Living Kentucky Style

The year's smart new ways to drop pounds , fight fatigue, feel connected, and stay healthy for life.  Did you know that…..  Your favorite morning cup of coffee lowers the risk of depression, provides protection against cancer and strokes.  Professor Sanjiv Chopra, MD, at Harvard Medical School says, coffee is amazing, and is truly a lifesaving miracle drug.  More than three cups a day lowers women's risk of developing common skin cancer by 20%, and men can cut the risk of dying from prostate cancer 60% by drinking more than six cups per day.  One cup a day lowers women's risk of stroke by up to 25%, and two cups reduces the chances of depression by up to 20%.  Stick with regular coffee (black or just a little skimmed milk) if you can tolerate the buzz, because decaf may not have enough benefits…. Eat your protein in the A.M., (at least 15%) it helps tell your brain and stomach that you are well nourished and satisfied, don't save it for dinner.  Chia seeds are very high in protein, have a very low glycemic load, and have lots of good omega-3 fats, if you soak them in water for a few minutes, you will get a tapioca-pudding-like treat, and if you add blueberries, you have a great breakfast.  Hard -boiled eggs and Greek yogurt are other high-protein options, by Dr. Mark Hyman…..  If you are spending most of the day sitting down, it doesn't matter how hard you hit the gym after work, you're sabotaging your dutiful efforts unless you are taking stand up breaks throughout the day, even if it is just for a minute, and the latest evidence is….. slimmer waists, lower cholesterol, and better insulin response, regardless of how much other exercise they get, hopping to your feet regularly protects against cancer, according to Epidemiologies.  Analysis shows that colon-cancer is twice the risk for people who spend ten years at a sitting job, than with those who are involved with more activity.  Stand up while talking on the phone, have walking meetings at the office are places to start, by Chris Freytag… Improve your sodium-potassium ratio by lowering your sodium, and raising your potassium, because potassium blunts the blood-pressure-raising effects of sodium.  A cup of milk, two bananas, a quarter avocado, and a half cup of raisins =  (1,600 mg) will lower the risk of stroke by 21%.  Cocoa, dried apricots, fish, prunes, spinach, plain yogurt, and potatoes with the skin are other good sources.  The new daily Potassium guidelines are (4,700 mg), by Dr. Martha Gulati….. Eat early and go to bed early… Being a night owl may increase your waistline, people who stay up late and sleep late, tend to eat more fast food than normal sleepers.  You should go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, so your body knows when to sleep and is much more efficient.  Also organize your meals and try to eat at the same times every day.  Do not eat after 8 p.m., and do not skip breakfast….. by the sleep expert,  (Michael Breus)…..  For activities like gardening, taking long walks, walking the dog or other stuff  in the sun, do them in the morning,because morning exposure is less harmful, by Dr. Jennifer Kitchin….. Walking is good for the brain and the body.  A region called the hippocampus, the key to memory, shrinks about 1 to 2% every year, increasing the risk of dementia as you get older.  Adults who walked briskly for about 45 minutes, 3 times a week, their hippocampi grew about 2% over the course of a year, staving off age-related shrinkage.  It's never too late to start exercising, anything that raises the heart rate will work, by Arthur Kramer,PhD….. Beware of diet candy…. The sour and fruit flavorings in candies can interact with sugar-free sweeteners and create an acidic mix in your mouth which weakens and yellows teeth.  Chewing gum is the least destructive, because it causes a flow of saliva that washes the harmful acids away.  Peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen,or butterscotch are recommended if you must have hard candies, or brush immediately after each meal or exposure to acidic foods and candies, by Dr. Sok-Ja Janket….. According to Dr. Lisa Shives, if you are using the computer before bed, use blue-light-filtering glasses, and you will sleep much better.  