Are You Worried? 4 Steps to Peace of Mind

Why Worry?

A friend has this quotation on his office wall: "I know worry works because nothing I worry about ever happens."

I think I must believe that, because I worry a lot -- and about the most insignificant things. I worry about the big things, of course, like health, relationships, and finances. But I'm also liable to fret about anything and everything that finds its way into my consciousness.

Because I spend so much time on worry, I've decided to embrace it with a personal research project. Maybe you'd like to join me.

Here are two avenues I'm exploring:

1) I practice catching myself at it. "Hey, I'm worrying again." During a recent morning swim, I caught myself worrying 10 times during one lap! I'm not kidding. On rare days when I don't have anything to worry about, I find something. What I've learned is that worry is a mental habit. I can change habits; I've done it before. There's hope.

2) My second approach is to practice presence. By this I mean stopping my thoughts. In my workshops, I ring a bell to help participants practice centering. The quieter we are, the longer we hear the bell. There's a lovely moment when we all listen . . . until the ring is barely audible . . . then just a memory. I relish that moment of quiet before my thoughts re-engage. There is no future or past, just Now. No worrying thoughts -- no thoughts at all. It's a peaceful place, which is why I stretch the moment. I want to strengthen the connection to something greater than my worries.

3) When I told my good friend Rosie about my worry project, she told me about her approach, which is to do one of three things: decide to address the issue right then; if you can't do anything about it at the moment, give yourself a time to address it later; or decide that it is not important and let it go. In other words, act on it, file it or throw it away.

4) Finally, one of Rosie's favorite worry stoppers (and mine) is to sing. Connect with your self, your creativity, and the place where everything really is okay.

Awareness and acknowledgment are the keys to changing our habits. Morihei Ueshiba, who founded aikido and spoke of it as the Art of Peace, said we must "always practice the Art of Peace in a vibrant and joyful manner." Perhaps my research project on worry will help me to lighten up, smile, and live each day in such a way.

Are you worrying? Stop your thoughts for a moment. Listen to the sounds around you, pay attention, and be present to this key moment. And smile . . . for no reason. You may find that's the best reason of all.

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 Jim and Jeanetta Pollard
http://TheFabulousFifties.net

Happy as You Want to Be

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.

Almost everyone have heard the hit single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby Mcferiin's simple message surely made a lot of people  happy by telling them not to worry.

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.

One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too would change.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along with well with

Happiness is actually found in everyone, increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.

To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.

There are several ways by which you can do this.

 

Being grateful is a great attitude.  We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the mailman for bringing you your mails, thank the policeman for making your place safe and thank God for being alive.

News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. Try and think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.

A religious connection is also recommended. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations foster inner peace.

Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed  as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily everyday.  Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'.

 

Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.

 

Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.

Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday.  Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future.

Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.

Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.

These are the few simple things you can do everyday to be happy. And to learn even more about all-inclusive happines, please take time to visit http://www.happiness.thegreat.info .

And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, he says that, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

A FREE HALLOWEEN GIFT FOR OUR FOLLOWERS:

 Click Here HALLOWEEN SAFETY GUIDE

Jim and Jeanetta Pollard

http://SantaSpeaks.com

Be Happy! Happiness is just a Matter of Mind

Happiness

Giving Happiness

We all want happiness. We all need appreciation. We all crave for recognition. We all want to be applauded. We all desire to be called good and lovely human beings. We are all looking for this certificate from our friends, family and our partner. This makes us happy. This makes us feel good about ourselves. This gives us new confidence in ourselves. This all gives us a new and positive self esteem, which is very important.

We all want happiness. We all need appreciation. We all crave for recognition. We all want to be applauded. We all desire to be called good and lovely human beings. We are all looking for this certificate from our friends, family and our partner. This makes us happy. This makes us feel good about ourselves. This gives us new confidence in ourselves. This all gives us a new and positive self esteem, which is very important.

How to get it? Let us do all this for others. If no one is praising us, let us praise others. Let us do all that we want others to do to us. Let us give love, affection, appreciation, and let us applaud others even for a very small victory. Will this help us? It helps us immediately. The first feeling we get after doing a good deed is a feeling of satisfaction. This raises our self esteem in our own eyes. This makes us feel good. By making others happy, we get happiness. So let us become proactive and get all we want by not asking for it, but giving it.

What will happen to others when they get such praise from us? They will feel very happy. They will be happy with us. They will like us even more. They will like to do something in return. They will do all that we have been wishing for. Send happiness to get happiness. The shortest route to a lovely life.

