Random Acts of "Kindness"

Archive for June, 2016

PERSISTENCE

I have been trying to lose weight for a very long time with NO SUCCESS. Imagine my surprise when the scale actually registered a lower number again and then again. I haven’t increased my exercise — in fact, because of the pain in my knee, I’ve cut back. I was getting more than 10,000 steps a day. Now I’m lucky if I get 7,000. While I’m no longer going down, the temperature has risen and the little bit of sodium in my diet equals a weight gain.

I don’t know what is causing this weight reduction, I think it might be a combination. Because of the pain in various body parts I have a cherry – chocolate smoothie for breakfast. The chocolate comes from unsweetened cocoa. I was adding one scoop of protein powder until I read that in order for woman over 50 to lose weight, she should have 25 – 30 mg of protein at each meal. Now I have two scoops of protein with a cup of almond milk. Cherries are supposed to be helpful with pain. Studies of cocoa have found that it may reduce the risk of heart disease and cognitive decline. Two weeks after starting this smoothie, I received an invitation to join a study. I would have to give up the vitamins and stuff I’m currently doing in order to take their pills for four years. I’m going to stay the course with what I’m doing, not take the chance that it might be a placebo.

Since my knee was yelling, a man at the veteran’s clinic shared an idea that is supposed to help with pain. Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of honey in water. I’ve taken one tablespoon of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, one or two times a day in water to help with my digestion. So I increased the vinegar to two. When I added the honey it went all over the counter and other places so I just take the bottle and squirt a bit into the warm or hot water. I’m trying for twice a day. It is supposed to take a month before I’ll notice a difference.

The third part of the equation is a mixture of 4 oz cranberry juice in 28 oz of water consumed during the day. The mixture is supposed to dilute the bile in the body, helping it to flow. The article I read suggested having the juice of half a lemon in water in the morning. Since I’m already doing the apple cider vinegar, I haven’t added the lemon juice. Since the temperature has risen, I’m considering adding dandelion tea to the water to help with water retention.

I’m hopeful that this combination will continue to help my weight decrease. This summer is supposed to be very hot. Less weight on my body parts will help I’m sure. Stay tuned. Up or down, I’ll share the results.

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CONFUSED

In the early days of my trying to understand the messages that I received, I was hit on the head a lot. I remember the trunk of our car closing on my head when my husband was trying to contact me. I remember branches of a tree falling on my head, and the colored pencils I was using, all rolling off my table because it was time for me to do something else. The one that stands out the most is when the toilet seat fell on my head at Menards. I dislike getting hurt and I do my best to try to be alert and pick up the messages as they come in.

Now I’ll admit that they don’t come in plainly, in English, telling me what I’m forgetting to do or possibly what I should be doing. I’ll also admit that I probably wouldn’t listen which is what causes me to get hurt. When I read the article about the Universe Yelling, I knew that often it is talking to me. I also thought I was paying attention! WRONG! Stuff started falling out of the freezer downstairs. Hitting my foot — slipper socks — no protective shoes. Then a bag of chili fell on top of my head. I thought I deciphered that one correctly and had a single serving of chili soup for lunch. WRONG AGAIN!

Hindsight — I think the message trying to get across was that I was wearing my shoes too long, throwing off my knee — hip. OUCH! Two weeks and my knee is still whimpering, at least it is no longer yelling or screaming. My new request, prayer, pleading with the COMMANDER of my life is that if we are to stay in this house, I need to be able to navigate the stairs.

I’ve cut back on Robin’s walk — one block instead of two. Now I take off whatever shoes I’m wearing in the house and put on slipper socks. I would go barefoot but I’m still wearing my lovely compression sexy socks. I’m trying to pay more attention to the wear on my shoes. My knee improves, then something painful happens. And I’m back butt down, feet up again. Still trying!

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HOPES UP

I’m interested in natural ways to heal the body. I don’t know whether this interest started when my father’s memory started to vanish or if my interest began many years before. I take an assortment of vitamins and drink herbal tea. When I read an article about the importance of collagen in the body, I added another pill to my assortment. This particular pill supports hair, skin and nails. Nothing is mentioned about joints.

Asking a pharmacist, I learned that Glucosamine and Chondroitin are recommended for joints. Both of which I’m already taking. I was excited when I received a coupon book advertising a supplement for joint health. Researching the pill on the internet I was disappointed to learn it was exactly the same as the pill I was already taking, just higher in cost.

Sadly my weight and my knees are not getting along. In fact — since I wear the outside edges of the heels of my shoes, throwing off my balance — my knees have been yelling lately. I don’t pay close enough attention to the wear on my heels, causing myself PAIN.

I have read that cherries are a natural pain reliever and I LOVE cherries. A few years ago I found a recipe for a cherry smoothie in a woman’s magazine. It sounded good — I wrote the recipe down but didn’t try it until recently when my knees started complaining. Smoothies for breakfast — maybe I would lose weight. This recipe calls for a tablespoon of cocoa. Cherries and chocolate — what’s not to love?

Two weeks after starting cherry smoothies for breakfast, I received an invitation to participate in a cocoa – multivitamin study. Studies have shown that cocoa may reduce the risk of heart disease and age-related cognitive decline. I would join their study but I don’t want to give up the assorted vitamins that seem to be good for my body nor do I want to take a chance that I would take a placebo instead. But it is NICE TO GET CONFIRMATION that I might be doing something good. “Thank You! to my friends” even though it has taken me a few years to act.

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IMAGES

I have been told many times that I have talents that I don’t use. No hints have been given as to what those talents are. I just keep muddling through — trying to do the best that I can. I have shared that I try to meditate, but only on a very rare occasion do I get an image or connection. Exactly what is supposed to occur when you meditate? I don’t know. Sometimes I will get an image, sometimes I will see light — blue, yellow, clear. Most of the time I have a blank screen where nothing happens. But sometimes I get a surprise.

I was at Botanical Garden — enjoying the sunshine, the breeze, the day. It was cool — jacket needed, I was glad my hat could be fastened. The daffodils were still in bloom, crab apple trees waiting for warmer weather. The waterfall was running. I stopped to catch my breathe and listen to the running water. Before I sat down, I read a note about the cherry trees that the Japanese government had given to Washington DC and also The Botanic Garden.

Sitting on a bench to rest, I closed my eyes and watched as a gray image dressed in ceremonial garb came towards me. The image stopped within touching distance — too close if it would have been an actual person. I was surprised by the image, and although I tried to discern more about it — the image disappeared before I could tell if it was male or female, and what the garments actually were. I just had the impression they weren’t normal American clothing.

From the waterfall, I wandered to the Japanese Garden. I usually try to stop and watch with closed eyes (meditate?) at one of the secluded areas but the Garden was too busy to try. As is my practice, I wandered over to the island, crossing the bridge through the wooded area, visiting my favorite places, talking to others and taking pictures.

At the end of the wooded area, in the sunshine, protected from the wind, I stopped again on a bench — closing my eyes. I was amazed to watch many gray figures wander past. I don’t remember most of them, but one was a farmer in overalls with a woman walking with him. They were proceeding down the path, heading for the entrance. I watched for a minute, then decided that maybe it was time to leave.

I stopped for a bite to eat at the cafe. Since it was a beautiful day, I wanted to sit outside. An oriental couple were leaving as I looked for an empty table. “Thank You” my response to my world. I saw a young woman looking for a place to sit. Everything was taken, so she sat on the bench by the fence. Since I was alone, I asked her to join me. SURPRISE (not really)– the woman was Japanese, a teacher who taught the Japanese language to her students in a high school.

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