You can find them at safetyglassesusa.com/amberlens.html….. If you consciously imagine what your life would be like without the good things, and you think about what life would be like without the people you love, you will experience stronger feelings of love, happiness, and gratitude.  In other words:  To feel better, imagine the worst!….says Tim Wilson, author of  Redirect….. Keep your cool and get a good night's sleep.  Take a warm bath 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime, this will promote a drop in your body (and brain!) temperature, or simply keep your bedroom temp low (no warmer than 65%) and keep all but your head under the covers, by Dr. Lawrence Epstein, MD…… Focus more on your Spouse, and less on your kids.  Marriage requires constant renewal… new stories, experiences, and memories.  Skip out with your spouse, and cancel family night occasionally, better yet, make it a double date.,  by Stephanie Coontz, author of Marriage…..  Kick off your day with Chocolate.   Chronic-fatigue specialist says, a square of dark chocolate has the right amount of theobromine (a cousin to caffeine) to wake you up but not enough to crash later.  It's also full of antioxidants, may decrease heart attack risk, lifts your mood and tastes delicious.  You can use it as a mid-morning snack!  by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum……   Spice up your life with hot chili peppers, besides the warm and tingly flush they give you, capsaicin, the active ingredient in the peppers, stokes your metabolism for an hour after eating them.  Spicy foods also helps you feel full faster, so you won't overeat, the peppers are a good source of vitamin C, and are low in calories.  You can start by sprinkling a few red chili flakes over some Italian dishes, or substitute a jalapeno for a bell pepper in a recipe…. by Jennifer Iserloh, author of a Skinny Chef…..  Eat quinoa, It is rich in protein, fiber, and hard-to-get magnesium,which protects against hypertension.  It also  has a reputation as a "super food."  There is twice as much protein and eight times as much fiber in a typical serving as a serving of rice.  Toasting it first takes away the bland taste and gives it the most incredible nutty, rich flavor.  Toast it in the oven at 350% for eight to ten minutes or until the quinoa is a golden brown, then cook as directed…. by Scott Uehlein , author of Canyon Ranch Nourish: Indulgently Healthy Cuisine……  To snap you out of your afternoon funk, try snacking on real energy foods, such as: spread two tablespoons of crunchy organic peanut butter and one tablespoon of low-sugar blueberry preserves on two Wasa multigrain crackers.  Thanks to the combo of fat, protein, and fiber, this will give you the quick, lasting turbocharge you crave….. by Dr. Pam Peeke, author of Body for life for Women……  Grass-fed beef is richer in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids than regular beef, and a steak is lower in fat and calories.  It also contains a nutrient that may lower cancer risk, protect brain cells, and redistribute belly fat, (conjugated linoleic acid)…. Dr. Drew Ramsey, co-author of The Happiness Diet…..  Try writing a letter to yourself about something you've been struggling with in the voice of a trusted pal, to ramp up your self-compassion.  Most people  have a much easier time being self-compassionate if they pretend to be someone else…. by Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself up and Leave Insecurity Behind!…..  Did you know that…..  scientists say eating five portions of Orange-colored fruits and vegetables containing caroteniods, such as carrots, tomatoes, plums, and sweet potatoes every day, will give your skin a healthy glow in six to eight weeks?…..   Researchers told the American Heart Association that you can lower your blood pressure up to six points…. equal to being on a low-salt diet or losing ten pounds, by listening to your favorite music for an hour every other week for a few months, music heals the heart…. that just a simple touch to the forearm, you are able to convey complex feelings like, gratitude, happiness, love, sadness, sympathy, embarrassment, pride, and surprise…. that a good chuckle can raise your pain threshold by 10 per-cent, due to the power of painkilling, feel-good endorphins released during laughter!  So,.. Sleep deeply, Protect your Heart, Shed pounds, Boost Memory, Fight pain, and Be Happy!  References:  Readers Digest… Energize your Life   