Happiness is a state of mind, when one feels contented with oneself. One feels cheerful with one's life and circumstances. Remaining unhappy is not our goal in life, but happiness is our goal. If we are not happy, life become a burden. One lives, but only because one has no choice. Why not make happiness a part of everyday living?

A FREE HALLOWEEN GIFT FOR OUR FOLLOWERS:

 Click Here HALLOWEEN SAFETY GUIDE

Jim and Jeanetta Pollard

The best Christmas gift for your family

http://santaspeaks.com

Anger and Hurt; another lonely place!

Lonely People

Being human can really be challenging, to say the least. We feel emotions with every breath we take, every move we make. Some emotions are so sweet that we never want to lose that feeling. Other emotions cause us so much anger and hurt that we are paralyzed with pain.

 Our minds use anger as a memory of a hurt that we have experienced. The memory is usually due to the fact that we neglected to express our hurt at the time for one reason or another. We tend to not show our anger or hurt because we do not want to cause a conflict or hurt another's feelings or ever admit those feelings. We also hang onto it because once we actually show we are angered, we are showing we are not perfect and that in fact we are human and can feel pain.

 But if we continue to push away our feelings to protect our perfect selves, we become less real and less connected to people in our lives, without even realizing how  far we are pushing them away.

 Protecting another person from our hurts or anger is only imprisoning ourselves, so that they will never be able to reach us. If we do this long enough we cannot find happiness anywhere. When we are questioned why we are upset, we can not even find the beginning to the hurt we have hidden. The longer we hide our hurts and anger the more confusing they become. Things get all tangled up and if we dare try to explain, we are totally speaking another language.

Protecting another person from our hurts or anger is only imprisoning ourselves, so that they will never be able to reach us. If we do this long enough we cannot find happiness anywhere. When we are questioned why we are upset, we can not even find the beginning to the hurt we have hidden. The longer we hide our hurts and anger the more confusing they become. Things get all tangled up and if we dare try to explain, we are totally speaking another language.

 Have you ever been hurt by someone and then they make it impossible for you to explain why you are angered? Those people can do a lot of damage, they are controllers. When you can identify that type of person, only then can you fight back and tell them, "please just shut up and listen". If you want to be unhappy then keep hanging onto that hurt. It will definitely drag your self-esteem to the bottom.

 Hurt is a pain of the moment and it is happening right now. Its reason is right there in front of you. You must deal with it or you will only hide it and end up alone in your prison of loneliness. The longer you hold back, the more angry you become with you, for not acting out. That's when guilt moves right on in and takes over, making you  want to get even with that person. Your negative thoughts are seeded now and nothing feels good. Is this a good thing? NOT!!!

 It is definitely not easy to risk being called oversensitive, or told that you are just causing a fight, or they just laugh you off like you are a child. You may even find that this person doesn`t really care about you. Better to find that out asap, don`t you think? 

 These FEELINGS of hurt and anger have a way of taking over our lives. Is it not better to let it out now than to live in an unhappy life of silence?  Tell someone how you feel, when you feel it, or you will only lock those FEELINGS up inside you and trust me, you will lose yourself.

You may even hurt the one you love, but honesty is the best way. I believe that with a true love you should be able to tell that person anything and yes, even if you feel hurt or angered by them.

 Love conquers anger and hurt. It battles jealousy and helps lift you to a higher self-esteem!

 To be truly happy and not endure the prisons of negative emotions, we need to be heard. We need to be understood. We need to be forgiven. We also need to be loved and cared for.

 And my sweet readers, on that note, I will leave you with another tip to strengthen

your courage to keep climbing that mountain to a better you!

Take responsibility for your life.

You have the power to make things better.

And most importantly, you have a choice!

Dorothy Lafrinere

Owner/Operator

Website- http://www.womensselfesteem.com

Weblog- http://www.justblogme.com/Dorothy

Forum- http://womenselfesteem.proboards29.com

email- dorothy@womensselfesteem.com

A FREE HALLOWEEN GIFT FOR OUR FOLLOWERS:

 Click Here HALLOWEEN SAFETY GUIDE

Jim and Jeanetta Pollard

The Best Christmas Gift http://www.SantaSpeaks.com

Activities Promoting Healthy Aging

Lack of activities can prevent you from living healthy. When you do not enjoy activities, you may feel fatigue or find it difficult to sleep at night. When you awake in the morning, you may feel tired until you finally fall asleep. As we, age our body change and we have to make changes to accommodate our lives.

