Merry Christmas

Throughout the year, as well as in the month of December, we observe many different holidays. However, people are reluctant to say Merry Christmas in fear of not being PC, and afraid of 'offending' someone. I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, I am Christian and I celebrate Christmas. I appreciate it when people say Merry Christmas to me, but I am not 'offended' if they say Happy Holidays. What bothers me though is that people forget WHY we even celebrate Christmas. Christmas, like any other holiday have become very commercialized. It's more about the gifts than about the meaning. Christmas should give us a moment to reflect on the love and compassion that Christ's birth brought into our troubled world.

When we celebrate Christmas, it doesn't mean that we don't have tolerance or understanding about other faiths. When you say Merry Christmas you are not trying to impose your beliefs on others, or disrespect their faiths. This holiday season is about Christ. The stores play Christmas music, decorate for Christmas, they sell Christmas Trees, ornaments and other decorations. Schools close for Christmas, and most companies are closed on  Christmas day and employees get paid for that holiday. No one seems to complain or make a fuss about that. But, wish someone Merry Christmas and you are not Politically Correct. I have friends from diverse backgrounds, different faiths, race, nationalities and church denominations. I respect their beliefs and expect them to respect mine. In my own life I have tried to live without bias; you either like someone or you don't, regardless of their backgrounds. If you want to wish me Happy Holidays, it's OK with me, I sometimes tell people I celebrate Christmas. Therefore, I also should have the right and the freedom to wish people Merry Christmas, they can then let me know what it is they are celebrating. 

I hope we can end the year in peace and not have any more terror scares, and terror attacks. Maybe we can accomplish that if we can be more understanding and tolerant of other people's race or religion and by educating ourselves enough, to know that not all people are bad, and not all people are good. Of course, we still need to be aware and not be naive about things going on around us and in the world. In the meantime, we can try to be a beacon of light, love and peace and treat everyone the way we would want to be treated.

So, in closing, as we rejoice in the good news of this holy season, I hope your home is blessed with peace, joy and the love of friends and family.

From my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2016.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is almost upon us..and what is the first thing that comes to mind? Turkey and all the trimmings? Getting together with family and friends? Should you accept the invitation of a friend, or should you host the dinner? and if you do, who will be on the invitation list? Are you anxious about fixing up and decorating your home? For some people it is a joyous time and for some it may be a stressful time, like it so often is with holidays. And what comes after dessert? For some people it is a football game or a nap on the couch. Others start planning their Christmas shopping early the next day. But it seems like our focus may be a little off balance. Shouldn't there be more to Thanksgiving? Why is it that things evolve around us? me and I?

Thanksgiving is a great time to look back over the past year and remember the ways that God has blessed us. Thanksgiving Day should remind us to have a grateful heart all year long. I know it might be hard for some people who may have experienced some tough situations this past year, and it is a challenge to be thankful. Thanking God may be the last thing you feel like doing. BUT, even if you had a few setbacks or have some bad experiences or memories, there is always something we can find that we can be thankful for. Often we forget the simple blessings. They are taken for granted. For example, did you have a car to drive to work? did you have an income from a job? food on the table, and a home and a family? how about good health? or that accident that was avoided on the way to work? how about a good night's sleep? and a dog who runs to greet you when you come home? (different story with a cat!)...Anyway, you get the idea. We DO have things to be thankful for, but they are not always on our radar screen, because they may be too simple or 'insignificant' to notice. They are routine.

If we were to make thankfulness a pattern of thinking, or a daily habit,  it would impact our lives in a positive way. Instead of reserving gratitude only for what seems good, we should give thanks in everything (1Thessalonians 5:18). By thanking God in the midst of pain and suffering or difficulty, we acknowledge that He knows what's best for us, even if we don't understand why something is happening.  Maybe what we are going thru is to prepare us for something else, later on in our lives.

Although gratitude may not change the way things are, it will change our attitude, and that makes all the difference in the world. Would you rather be grateful or moan and groan and complain, and have a pity party? So, in a few weeks, when we get together for our Thanksgiving dinner, let's share something that we are thankful for and then, continue to express our gratitude to God throughout our daily lives.

Happy Turkey Day!

Good advice

I just read a new quote the other day....

"Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will"....
                                                                                -- Vernon Howard

And here is one from Henry Ford: "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young".....

That is very true. If we keep our minds open and our antennas up for things we encounter every day, we learn new things. Knowledge comes from different sources, sometimes from areas we least expect. Everyone has something to teach us. The opportunities to learn are endless, and learning is a life long process. Also, knowledge is something nobody can take away from us.