Ethan was born on June 12, 2010.  Doctors  realized right away something was wrong and started running tests.  They discovered that the nerves in his intestines didn't work, so he couldn't take regular food and he would need an intestinal implant to survive.  When Ethan was just a few weeks old, he was put on the transplant list.  They had to feed him certain foods because of his problem.  And now he has to have a liver transplant too, because the food he has to eat is beginning to destroy his liver.  The family says he is their "bundle of joy", he's such a sweet boy and he is a little plump because of the food he has to eat.  After all the prayers that have been prayed for him, Ethan finally received "the gift of life".  This has just happened recently, and his dad sent a note to the University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank (also organ donations), letting them know that Ethan was doing well,said he was a fighter and really couldn't be doing much better.  Also thanking them for thinking of them.  People probably don't think about organ donations like they should, that's why we need to get the word out that there is a very great need for organ donors for children and adults, and don't forget the corneas of the eyes, there is a great need for those also!  Reference:  http://www.trustforlife.org/jefferson/ethan

 Pattie Corder is a two time living donor.  On April 24, 2000, she donated 60% of her liver to her mother, Flonnie Broyles, who had Sclerosis of the liver, the result of Hepatitis C, contracted when she had a blood transfusion in the 70's.  Pattie felt it was God's will that she be the donor used to perform the miracle and save her mother's life.  Several years later, she says she was blessed with the opportunity to give another organ…. a kidney.  A friend and co-worker had been on dialysis for 2 years because of kidney failure.  She offered to donate when he first began, but he refused.  He didn't want anyone having to give him a kidney, especially Pattie, because she had already been an organ donor.  But later, when he realized his life was slipping away, he finally agreed to let her be tested.  Numerous family members were tested, but some had health issues and others didn't match.  Again she was a match and she knew it was God's plan.  So on October 24, 2007…. seven years and six months after the liver transplant, she became a two time living related organ donor, when she gave her left kidney to Kenny  Ramsey.  The doctors at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, researched and could not find evidence anywhere in the world that anyone was a two time living related organ donor.  Pattie says she is healthy and she thanks God every day that she was chosen to be part of these two miracles, and her mother and Kenny are doing great.  She also says, she would encourage anyone, who has the opportunity, to give the gift of life.  Your rewards will outweigh any difficulties you may encounter as a living related organ donor.  Please think about these two miracles and contact the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry give the gift of life.  We don't need our organs after we're gone, only our souls go to heaven.  So please give this some consideration!  Reference:  http://www.trustforlife.org/wayne/pattie-corder-2-time-living-donor

Okay everyone, Valentine's Day is approaching again and everyone is planning on what to get their loved ones, friends teachers, co-workers, etc..  According to past history, it can be anything from cards, flowers, candy, jewelry, diamonds, even cars, and other expensive gifts.  Valentine's Day spending is expected to be in the neighbor of $17.6 Billion this year, (did not say if this was in US or if world wide), but that is a lot of money.  There are various Valentine's day customs for different regions.  In Europe, while sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts is traditional in the UK, in Norfolk there is a character called Jack Valentine, who knocks on the rear door of houses and leaves sweets and presents for the children .  This mystical person scared many children, although he was leaving them treats.  Many people in Wales celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St. Dwynwens Day) the patron Saint of Welsh lovers on on January 25 instead of (or as well as) Valentine's Day in Wales.  Valentine's Day is known simply as  "Saint Valentin" in France, and is celebrated in much the same as other western countries.  It is celebrated the same as UK in Spain and is known as "San Valentin".  In Portugal it is known as "Dia dos Namerados" (Lovers Day/Day of those that are in love with each other).  Valentine's Day is known as Valentinsdag in Norway and Denmark, is largely imported from American culture, but is not celebrated to a large extent.  In Sweden it is known as Alla hjartans dag ("all hearts Day") and is also influenced by the American culture and sales of cosmetics and flowers are only exceeded by Mother's Day.  These are just a few of the countries other than the U. S. that celebrate Valentines Day.  There are some countries that are forbidden to celebrate and are arrested if they do, but some celebrate anyway.  Valentine"s Day is very much celebrated in America, it is one of the most celebrated and devoted holidays for people we love like family, friends and others.  And certainly one of the most Commercialized holidays of the year.  To everyone, and to all of our Military protecting our country, thank you for serving, be safe, and a very Happy Valentine's Day.  References:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/valentine%27s_Day