Having a good night sleep makes the mind think more clearly. A good night sleep also boosts your energy while controlling your weight. You can also make decisions with less stress. Sleeping well at night makes our immune system stronger to keep us healthier.  Researchers have proved that a good nights sleep is necessary for our health.  Researchers have found that lack of sleep reduces the growth hormones in our bodies, since it changes muscles to fat. Sleep overall is most important, yet it stands behind activities. To improve your health, try walking each day.

Walking will help to loosen our muscles, reduces stress and depression along with anxiety. By reliving these things, it will help us to sleep for a longer and deeper period.  So, when we wake up in the morning we feel happier and more rested.

When you exercise, you get a good night sleep, which promotes metabolism. Without the right amount of sleep, our bodies crave energy. Our body will release insulin or glucose into the bloodstream, which slows down metabolism. This action causes the body to gain weight, rather than control weight.

When a person feels exhausted, they will feel weak and repressed from enjoying activities. This leads to additional problems. Sleeping right balances out our bodies giving us, more energy leading to more activities that will satisfy our sleep needs.

What to avoid:
To rest proper and feel active you must reduce your intake of caffeine, nicotine, harmful chemicals, such as over-the-counter meds that keep you awake, alcohol and so on. The chemicals and substances will keep you awake. Try to avoid drinking anything after 8 p.m. in the evening. Nicotine should be avoid if possible, yet if you must smoke try to avoid smoking after 8 p.m.

Start a walking program in the morning to help wake you up, while boosting your energy. You will feel better since the joints will feel flexible enough to move freely. In addition, walking will help you burn fat and calories. You’ll notice a big change in how you feel the rest of the day.  Start out walking at a slow steady pace for as far as your comfortable.  Each day pick up the pace a bit and walk further. Just remember when walking that you want to work up to a steady brisk walk to make you sweat but not out of breath. Take a short walk before and after meals to calm your nerves, and burn calories too, it will give you energy, relieve that stress from the long day and help you sleep.

If you start a walking program for yourself, it is a lot more fun if you have someone to go with you. Talk to that neighbor you don’t know and maybe they’ll walk with you. Just think about it; you’ll be acquainted with someone new, talk about new things will relieve stress and get in you exercise as well. This might help that neighbor too who maybe hasn’t seen or talked to anyone in a couple of days and than they can sleep better at night.

After walking that brisk walk your doing be sure to cool down. When walking at a vigorous pace your heart rate will go up and it needs to be back to normal. Just walk a bit slow and relaxing until you’ve cooled down.

If you can’t go to sleep at night instead of getting up and turning on the TV try pacing around the house. Do some stretching and shake your arms and legs. Even walking around the house can relax you especially when everyone else is in bed and you can relax more.

Jim and Jeanetta Pollard
Co-host and producers
"The Fabulous Fifties and Beyond" TV Show
Jim@JimPollard.com
http://jimpollardministry.blogspot.com/

7 Unique Ways To Make Someone Smile

Learn 7 new ways to put a smile on someone's face. You won't know how many people are encouraged by your kindness because smiles are contagious. Try out one or more of these 7 ways today to make the world a better place.


Do you want to put a smile on someone's face?  Maybe make their day a little bit brighter?  It doesn't have to take much time or money on your part.  In fact, many things can be done as a part of your normal routine and cost little or nothing.  You won't know how many people are encouraged by your kindness because smiles are contagious. Try out one or more of these 7 ways today to put smiles on their faces.

1. Write an encouraging note to others that have encouraged you or that need encouragement. Handwritten notes that are given to encourage, not just for thanking someone for a gift, are rare. That makes handwritten notes even more special. Start a new practice of sitting down and writing an encouraging note on a regular basis. You just might start an epidemic!

2. Take a friend out to lunch or invite her to your home for a meal.  You will get to know each other even better than you do right now. If you feel like being more adventurous, throw a party for several of your friends and put smiles on a multitude of faces.

3. Give someone an inspirational book to read. You will feel good doing it, reading the book will change the person, and they will think of you every time they read it.

4. Ask a friend or relative if you can take care of their kid(s) for a day or evening. If you have been a parent, you know the value of being able to have a few hours of "adult time" without worrying about the children. Don't wait to be asked to baby-sit when it is required. Offer to do it at a time when the parent can do something fun and relaxing.

