April 2006

You’d think painful Achilles tendons would have nothing at all to do with high cholesterol and heart disease.  I certainly never knew there was a connection.

So we’re wrong.  I had just finished reading an article online about cholesterol and the amazing benefits of oatmeal.  Michael (husband, father of my children and cats, and he-who-fixes-everything) has a bit of a cholesterol problem, so I was reading up on everything I need to force feed him! After I read all that he’s going to start seeing on his plate, I saw a Related Articles type of deal with “Pain in your heel?  See a Heart Doctor” as one of the titles.  Sounded pretty interesting - I had to read it (Mr. Cholesterol has bad arches!)

It’s an interesting, short, 1 page read.  Here’s the linkage>>>>> Pain in Your Heel?  See a Heart Doctor
Have a relaxing Sunday, and think up at least 1 HEALTHY habit to pick up this week.  Start walking every day for at least 15 minutes, give fast food fries the kiss off, start drinking juice three times a day, buy fruit every time you go to the store (then eat it before it rots!), fall in love with broccoli, start taking vitamins, do what your loving wife who reads all says to do.

The last one’s for all the Michaels in the world!

Joi

“Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.”  ~Ruth E. Renkel

(Lovin’ that!)

Prevention.com has an article up called 10 Breast Cancer myths Debunked. Before reading it, I thought, “I’m wasting my time reading this, I don’t believe myths, I’ve got my facts straight.” Uh huh. What is it they say about famous last words? In fact I started not to even read the article - but by myth #3 I knew I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I knew.

I hate to get on my soap box….no, wait a minute, I don’t really mind it. We’ve got to stop worrying so much about things like money, social standings, clothes, jewelry, furniture, flower gardens (ouch! self-inflicted wound) - and start a more important fight. Rather than always fighting to have the best of everything, we’d be a lot better off fighting the monsters that are slaying us daily. Cancer, AIDS, diabetes, heart disease….

Even if there IS one person in the world whose life none of these beasts touch right now, there’s always tomorrow.

How do you fight a monster?

1. You learn all there is to know about him. The article above’s a good place to start.
2. You finance the efforts of all the Davids in the world who are standing up to the giants.
3. You try to rally troops who will join you in the fight. (Blog posts, ribbons on your clothing, ribbons on your websites and blogs….)
4. The hero of any story doesn’t just fight monsters in his or her own path - they find the ones who are in the paths of others as well.
5. You never quit fighting. As long as the enemy is on the prowl, the fight is on.

Joi

” We will often find compensation if we think more of what life has given us and less about what life has taken away.” ~William Barclay

“The next time you feel like complaining, remember that your garbage disposal probably eats better than 30 percent of the people in this world.” ~God’s Little Instruction Book II

I’m normally not a complainer. Kind of laid back like my dad always was.  But lately, it seems as though I’ve been grumbling (internally more than externally) about this, that, and the other. Seasonal allergies, gas prices, ants that always find their way into the house but not out of the house, and broken dryers.  Okay, one broken dryer.

Then, a few nights ago, ESPN’s Stuart Scott brought a story into our living room that made everything fade into perspective.

The story was about a sweet young golfer whose mom is dying of cancer. Her mother is facing death.  This mother is facing allergies. What in the world have I got to complain about?  Okay, all of nothing.

Allergies can be endured, they’re all part of living in beautiful Kentucky with all of its trees and showy spring displays.  I love this time of year and I love my state - even with a Kleenex to my nose.

My husband replaced the dryer, and I’ve outwitted and outlasted the ants. The high gas prices can be endured, as well.  None of these things are life and death matters.  They’re annoyances and little more.

There are people out there, such as this young golfer’s family who can give us a lesson in what’s worth grumbling about and what isn’t.

Joi

“If you hear a voice inside you say, ‘You cannont paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”  ~Vincent Van Gogh

There are certain things in life that we can do that’ll keep us feeling and looking young. Habits that’ll fool our bodies into thinking that we’re much younger than our birth certificates claim. By the same token, there are certain things that’ll make us look, feel, and actually be older than we really are. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to sign on for that one!

Below are five proven ways to send old age to someone else’s doorstep, because as cute as the little people above are - none of us are quite ready to wear their shoes.

1. Find a way, make a way to deal with stress. Everyone has bad days - and sometimes those days turn into weeks. Then months. Then years. Then get your rocker. When stressful things jump all over you, shake them off by doing something you enjoy. Make the time - it’s that important.

One of my daughters (Stephany) and I do business online (We run a Web Publishing, Web Design, and Web Hosting business, maintain over 20 websites/blogs, and are launching an ebay store.). While we absolutely LOVE what we do and wouldn’t want to ever do anything else, there are days when stress climbs all over us. We’ll exchange a look and that’s all it takes. I head for my Nikes and she heads for her hot and worth the price, mom Skechers and we take off for our favorite walking trail or tennis court - some days call for both. Then we’ll grab a Diet Cherry Lime drink from Sonic, and we’re as good as new and ready to tackle the html, php, rss….or whatever abbreviated stress-carrier we’re facing at the moment. My husband, who works outside the house AND in the Web Publishing and Affiliate Marketing business swears by golf to shake off the stress monkey. Whatever it is that makes you smile and leave the scowl behind - do it!

Unwind, relax, have fun, enjoy life. Look at our people above, again, if you aren’t relaxing enough - you’re running in their direction.

2. Inactivity is another accelerator to premature aging. It’s one of those things that becomes easier to do the more often you do it. Some people have to literally force themselves to get up and get going - but once they do, they fall totally in love with being active. Tennis, golf, bowling, gardening, roller skating, walking, aerobic dance, yoga, pilates, weight-lifting…..pick one, two, three, or more and get that body moving!
3. If you smoke - STOP! Over 1/5 of American adults smoke. They’re inviting lung cancer, heart problems, and premature wrinkling right into their bed.

If you smoke, make today the day you stop. For yourself and for everyone who loves you. Try different methods until you find the one that works. Your life depends on it.

4. Get all the sleep you need. Lack of sleep has been linked to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and memory problems, even in young adults.
5. Get fit and stay fit. Being overweight boosts the chances of heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. Yet 65 percent of Americans weigh more than they should. A lot of it goes back to inactivity, but the typical American diet leaves a lot to be desired. We eat way too much sugar and saturated fat (in meats, poultry, milk and butter). A Mediterranean style diet would be so much healthier.

If we’d all commit to eating more healthy foods, cutting out unhealthy foods, and getting more activity - we could cut that 65 percent waaaaay down.

Headed to the tennis court - my serve disappeared during the winter months and I’m trying to woo it back.Have a great, BUSY, fun day,
~Joi

“Knowing and not doing are equal to not knowing at all.”  ~God’s Little Instruction Book II

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”   ~Lao Tzu

Click HERE for more Lao Tzu quotes.