Developing a regimen that concentrates on improving your strength and sharpening your technique, is what it takes to become a MM Artist  People are always asking – does weight lifting slow you down?  What is the best way to develop cardio?  MMA is one confusing sport.  There were no rules at first, it was different martial art heroes, kicking the guts out of each other in the ring.  Rules and regulations were imposed as MMA became a professional contact sport, to make it a real game.  A thousand `masters' suddenly sprung up and hundreds of books and articles were published on what MMA Artists should do.  But, is there anyone out there that can really master all of the Martial Arts?  Surprisingly Mixed Martial Arts is about you and not the sport itself.  Select a Martial Art you like, collaborate it with MMA techniques and do it your way.  A true MMA fighter needs to be ultimately conditioned and improve strength in a systematic way.  Flexibility, speed, endurance, speedy recovery, and litheness, this is about everything your body needs to be this type of fighter.  This scientific  training program was put together by a training Professional, Eric Wong.  It also gives a sense of confidence in amatuers and professionals as well.  His diet regime is highly applauded for its maintaining strength as you cut serious weight.  A very important weight loss guide is also provided in the program for MMA fighters.  Its about a flexible body that is light as a feather and heavy as a stone.  MMA is about whether or not you are taking your body to its ultimate potential.  Anybody with a passion for MMA can get Eric Wong's `Crazy' programs at affordable prices.  References:  http://mmatechniques/x1.com/   Photo from http://bleacherreport.com/mma

The staff at Yahoo! Movies has put together a list of films, they say you must see before you die.  A lot of movies are good, some are great and only a very few can be called truly "essential."  This involved heated discussions, long negotiations, and a shouting match or two.  Historical importance and cultural impact were factors considered to choose the titles for the list.  Films that were considered most thrilling, most dramatic, scariest, and funniest of all time were also selected.  Some of these films are - 12 Angry Men (1957) – Sydney Lumet: director and starring: Henry Fonda; Lee J. Cobb; E. G. Marshall - The African Queen (1952) – John Huston: director and starring: Humphrey Bogart; Katherine Hepburn; Robert Morley – Alien (1979) – Ridley Scott: director and Starring: Tom Skerritt; Sigourney Weaver; Veronica Cartwright – All About Eve (1950) – Joseph Mankiewicz: director and starring: Bette Davis; Anne Baxter; George Sanders – Bonnie and Clyde (1967) – Arthur Penn: director and starring: Warren Beatty; Faye Dunaway; Michael J. Pollard – The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – David Lean: director and starring : William Holden; Alec Guinness; Jack Hawkins – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – George Roy Hill: director and starring: Paul Newman; Robert Redford; Katherine Ross – Casablanca (1942) – Michael Curtis: director and starring: Humphrey Bogart; Ingrid Bergman; Paul Henreid – Die Hard (1988) – John McTiernan: director and starring: Bruce Willis; Bonnie Bedelia; Alan Rickman - It's a Wonderful Life (1946) – Frank Capra: director and starring: James Stewart; Donna Reed; Lionel Barrymore - Jaws (1975) – Steven Spielberg: director and starring: Roy Scheider: Robert Shaw; Richard Dreyfuss - Vertigo (1958) - Alfred Hitchcock: director and starring: James Stewart; Kim Novak - Saving Private Ryan: (1998) - Steven Spielberg: director and starring: Tom Hanks; Tom Sizemore - The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Victor Fleming: director and starring: Judy Garland; Frank Morgan; Ray Bolger.  Hope you enjoy reliving  the movies on this list.  It can be helpful if you are looking for a good movie to watch some weekend or whenever.  Some of these are golden!  References: http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/100-movies-to-see-before-you-die.html               