5. Deliver a meal to someone you know that is sick or having a rough time. We have all been sick and know the last thing you want to do is be out of bed. There are also times when life is tough and it is hard to do all of the daily chores. You can be a tremendous help by providing a meal that can be enjoyed.

6. Volunteer time to supporting your local church or charity.  Every minute you dedicate to a church or charity will cause many smiles.  You will put a smile on the face of each leader just for helping without being asked.  You will also be putting smiles on the faces of those that are being helped through the organization.

7. Thank everyone that supports you throughout the day.  The list of those that you come in contact with is endless.  Remember family and friends, secretaries, co-workers, teachers, Sunday school teachers, pastors, store employees, janitors, gas station attendants, those that deliver your mail and newspaper, and servers at restaurants.

I know this is a list of 7 ways to put a smile on someone's face, but there is one more way that can't be ignored. Reveal a genuine smile to everyone you meet. You will experience how easy it is to get others to smile!

Informing - Inspiring - Motivating

Remember use it or lose it!


Jim Pollard
Jim@TheFabulousFifties.net

Here's the "Smile" song 

the over50 gang will remember.

Enjoy

"Smile" by Nat King Cole

4 New Shows Posted

Today we have posted four new shows taped this week. The shows are timely and loaded with information for you our readers and you who watch our show "The Fabulous Fifties and Beyond".
The new shows are:
1. McCracken County-Paducah City Merger. Merger of McCracken County and Paducah City is a hot political topic. Jim and Jeannetta Pollard speak with Tom Garrett, Vice Chair of the Joint Merger Commission. Garrett tries to dispel some of the myths and rumors about the proposed merger.
2. What Did You Say? Are you being accused of mumbling? Do you know someone who is constantly turning up the volume to the television set? Hearing loss can be a difficult stigma for adults to overcome. Learn about hearing loss and the various ways to deal with this problem. Jim and Jeanetta Pollard speak with Mike Stone, BCHIS, President and Owner of Stone-Lang Company.
3. Easter Seal Art Show and Auction. The 6th Annual Heart & Soul Art Celebration is just around the corner. Join various artists on Thursday, Sept. 29th from 6pm until 8pm at LowerTown Paducah's Madison Hall. West Kentucky Community & Technical College's Culinary Arts Department is providing the heavy hors d'oeuvres.
You'll have the opportunity to purchase a masterpiece at the live and silent art auction featuring the works of local artists and Easter Seals adults. Jim and Jeanetta Pollard speak with Stephanie Benjamin and Diana Davenport of Easter Seals West Kentucky.

4. Frauds and Schemes. Frauds, schemes, swindling, deceit, tricks, rip-offs: these things are on the rise especially in the elderly demographic. How can you help combat this growing epidemic? Jim and Jeanetta Pollard speak with Malinda Elrod-Baltz, Investigative Assistant for the Paducah Police Department. Learn things to watch out for. If it's too good to be true, then you are probably being scammed.

We hope you learn from and enjoy all the shows.

You can contact us at Jim@TheFabulousFifties.net . We would love to hear from you.

"The Inside is What Counts"

This article will deal with what is on the inside of us. Who we are on the inside, seems to show up on the outside no matter how hard we try to hide it

Greetings self-help readers,

This article will deal with what is on the inside of us. Who we are on the inside, seems to show up on the outside no matter how hard we try to hide it. You have no doubt heard of people wearing their hearts on their sleeves and this is because what is in our hearts are some deep emotions. You can be the best actor/actress in the world but if you are hurting inside you are in bad emotional shape. You can mask your pain with a smile or a laugh but that pain is still there. You can not make that pain disappear with alcohol or drugs it simply returns when the narcotic is out of the system. Medication will also need to be constantly taken if one is on anti-depressants. Why? Because the heart itself, what is on the inside of every single person on this planet is never dealt with. God speaks of people who honor Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him. God knows what is inside of all of us. The choice can be to run from who we are. To pour ourselves into various addictions to get away from who we are. We must however deal with who we really are if we are to move past any pain in our lives.

Before my darling mother passed away, she uttered the words it is time to move on to my wife and I. Those words were very hard to hear but they still ring true today as I am reminded of them when I reflect back on my last days with her. I could have chosen to stay in the emotional state of numbness that I was in during her last days on earth or proceed to keep all the great memories of my mother in my heart and enyoy the rest of the time that God has given me on the earth. The choice was mine. It was a difficult one but one that I believe that all of us must make when it comes to dealing with who we are. If I chose to stay in a state of numbness and deal with it by working too much or withdrawl I would too busy focusing on myself. I would miss out on spending time with my amazing wife and daughter and I would never be able to get that time back.

