LIsten With Your Heart

     Awhile back I posted an REM cover of the song, Love Is All Around Me. I love the song and I am sure many have covered it, but it takes a true musician to cover someone else's song and do it in a unique way. In my opinion REM succeeds with this song. I think it is one of the videos I have had the most comments on, not all good, but that's o.k..
     Every opportunity is a door to contemplation. What takes something in life, anything really, from being ordinary to being extraordinary. It is what is in our hearts. When we listen with our heart, life is beautiful. Listen with your heart because your heart will lead you to the extraordinary life, the life that is filled with love, just for you.

How To Have Beautiful Skin

     I like researching topics on skin care, health and nutrition. A few years ago I stumbled across a woman named Eva Fraser. I found a youtube video of an interview Eva did with Good Morning Britain. At that time Eva was 82 years old. I was struck by the youthfulness of her face. On further research I found a set of 4 DVDs and a booklet with her facial exercises, on Amazon, I bought them for $18. I did not utilize it right away, but I began to do them, working my way up to the final set which I do regularly. They take about 5 minutes to perform. It takes some time, as they build up the muscles in your face. People started asking me if I had had some cosmetic procedure done. I said, no, I do facial exercises.  
     Another thing is regular exercise. There was an interesting study done at a university in New York. Samples of skin in older people were gathered, and the group it was gathered from was put on a 3 day a week exercise program of walking. Three months later their skin samples were gathered again and examined under a microscope, their skin had cellularly anti-aged backwards 20 years. That is quite interesting.
     I also turned vegan a couple of years ago. To me my skin looks better, which I attribute to vegetables. While I am not perfect all the time, I break over and have fish now and then, and sometimes have an egg, I generally avoid all food that contains dairy and eggs, and I never eat meat or chicken. There are so many vegan options today, and I have even experimented and  made my own vegan bacon, which came out quite good. The one other bonus I have noticed  is my hair is growing faster and is thicker than ever.
     I also have a handheld laser device and a microcurrent device. I just got the second one and I like it. I think they both contribute to better skin.
     The last thing, which is not the least thing, is a positive state of mind. Not always an easy feat, but achievable. I have always been a deep thinker and I prefer to think on good things. I think the answer is best found in a quote that has been attributed to Gandhi, "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." I also favor something Audrey Hepburn said, "For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." Because truly, in the end, we can look good, but what is on the inside counts the most.

You Are Not Alone

     When I used to take a bus trip I would write a note of encouragement and leave it in the pocket in front of my seat. I knew it was meant for whoever would find it. It was a note to tell them they were loved, that their life counted. Sometimes a person just needs to know that.
     I watch people as I work in a public venue. One day I saw an elderly lady, alone. I wondered about her life. Does she have anyone to tell her that she is beautiful. I complimented her, her blue sweater looked so pretty. She smiled and thanked me.
     The truth is we never know what life will bring. But I know one constant that makes life beautiful. That is love. I am firmly convinced that love is the only truth in this world. I believe our true selves are love and we are here to love one another.
     I heard this song when Kate Hudson posted it in one of her videos. I only heard a snippet of it, but I was immediately taken with it. It is called, You Are Not Alone. It tells a story, but the recurring theme of it is, you are not alone. So for whoever comes by this way, and reads this blog, remember, you are not alone, and remember, you are loved, and remember, your life counts.

Play Your Air Guitar, Rock On 🤘

    

     This is my blog, and I can post what I want to, I do what I want to. Come Monday when I go to work, I will play my air guitar and serenade the guys at work. They love me because I bake them cookies, them chocolate chip cookies. I have to hide them from Zach because he eats them all.

          Chill out, and eat some vegetables, they are good for you, and yummy, too. Ohhhhhh, sweet salad of mine.


     And don't forget to rock on........🤘 🤘 🤘 🤘 🤘 🤘 🤘

My Secret

    

     One of my college classes was Ethics, and one of our textbooks was Ethics for the New Millennium by the Dalai Lama. I don't remember everything in the book, but when I came to the end of the book there was one passage there that penetrated my heart to the core.
     "This, then, is my true religion, my simple faith. In this sense, there is no need for temple or church, for mosque or synagogue, no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple. The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are: ultimately these are all we need. So long as we practice these in our daily lives, then no matter if we are learned or unlearned, whether we believe in Buddha or God, or follow some other religion, or none at all, as long as we have compassion for others and conduct ourselves with restraint out of a sense of responsibility, there is no doubt we will be happy."
     My whole life flashed before my eyes. Six year old me, laying on my grandmother's summer lawn in the sun warmed grass. Gazing up at the puffy white clouds in the cerulean blue sky, my mind dreamed. In my 6 year old mind I envisioned the world. All of the people in the world were standing there in that sky. They were holding hands and looking at one another, with love. I had no concept of the size of the world or any of the particulars. I only knew what was in my own heart, and my imagination created the world, the way I wanted it to be.
     Recently I watched an animated movie called The Little Prince. It is based on the 1943 novella of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. One thing was impressed on my mind. All grown ups were once children but only few of them remember it. The problem is not in growing up, it is in forgetting. It reminded me, do not forget your childhood dreams.
     Inside our hearts is where the magic lies. Where love lives, invisible to the human eye. Things that cannot be seen we can feel, for it is only love that makes us real.
     According to the Velveteen Rabbit, once you become real you can never be unreal again. Love made that bunny real and love changed him. That is the only answer in this world, love.
     I want to finish with the Dalai Lama's prayer.
 "May I become at all times, both now and forever
      A protector for those without protection
     A guide for those who have lost their way
          A ship for those with oceans to cross
     A bridge for those with rivers to cross
         A sanctuary for those in danger
         A lamp for those without light
    A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
             And a servant to all in need.

Bite Me or Why I Love Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

     These days I try to stay away from as much of the news as I can. Still things cross my path that put a positive spin on it, and make me smile.
     One such recent incidence is the unearthed scandalous video of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dancing in college. I mean, how dare she?
     But the best thing about this is her response. Dancing in Congress, oh my, can this country ever survive this scandalous behavior. Oh, the irony of it all, with all due consideration to the behavior of the current President.
     Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, you \m/!     

Being A Vegan a.k.a. Plant Killer

  

     If anyone had told me a few years ago that I would go vegan, well I think I would have told them they were crazy. Now I have never been much of a beef eater, but cheese, how could I give up cheese? And fish, and butter, and yogurt!!!! Ah, but alas and alack I have, and I do not miss those things. A few times I have slipped and had some fish and cheese, but the cheese just does not taste that good anymore.
     Nowadays there are substitutes for all those things. I have even made vegan parmesan and it is downright good. Best of all, eating this way does a body good, weight loss is one result and I just feel good. And it is so good for the skin. Kate Hudson said that her skin looked so much better when she was following a vegan lifestyle.
     I am gradually moving into a more whole food plant based way. I am making my own creations. Recently I made some everything hummus and found that it made a good alfredo sauce for whole grain pasta.
     I am not on some self-righteous kick of veganism, just merely sharing my thoughts and reducing my carbon footprint on the planet. As someone said, don't knock it till you tried it.