Christmas!  It's the most wonderful time of the year! There is hustling and bustling, holiday shopping, bells are all ringing, caroler's singing, being of good cheer, because it is one of the most joyful time's of the year. Children are getting ready for Santa, who is checking his list to see who has been naughty and nice, let's hope the most are on the nice list and not on the naughty list.  Families are busy decorating their homes,Christmas trees, wrapping gifts, and Preparing their feast for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and anxiously awaiting family and friends to arrive.  Children of course are anxiously awaiting for that jolly ole figure, called Santa Claus, who comes on Christmas Eve, with his sleigh full of toys guided by his eight reindeer, and if they aren't asleep when he gets there, Santa may not leave them anything.  Then early Christmas everyone awakes and opens the gifts Santa left.  Santa Claus, is also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and simply Santa.  In 1809 the names were merged and  Americanized to Santa Claus, derived from a Dutch figure named, Sinterklaas.  The name Santa Claus was first used in 1773 in the American Press.  Now this is the Santa Claus and Commercial story of Christmas, but now the best and true meaning of Christmas….. Over 2000 years ago a child was born of Mary, in a stable in Bethlehem, they call him Jesus, and he came from God to teach and preach the gospel to all mankind.  Imagine this baby boy, a King, sent from God, born in such humble surroundings, other kings or anyone else would have never accepted being born in such surroundings.  They would have insisted on the very best, but not this King, because he was the Messiah sent by God to serve, teach, and preach the gospel to all the people. Jesus was a very humble and perfect man.  He was sinless.  He was up in the mountains for 40 days and while he was there, satan tried several times to tempt Jesus, but failed to do so.  Jesus traveled around to different places explaining the gospel to everyone that would listen for several years.  Then he was arrested.  They beat him, crowned him with thorns, then took him up on Calvary's hill and crucified him while all his followers, family and mother, Mary watched.  Both Mary and Jesus had known all along that God had sent Jesus to teach and preach the gospel, that we might be saved, but I'm sure that the pain in Mary's heart was almost unbearable.  That night all those years ago which brought the Savior's birth, gave promise of a brighter hope…Good will…and peace on earth.  The key word of Christmas is "Immanuel"… God with us!  Jesus came to earth for us so we could go to heaven with Him….Now you have some information about Santa Claus…….. and the true story of Christmas!     May God bless you and your family this Christmas……… And please remember the reason for this season is……..Jesus!   Have a safe and Happy New Year!  If you want to read about when Jesus was born, you can find it in Matthew chapter 1: starting with verse 18!     References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/santa_claus… And the Bible.  Picture from Nativity Scene Clip Art.  And www.rbc.org 

The first Thanksgiving celebration in America, was an Autumn feast in 1621 shared by the Plymouth Colonists and the Wampanoag Indians.  Finally in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln Proclaimed  Thanksgiving Day a national holiday, to be held in each November.  But there were no pies, cakes, or other desserts at this first Thanksgiving, because there were no ovens, and the sugar supply had dwindled by the fall of  1621.  There has been an extreme amount of change since that feast in 1621, we have ovens now, we have plenty of sugar, and lots of other stuff they didn't have then, but the one thing that should be the same, is being thankful.  Most Americans are preparing and looking forward to celebrating with family and friends this Thanksgiving.  After saying the blessing, they will enjoy turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, string beans, pies and other desserts and all the trimmings.  But as we say the blessing and celebrate the holiday traditions with our loved ones, we need to thank God for our many blessings, and please remember the ones who are less fortunate who have very little food or no food at all, remember our Military, and pray that God will bless the United States by saving our nation.  Although we celebrate Thanksgiving Day in November, we should express our gratitude constantly through our actions and in our speech.  Giving thanks should be a way of life every day of the year, for those of us who have chosen to follow Christ!  So give thanks to the Lord all year long as well as in November.  >>Giving thanks is an effective Spiritual weapon!  So Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  And may God Bless you!  References:  http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving  and  intouch.org