Take a look at who you are inside. Talk about the pain with someone you can trust and move on. You can do it. You must do it if you are to be the very best that you can be. Choose not to live in the past because you will miss the very future that God has planned for you.

Much continued positive attitude success,

Jim and Jeanetta Pollard

http://jimpollardministry.blogspot.com/ 

New Fabulous Fifties and Beyond Television Shows taped

Monday, April 4, we taped three new "The Fabulous Fifties and Beyond" Television shows. All shows stream at http://tv.westkentucky.kctcs.edu/videoclips/50s/.

Crystal Williams, Director of Purchase Area Senior Games, shared with us all about this years games. The theme for the 26th annual games is "Go for the Gold" There are activities for all ages fifty and older. In the past we have had participates as young as 99 years old.

The Senior Games opening ceremonies are at Stewart Stadium, MSU, Murray, Kentucky, Monday, May 9, 2011 at 9:00 am. Sign in begins at 8:30 am.

You can find a complete list of the Events and copy of the official entry form by clicking here. You can print it out and submit it to:
PASG
Crystal Williams
Purchase Area Development District
P. O. Box 588
Mayfield, KY 42066

Discover Effective Anti-Aging Strategies

Discover Effective Anti-Aging Strategies

Some people feel that aging or growing old is like paying for something you haven’t consumed. But, if aging is understood properly and preventive measures are done in an orderly manner, then aging shouldn't feel like a torture or a punishment for something you haven't done.

USE AND DEVELOP YOUR OWN ANTI-AGING STRATEGY

The following are just some of the simple anti-aging strategies you can apply to your daily life. These are generic so that is why you are also encouraged to develop your own anti-aging strategy that can suit you and your needs best.

1. Do everything you can to maintain a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight that corresponds to your height is one of the best ways to avoid early signs of aging. By maintaining a healthy weight, you can also avoid various coronary heart diseases and other conditions that can be linked with obesity.

By keeping your weight in check, you can achieve a healthy life that can veer you away from aging. Keeping a healthy weight is also possible by eating fruits and vegetables, limiting fat and calorie intake, and with regular work out and exercise.

2. Quit smoking. Smoking is truly dangerous not only to your health but also to those people surrounding you. If you can, you must start developing a routine in order to quit smoking. When you stop smoking, you can reduce the risk of having heart diseases and lung diseases such as cancer.

3. Shield yourself from the sun's damaging rays. Protecting yourself from the sun's deadly rays is one of the best anti-aging strategies out there. Since exposure to the sun is one of the major causes of skin aging, less exposure to it can help you reduce the risk factor of skin cancer. To protect your skin further, avoid sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and always apply sun block on your skin when you're outdoors.

4. Drink plenty of water. Hydrating your skin is also one of the best anti-aging skin strategies out there. Make sure that you provide your body enough water and not with fluids that can damage organs in the body and weaken the immune system such as alcohol.

5. Stay happy. Most people would agree that staying happy is the best anti-aging strategy out there because it gives you a positive outlook in life that makes him or her stay young in body, mind and soul.

Jim and Jeanetta Pollard, Host of Television Show, "The Fabulous Fifties and Beyond"

Check out their new releaseGuide To Dealing With and Caring For The Elderly

Anti-Aging For Dummies

Anti-Aging For Dummies

Want to live a long and healthy life while successfully preventing the appearance of aging on your skin? Before embarking on an anti-aging regimen, treatment of products, you must first be able to properly manage your expectations.

First of all, aging is a natural process and an obsession against aging isn't healthy. However, it is quite important and beneficial to try to maintain health and promote longevity by staying generally healthy. Health maintains youthfulness and it ensures that you won't grow old or show signs of it before it is absolutely time.

Next, you must understand that anti-aging management needs to be handled through several lifestyle enhancements and aging problems can't be solved miraculously by a pill or panacea. Health and well being is achieved only through the existence of balance among three components needed in your life and these are: mental health; physical health; and emotional health.

Healthy body

The physical health aspect is achieved with constant proper nutrition and regular exercise. Keeping the body healthy and functioning healthily ensures that its processes aren't disrupted. Disruption in bodily functions caused by poor health and the predisposition to illnesses causes damage in cell tissues and this accumulated damage is what we call aging.

