Author Archives: Edward Brownlee

Life Humbles You as You Grow Old

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“Life humbles you as you grow old. You stop chasing the big things and start (being grateful and) valuing the little things. Alone time, enough sleep, a good diet, long walks, and quality time with loved ones. Simplicity becomes the ultimate goal.”

Age brings a profound sense of humility. The pursuit of grand ambitions fades, replaced by a deep appreciation for life’s simple treasures.

Solitude becomes a sanctuary, rest a cherished luxury, nourishing food a form of self-care. Long walks offer moments of reflection, while quality time with loved ones becomes the true measure of richness. In this metamorphosis, simplicity emerges as the ultimate aspiration.

The value of life shifts from the grand to the serene, from the extravagant to the essential, unveiling the beauty and fulfillment found in embracing and being grateful for life’s small wonders.

Life is Painful If You Do It Right

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 “Life is painful if you do it right. Life will inevitably hurt you and the quality you need is not to lead a charmed life so that you’ll never be tested. The quality you need is the resilience to get over that. The answer is: live bravely. Live bravely in an unreliable world.” ~ Rabbi Harold S. Kushner

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/tapestry/life-enriching-advice-from-harold-kushner-1.5488838?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

More than eighty times in the Bible it says “Don’t Be Afraid”. “Do not be afraid is the most mentioned passage in the Bible.

Fear distort your ability to think clearly and to accurately assess risks.

“There are worst things in life than being killed and one of them is to live everyday of your life being afraid and living in fear.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner

The cure for the fear of death is to live a life that matters.

Living a Life That Matters

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“Much of the time, we cannot control what happens to us. But we can always control how we respond to what happens to us. If we cannot choose to be lucky, to be talented, to be loved, we can choose to be grateful, to be content with who we are and what we have, and to act accordingly.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner,

Each person has the ability to do great things, according to Rabbi Harold Kushner. Every single person has the ability to change the world, for the better. Each individual can live a life that matters.

At Point program begins at time 7:40.

Source:  https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2002/09/03/living-a-life-that-matters

Be Happy on Purpose

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Your life is a constant journey, from birth to death.
The landscape changes, the people change,
your needs change, but the train keeps moving.
Life is the train, not the station.
(Paulo Coelho)

Life is a continuous journey, always in motion, never pausing at any one moment for too long. Like a train, you travel through different landscapes—sometimes through fields of joy, sometimes through valleys of struggle. The people around you change, as do your needs and desires, but the journey presses on.

You may long for certain stops, trying to hold on to moments or people, but life doesn’t allow you to stay at any one station.

It’s in embracing this constant movement that you find the beauty of life itself, knowing it’s the journey, not the destination, that defines you.

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php

Six Rules for Traveling in Retirement

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We have found that travel can be satisfying without being exhausting. But it has helped to follow these guidelines.

By Robbie Shell
Wall Street Journal, Aug. 20, 2024

Six guidelines that have made our travel a lot more fulfilling—and a lot less exhausting.

1. Travel offseason
Everyone knows that peak seasons aren’t ideal for traveling. But retirees have more of a commodity that working people lack—time for offseason trips. After all, you have flexibility for perhaps the first time in your life. Take advantage of it.

2. Choose ‘secondary destinations’
As retirees, we have found it easier to adopt a slower, more relaxed pace by focusing on destinations that aren’t always on the usual tourist grid.

3. Don’t be shy with strangers
One of the joys of traveling in retirement is unstructured time to enjoy casual, spontaneous conversations with people we happen to meet. Indeed, I find that impromptu connections with guides, drivers and even guards are often as memorable as the settings in which they occur.

4. Focus on just a few things
This might seem an obvious strategy for seasoned travelers, but it’s easy to slip, especially when enthusiasm for the day ahead is high after (in our case a substantial) breakfast. More can definitely be less when you’re traveling.

5. Stay at least three nights in each location
Packing and unpacking is a waste of energy. Cruises have the problem solved, but one way to approximate their advantage is to spend more nights in fewer places. By the second night, a hotel room or Airbnb is a moved-in place to rest. By the third night, it can become a familiar home-away-from-home.

6. Be prepared to improvise
When you travel in a la carte style, you are free to change the plans you made the day before for no particular reason. Maybe it’s the weather. Or perhaps you have a feeling that yesterday’s pace was too challenging or not challenging enough. Start the day whenever you want, and be open to impulsive detours to areas that aren’t on tourist bureau maps.

The travel experiences are a la carte approach which beats the prix fixe one. You are free to make tour own choices and find your own adventures as you look forward to where the next day will take you.

Stay positive!

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“Much of the time, we cannot control what happens to us. But we can always control how we respond to what happens to us. If we cannot choose to be lucky, to be talented, to be loved, we can choose to be grateful, to be content with who we are and what we have, and to act accordingly.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner

You must have faith and believe that good things are going to happen in your life. Stay positive!

Saying again, you must believe that good things are going to happen. It may not always feel like it, but trust that life has a way of bringing unexpected joys and opportunities when you least expect them.