Adequate magnesium can ward off mental deterioration.  Low levels of magnesium can cause insulin resistance, leading to diabetes.  It is needed to guard against inflammation of the blood vessels and cardiovascular disease.  Surveys show that about two- thirds of the 75 percent who don't get enough magnesium, are severely deficient.  Virtually all diabetics are deficient, but these sky-high deficiency rates and the critical nature of magnesium for your health is not included in routine blood work, not even seriously ill patients.  Because 99 percent of this vital nutrient is located within the cells, most doctors don't even know how to evaluate magnesium.  Blood tests tells very little about the actual amount in our bodies, because only 1 per cent circulates in the blood.  So this means blood tests tell very little about the actual amount of magnesium in our bodies.  Studies show you can have perfectly normal blood magnesium levels, but still be seriously deficient and it is very difficult to get most doctors to understand this.  These are some conditions linked to magnesium deficiency:  neurological conditions, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease, it is strongly linked to many conditions, including :  Hypertension (high blood pressure), Atherosclerosis, Strokes, Death from heart attacks, Cardiac arrhythmias, Diabetes, Insulin resistance, Metabolic syndrome, Abnormal lipid, Metabolism, Blood clots, Inflammation, Oxidative stress, Asthma, Chronic fatigue, Depression, and the neurological conditions includes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease.  There are hundreds of enzymes, and many of them supply energy to the brain as well as the body and magnesium is critical for their function.  As we age the ability to absorb minerals, including  magnesium, lessens.  Stress, especially chronic stress, is a common cause of magnesium loss.  Another condition related to this deficiency, are these headaches: acute migraines, chronic migrainous headache, cluster headaches, and tension headaches.  Some foods rich in magnesium are:  Buckwheat flour, Oat bran, Almonds, Cashews, Spinach, and Corn meal.  Adequate magnesium levels is also important for pregnant women.  It also reduces the risk of some cancers, improves the body's energy supplies, protects many organs, and is especially protective of the brain.  In addition, it can protect babies' brains in utero and greatly reduce terrible disorders such as cerebral palsy in infants.  Magnesium is truly a miracle nutrient!   So start eating a diet high in magnesium and If you decide to start taking this supplement, please check with your health provider first! References:  drblaylock.newsmax.com