Healthy mind

When we age we lose irreplaceable brain cells. In fact, in old age, damages to the brain begin to manifest itself in the form of dementia. While is a natural fact of life that we will indeed lose brain cells along the way, there are certain stimuli and factors that speed up the loss of brain cells and affect our mental faculties. Aside from keeping an open mind and trying to continue to learn as we grow older, proper nutrition and physical exercise are essential to maintaining the brain's health.

Healthy feelings

Our emotions are actually a result of the chemical reactions in our body. Certain chemicals and hormones are triggered depending on the stimuli we experience, These chemicals and hormones then send signals to the brain and our cognitive functions then in turn dictate our emotions. This is why it is important to combine mental and physical health.

A good balance between the two ensures a healthy well being. If we are unable to control our emotions we may succumb to stress. which in turn has the power to alter our overall health. Stress takes a toll on our body and makes us act irrationally.

It is important that we remain active. Write a book, paint a picture, make a piece of pottery, volunteer at your local hospital, do something.

"Remember Use It or Lose It"

The Cab Ride



The following story was taken from the Internet. The author is unknown. This is such a powerful story that we feel everyone would benefit from it.

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute and then drive away.
But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.
So I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being drug across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. “Would you carry my bag out to the car?” she asked. I took the suitcase to the cab and then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.
“It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good boy,” she said.
When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.”
I looked in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were glistening. “I don’t have any family left,” she continued. “The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. “What route would you like me to take?” I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. “How much do I owe you?” she asked, reaching into her purse.
“Nothing,” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered.
“There are other passengers,” I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,” she said. “Thank you.”
I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of the day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware – beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, - BUT – THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU TREATED THEM.



Submitted by Jim and Jeanetta Pollard
9312 St. Rt. 131
Hickory, Ky. 42051
270-851-7699 or cell # 270-493-0281
santa1@bellsouth.net

Mother's Day ... THE LEGACY OF A MOTHER

THE LEGACY OF A MOTHER
By Mrs. Claus, Jeanette Pollard

When I think back on my life and think of my mother, I think of the wonderful legacy that she left us.
Hers was not an easy life. We lived on a farm. There were always cows to milk, gardens to plant and hoe, canning to be done and clothes to be made. Most of our food and clothes were all made at home. I remember when I went to school I would take my lunch. I would always have a piece of homemade cake. Two of my good friends would always have “bought” cakes. We would trade desserts. My homemade cake was a treat for them as their “bought” ones were for me.
I think the thing I remember most about my mother was her gift of caring for others. I remember when I was a child and daddy would be gone in our one car. She would hear of someone who was sick. This person might live one, two miles or more away, but that wouldn’t keep her from walking to go see them.
Recently I was in the beauty shop and saw one of Mother’s friends. She told me she remembered Mother walking about a mile in the snow to visit someone who was ill.
Not only did she visit sick people, but she and my dad would always be some of the first people to a home where a family member had just died. They would come bringing food.
Mother lived alone for almost fifteen years after my dad died. The last few years she was alive we had to have someone with her all the time. We hired someone to stay with her five days a week. We four girls stayed with her nights and weekends.
When we first hired someone, the lady was staying twenty-four hours a day for five days a week. She was only charging $30 a day. We thought surely Mother wouldn’t think that was too much, but she did. After a couple of weeks, she fired her. She fired the second lady who was charging about the same. I think she lasted three weeks. After this we just had to start paying the sitter without Mother knowing we were paying her. She just couldn’t understand that people no longer went and sat with people just because they loved people and wanted to help them. The day of the paid sitters had arrived.
I know she is now being paid in a way that is far better than any earthly monetary rewards. She was investing for eternity.
A few months ago our daughter was supposed to come and visit us. She called and said she couldn’t come. A friend of hers mother had died. She had promised her that when this happened, she would keep her children for her. Valerie’s comment to us was, “If you all hadn’t taught me to help others, I probably wouldn’t be doing this.”
When you have departed this world, what kind of legacy will you leave your children and grandchildren? Will they remember you taking the time to do kind deeds for others or will they only remember you working so you can buy some more “stuff” and rushing to and fro – always in a hurry?
Take time now to let your children and grandchildren see you going about doing good. Tomorrow may be too late. We are only guaranteed today.


Jeanetta Pollard has authored two books “Mrs. Claus Shares Stories From The Heart” and “Stories Of Hope”. She lives in Kentucky with her husband known as“The Real Santa” Jim.Pollard http://TheFaoulasFifties.net