There is a Chinese Proverb that says: "Learning is a treasure which will follow its owner everywhere".....
The moment we think that we know it all, is the end of our growing. So, let's continue to learn and keep our minds young !!

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

I was reading an article the other day, that scientists with the National Foundation for Cancer Research, are now making remarkable progress when it comes to improving prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer.

In the last 5 years I have had several of my friends, ages 40 to 65, discover they had breast cancer. Fortunately, all of them underwent treatment and are now in remission and hopefully clean...except one who underwent lumpectomy. It is comforting to know that doctors can detect cancer sooner and they can treat it..One of the ways they can detect it, is in the blood. Using a business card-sized device and a teaspoon of blood, doctors and researchers can detect and capture a single cancer cell out of a billion normal blood cells. With this breakthrough technology, called the CTC-iChip, they can repeatedly assess the genetic weaknesses of breast cancer, prescribe the most effective treatment for each patient, and change the prescription if the cancer becomes resistant- all without the need for painful, repeated biopsies.

Another way is improving surgery through molecular imaging. This revolutionary new imaging technology can help surgeons visually assess, within minutes, whether the margins of a breast cancer lumpectomy are cancer-free. They are saying that this can drastically reduce the need for second surgeries (currently 20-60%), and reduce the risk of 'surgically missed' cancer.

The scientist have also discovered several metastasis suppressor genes, and new targeted therapies that hold great promise to find, prevent, and stop the cancer from spreading.

The NFCR is working with other scientists around the world providing critical resources.

All of this is great news, but we need to do our part in helping whenever we can and support these groups, and also give ourselves a hand in fighting breast cancer with regular monthly self exams. CALL YOUR DOCTOR immediately if you notice any changes.

Keep moving, eat right and stay social.......

We know that as we age, some of the activities we once enjoyed may now be harder to do. Maybe we can't do crossword puzzles as fast as we once did, or can't swim as many laps...What is important is to keep our body and brain active. It's OK to go at a slower pace and go easy on ourselves.

Everyone tells us that exercise is good for our body, but it is as important for our brain. Physical activities increase blood flow to our brain and prevent strokes and other problems which in turn can contribute to memory loss or confusion...So here are some suggestions to stay active: (don't overdo, of course, and check with your doctor before you start)

• Move your body everyday and change the routine so it doesn't get boring..
• Take the stairs whenever you can
• Walk as much as you can
• Swim if you can
• Dance (great social activity that also keeps your brain sharp)
• Don't forget to stretch and do some strength training with weights
• Go bike-riding with a friend 
• Go shopping. You don't need to buy anything, just walk the aisles and look at the items
• March in place during television commercials or do some stretching exercises
• Put away your remote and change channels the old-fashioned way-get up and walk to the TV

It is also important we eat right, and all the fruits and veggies that are good for our heart and body are good for our brain as well. 

• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can cause mental confusion
• Eat fruits and vegetables of many colors
• Eat fish (contains Omega 3 fatty acids which protects brain cells)

Last but not least..............Stay social

From what I have observed over the years, this is a big one.  Close friends and relatives who did things with others, seemed to be more alert then the ones who kept to themselves and were more isolated. It seems that leisure activities that provide physical, mental and social stimulation are the most likely to prevent dementia. Spending time with friends and family can improve your mood as well. So, get involved, go places, do things and meet new people.

• Keep working if you like what you do
• Volunteer to help a cause
• Take a class to learn something new and meet new people
• Join a book club
• Call a friend  (and walk around the house while talking on the phone)
• Visit with a friend for coffee/tea and fun conversation 

Until next time......Stay healthy and Enjoy life 

Keeping our brain active helps prevent memory loss

A few months ago, Galen and I attended a Senior Health Fair which was very informative. We have been to a couple of them the last 4 years, and I do recommend you attend, if there is one offered in your area. I wish I had been to one years ago when my parents and in-laws were having some challenges with old age. We could have used all this knowledge. Instead we struggled through things the best we could. Among other things, these Expos offer free screening tests. Galen discovered he had a problem with bone density, which we would not have known. He consulted with his doctor who ran some additional tests. As a result we were able to address the issue before it was too late.

Anyway, as we age, most of us experience some memory loss. Although it may be 'normal', research has shown that we can take steps to delay or perhaps even prevent some types of memory loss or confusion.

I will share some of the suggestions that are recommended.

Keep your brain busy and in top shape every day

     An active brain makes new connections between cells and also may protect against dementia.
     These connections help our brain store and retrieve information more easily and faster, regardless
     of our age.