Some people assume that you are born happy or unhappy, but they do things to create and reinforce their moods.  Happy people let themselves be happy.  Unhappy people continue doing things that upset them.  Use a strategy for happiness!  Some people are ultracompetitive, who always need to win, end up enjoying things less.  They are very disappointed if they lose, and if they win it's what they expected anyway.  You don't have to win every time!  Goals are like the tires on your car which have to be properly aligned or they won't work unless they are all pointed in the same direction.  Your life may not work, if your goals conflict with one another.  Your goals need to be aligned with one another!  Our feelings of satisfaction or dissatisfaction are in how we compare ourselves to others.  We feel bad, when we compare ourselves to those who have more, and grateful, when we compare ourselves to those who have less.  Our feelings about our life can vary tremendously based on who we compare ourselves with.  Compare yourself with what makes you feel comfortable with who you are and what you are, and those examples that are meaningful.  Choose your  comparisons wisely!  Take advantage of opportunities at work, among your neighbors, or rekindle past relationships to expand your friendship base.  People need to care about others and feel they are cared about by others in return.  They need to feel they are a part of something bigger.  Friendships need to be cultivated!  Don't turn on the television unless there is something on that you want to watch, not because it's there and it's what you usually do.  Television is a creamy filling that distracts us from the substance of our lives.  Turn off the TV!  You are not the type of work you do, the neighborhood you live in, or the size of your bank account.  You are an almost inconceivably complicated mix of abilities and limitations, just like everyone else.  Accept yourself — unconditionally!  Sometime we feel lost in a vast and complex world.  There is tremendous comfort in knowing your ethnic heritage, so think about and celebrate your ethnicity.  It gives you a sense of place, a uniqueness that remains no matter what else is going on around you, and gives you a history.  Remember where you came from!  As you get ready for bed tonight, don 't let your thoughts shoot around from one subject to another, until they have created a catalog of problems.  As you are brushing your teeth, decide on something you would like to think about when you get into bed.  Guide yourself back to that one subject, if other thoughts start to intrude.  Limit Yourself to one subject!  If you want to know if people are happy, ask them about their friends.  Don't ask them how large their take-home salary is or how  much money they have in the bank.  The primary components of happiness are number and closeness of friends, closeness of family and relationship with co-workers and neighbors.  These features explain about 70 per cent of personal happiness.  Friendship beats money!  People who are happy choose things  that are within their grasp, they don't get everything they want, but they want most of what they get.  Always strive to make things better, not perfect, stay with reality.  Have realistic expectations!  You will grow frustrated with your surroundings as you age, if you limit yourself to what you knew and were comfortable with earlier in your life.  Never stop learning and adapting, the world will always be changing.  Be open to new ideas!  Tell someone how much you care, there is no better way to show that appreciation.  Relationships are built on mutual appreciation.  Share with others how important they are to you!  If you're not sure whether someone is happy or unhappy, guess positively!   You won't be able to function, if you don't believe in yourself, so don't write yourself off.  Believe in yourself!  Just because you believe in yourself and are a capable person doesn't mean you will never make a mistake or that you cannot learn from others or you should never be criticized.  So, Don't believe in yourself too much!  Problems fester when we are alone, so we need to discuss our problems with others, whether it be those who care about us most or those who have faced the same problems we have.  We are sociable people, by sharing, we can gain perspective and find solutions to problems that can appear to be unsolvable.  Don't face your problems alone!  Seniors often report serene satisfaction with their life.  Even though they have to make accommodations for age, older people are as happy as younger people.  Age is not to be feared!  Chores that have to be done on a regular basis, like cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming the living room, mowing the yard, along with sixteen other things that need to be done can be overwhelming.  Instead of facing endless chores, set up a reasonable schedule to do your work, and you will have a list of tasks to accomplish each day.  With a routine, you won't be wondering what's next.  Develop a household routine!  Did you know nothing would be the same if you didn't exist.  Everyone you have ever spoken to and every place you have ever been would be different without you.  You are not here to be a background character in someone else's movie and you are not here just to fill space.  We are all affected by the decisions and even the existence of those around us, we are all connected.  Your life has purpose and meaning!  There is a lot of good stuff on this subject, so if you would like to learn more, you can read it in:References:  The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People by David Niven, Ph.D, HarperCollins publishers, Inc., 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022

A group of teachers traveled to Colorado from Wellesley College, near Boston, in the summer of 1893.  They stopped at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, who were celebrating the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America.  An English Professor Katherine Lee Bates, was among them.  The young women marveled at the splendor of the exposition, then continued on westward.  They stood in wordless rapture, from the top of Pike's Peak in the Colorado Rockies, at the expanse of mountains and plains before them.  Comparing the man-made spectacle of the exposition, to the scenic splendor fashioned by the hand of God, later that evening ,they discussed the day's events.  "We must match the greatness of America with the goodness of personal Godly living", Katherine commented.  One of the other teachers  had purchased a piece of alabaster, and they talked about the "alabaster city" where all would be joy and peace.  Katherine Lee Bates sat down later that night, with events of the trip vividly in mind, and expressed her dream of a Christian nation in the verses of a song, each closing with a prayer for her beloved country……O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!   America!  America!  God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!  O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern impassioned stress, A thoroughfare of freedom beat across the wilderness!   America! America!  God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!  O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!  America!  America!  May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness and every grain devine!  O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!  America!  America!  God shed His grace on the,  And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!……Thus   "America the Beautiful" by Katherine Lee Bates!  She received degrees from numerous universities and wrote seventeen books before her death in 1929, but she is remembered most as the author of this beautiful song written about our country, one of the nations finest Patriotic Hymns.  References:  CATHEDRAL PRESS Long Prairie, MN 56347

           I sing the mighty power of God

                   That made the mountains rise,

                          That spread the flowing seas abroad

                                  And built the lofty skies…..Isaac Watts