Have faith and maintain a positive mindset and outlook that tomorrow will be better than today. Stay positive, because your mindset shapes your reality.

By choosing hope and optimism, you invite goodness into your life. Hold on to your belief in brighter days ahead, and let that faith carry you through whatever challenges you face. Stay patient and be grateful—good things are on their way.

It is always better to be hopeful than pessimistic. It is always better to be an optimist than a pessimist. It is always better to be a dealer in hope than a purveyor of doom and despair.

Only an attitude of gratitude for everything that happens in your life ensures your happiness, mental strength and problem solving capacities.

BE OPTIMISTIC
BE POSITIVE
ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL

Moringa

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Moringa oleifera is a tree with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Also known as the drumstick tree, the miracle tree, the ben oil tree, or the horseradish tree, people have used moringa for centuries due to a wide range of health benefits due to its rich nutritional profile and medicinal properties. Here are some of the key benefits:

Nutrient-Rich: Moringa is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), C, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Antioxidant Properties: Moringa contains powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from damage and reduce oxidative stress.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects: The anti-inflammatory properties of moringa can help reduce inflammation and treat conditions like edema.
Liver Protection: Moringa may help protect the liver against damage caused by toxins and support its overall health.

Cancer Prevention: Compounds in moringa, such as niazimicin, have been shown to suppress the development of cancer cells.

Digestive Health: Moringa can aid in treating stomach disorders, such as constipation, gastritis, and ulcerative colitis.

Blood Sugar Regulation: Moringa has been found to help lower blood sugar levels, which can be beneficial for managing diabetes.

Heart Health: Moringa may help reduce cholesterol levels and support cardiovascular health.

Skin and Hair Care: Moringa oil is often used to nourish and protect the skin and hair, promoting wound healing and reducing oxidative stress.

Immune System Support: The high vitamin C content in moringa helps boost the immune system.

Moringa can be consumed in various forms, including as a powder, tea, or oil. However, it’s always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplement to your routine, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.

Source:

  1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319916

Gratitude Matters

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“The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles.” ~ William Penn

Gratitude has been shown to increase happiness and the feeling of satisfaction. And whilst every single person will define happiness differently, it’s undeniable that every single person wants more happiness. And to feel more content and satisfied.

Grateful people are focused on what’s going right, on what resources and blessings they already have, and how they can use these blessings to improve their fortunes. This enables them to cope with minor setbacks and crushing defeats without losing their will to carry on.

Many believe that gratitude is the secret to health, happiness and success. By always being grateful, gratitude becomes a very important and beneficial mindset.

Embracing gratitude doesn’t mean you’ll never experience another bad day. But it does mean that you’ll approach those bad days differently.

Source:  https://thegoalchaser.com/why-is-gratitude-important/

Zinc Deficiency

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Zinc deficiency is a common problem throughout the world that contributes to many unwanted health problems.

Zinc is a foundational mineral that is essential to growth patterns and has an essential role in the development of hormones and immune molecules.

Zinc is one of the best mineral supplements to boost and balance out a tired and over stimulated immune system.

About 75% of people in the world are zinc deficient and being deficient in zinc is very common throughout the world.

The 5 warning signs you’re zinc deficient:

1.) If you get sick a lot or have immune system issues

2.) Have leaky gut

3.) If you struggle with diarrhea or IBS

4.) Thinning hair

5.) Inflammatory skin issues like acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis.

One of the biggest factors in causing zinc deficiency is high levels of emotional stress. The second most common cause of zinc deficiency is over-exercise.

Lastly, if you’re older, you may tend to have malabsorption, which causes a zinc deficiency.

In order to get more zinc in your diet, you need to consume more zinc-rich foods.

The top 5 zinc-rich foods are pumpkin seeds, oysters, grass-fed meat, sprouted nuts and seeds, and peas.

Additionally, probiotics are a key supplement to take when zinc deficient because it can help your overall absorption of nutrients.

Moringa Benefits and Risks

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Moringa, often referred to as the “miracle tree,” offers a wide range of health benefits due to its rich nutritional profile and medicinal properties. Here are some of the key benefits:

Moringa leaves and seeds are rich in glucosinolates, which are linked to the plant’s beneficial effects on prostate health in rodents and which may have anticancer properties.

Test-tube studies have demonstrated that the glucosinolates from the plant’s seeds may inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells

It’s also believed that moringa could help prevent benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This condition typically becomes more common as men age and is characterized by enlargement of the prostate, which can make urination difficult .

In one study, mice received moringa leaf extract before being administered testosterone daily for 4 weeks to induce BPH. The extract was found to significantly reduce prostate weight .

What’s more, the extract also reduced levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland. High levels of this antigen may be a sign of prostate cancer

Lastly, the study also demonstrated that the plant decreased testosterone levels in the treated mice. In humans, low testosterone levels can reduce sex drive and erectile function, lead to a loss of lean muscle mass, and cause depression.

Researchers have yet to determine whether these same benefits occur in humans.

Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/moringa-benefits-for-men#1.-May-promote-prostate-health