•  Do crossword and jigsaw puzzles (I was never good at them but some people love them)
• Play card games, or Bingo (my mom loved both and it was a social thing getting together with her friends) 
• Read the newspaper, magazines, or books that interest you (the more variety I think the better, it keeps us exposed to new ideas)
• Knit, paint, draw or do carpentry projects (I do enjoy knitting, painting and refurbishing old things and  Galen is very good in making things. We always have new and different projects going on) 
• Take up a musical instrument (I am not good in this area at all, I tried learning to play the guitar when I was in my teens and gave up after I discovered how much I had to study and practice)
• Learn a new language ( I have always loved learning new languages, and at one point I spoke 6-7 languages, not all fluent, but could get by. Like anything else if you don't continue to practice you lose it..I need to get back to it..maybe learn to speak Spanish or brush up on my Swedish)
• Stay up to date on technology (I try, Galen is very good at that..he likes new gadgets)
• Learn to use the computer and surf the Internet (If we don't, we will be left out, and left behind)

OK, so much for today.....next time I will talk about Staying Active and the impact it has on our brain.

Until then, enjoy your day!

Father, I wanted a car, NOT a Bible........Are you missing God's Blessings???

Are we missing God's blessings because they are not packaged the way we expect them to be?

Here is a little story I read (I don't know if it is a true story, but nevertheless it makes the point). I think one time or another we all have been there.

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealers showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study, told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and how much he loved him. He handed him a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with his name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said: "With all the money you have, you give me a Bible?" He stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible behind.

Many years passed, and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realized his father was very old. He thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. But before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him that his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to him. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important documents and saw the Bible, new, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened it and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7:11, "And if ye, being  evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do WE miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

Maybe we need to be a little more patient and a little less impulsive, so that we don't jump into premature conclusions. Because the young man stormed out of the room so quickly, without having all the facts, he ended up with anger, sorrow and regrets. The lesson for us all is to accept all gifts with gratefulness and just say 'Thank you".   

 

"If you want to feel rich, just count all the things that you have that money can't buy!"

WOW, I can't believe that more than half of 2015 has already passed us by, and some of you will be returning from summer vacations and the kids will be going back to school. Before we know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be upon us. For some, it has been a great year with many fun memories, blessings and  many accomplishments. For others, so far 2015 may not have been what they had hoped for. They may have faced some disappointments they did not count on, or they may have lost jobs, marriages, or loved ones to illness and death. Whatever our experiences have been so far this year, there is one thing we CAN  and MUST do: forget the the things that are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead. While it is wise to learn from the past, we should not live in the past. We cannot redo or undo the past, but by God's grace we can press forward -- and go anywhere--provided it is forward.

Did you know that two of Australia's indigenous creatures, Kangaroos and Emus, have something in common? They seldom move backward. Kangaroos, because of the shape of their bodies and the length of their strong tail, can bounce along with a forward movement, but cannot shift easily into reverse. Emus can run fast on their strong legs, but the joints in their knees seem to make backward movement difficult. Both animals appear on Australia's coat of arms as a symbol that the nation is to be ever moving forward and making progress.  In 1965 my parents had a choice to immigrate to Australia, or Sweden and they chose Sweden because we would still be close to friends and relatives who lived in Turkey and Greece. Australia seemed soooo far away, and it was... So, we lived in Sweden for 5 years before finally immigrating to the United States, my dad's lifelong dream. I often wonder what our lives would have been like if my parents had made a different choice...I guess, I will never know.

Anyway, I read this little very touching and thought provoking story, that many of you may have read already, but I think it is worth sharing in case you haven't. It is really about changing our thinking..

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives, families, homes, jobs, their involvement in military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon, when the man by the window could sit up, he would take time to describe to his roommate things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to look forward to those one hour periods where his mind would be broadened and be enlightened by the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lake. Ducks and swans played in the water, children sailed their model boats, lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the skyline could be seen in the distance.As the man by the window described in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene. One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing.  Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eyes.

Days and months passed............

One morning, the nurse arrived to find that the man by the window had peacefully passed away in his sleep. She called the attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved near the window.  The nurse was happy to have him switch, and making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up, to take his first look at the world outside. He strained to look through the window beside the bed. IT FACED A BLANK WALL..........

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate to describe such wonderful things outside the window? The nurse responded that the man was blind, and could not even see the window. She said "perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

There is a tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situation. Shared grief is half the sorrow, as they say, BUT happiness, when shared is doubled..If you want to be rich, just count all things that you have that money can't buy.

Today is a gift, that's why it is called the Present!