reduce your stress, improve communication, and be happier and healthier, it seems that giving and asking for more hugs is a good place to start. If you feel nervous about seeking out more hugs, start by asking for them from friends and family members closest to you first.
Science proves that regular hugs with those closest to you, even if brief, can have especially positive effects on your brain and body.
When we see with our heart, we no longer get caught in the trap of being for or against some issue. We can understand the value of opposing positions without being pulled into either side. We are free to make informed decisions guided by our intellect and not by our emotions. We’re not caught in turmoil, peace reigns in our hearts.
“Gratitude is one of the most effective ways of getting in touch with your soul.”
Then take away your hands
and silently put up with your defeat, my heart,
and think it your good fortune to sit perfectly still
where you are placed.
These my lamps are blown out at every little puff of wind,
and trying to light them I forget all else again and again.
But I shall be wise this time and wait in the dark,
spreading my mat on the floor;
and whenever it is thy pleasure, my lord,
come silently and take thy seat here.
One of my favorite fall fruits are cranberries. The new crop was available in my local market. I bought a large bag and put them in the freezer. This morning, I added a handful of cranberries to my oatmeal. Cranberries are a superfood. Here’s what they can do for you:
