Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     October 3, 2023: There is so much uncertainty and negativity in the world around you that it sometimes seems beyond your ability to cope. Take time and put forth the effort to see the positive and to be reminded that you are standing on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Establish yourself in the certainty of the power of the Holy Spirit to protect you. Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     I had fooled myself into thinking that I was something important to the rest of the world. I wanted to tell people, "My depression is acting up today" as an excuse for not seeing them, but I never managed to pull it off. Sometimes I just think depression's one way of coping with the world. Like, some people get drunk, some people do drugs, some people get depressed. Because there's so much stuff out there that you have to do something to deal with it.
     It's so hard to talk when you want to kill yourself. That's above and beyond everything else, and it's not a mental complaint-it's a physical thing, like it's physically hard to open your mouth and make the words come out. They don't come out smooth and in conjunction with your brain the way normal people's words do; they come out in chunks as if from a crushed-ice dispenser; you stumble on them as they gather behind your lower lip. So you just keep quiet.

~Ned Vizzini~

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

TO

EUGENE GRAYER

     With aging, you earn the right to be loyal to yourself. Getting older and adjusting to all the things that biologically happen to you is not easy to do and is a constant struggle and adjustment.

~Frances McDormand~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Watch yourself with all diligence, lest the enemy steals near and robs you, depriving you of this great treasure, which is inner peace and stillness of soul. The enemy strives to destroy the peace of the soul, because he knows that when the soul is in turmoil it is more easily led to evil. But you must guard your peace.

~Lorenzo Scupoli~
 

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

10 Foods That May Help Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk

Claire NowakClaire Nowak  Medically reviewed by
Tia Jackson-Bey, MD  

     No food can prevent (or cure) breast cancer but adding these to your diet may help lower your cancer risk.
Eat healthy for your breasts
     Protecting yourself against breast cancer means understanding your inherited risk, your need for screening, and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Have a frank conversation with your doctor about your risk factors and when you should start getting mammograms. But eating healthy is up to you—and these are some of the foods you’ll want to add to your plate on a regular basis.
Olive oil
     Olive oil is a famously healthy fat, and research suggests it may have cancer-preventing potential. Researchers in Spain conducted a five-year study of 4,300 women to track how characteristics of a Mediterranean diet impacted breast cancer risk. One group of women consumed a Mediterranean diet with extra servings of extra virgin olive oil or nuts, and a third control group ate a diet with just a reduced fat intake. The group that ate a Mediterranean diet had fewer cancer diagnoses than the women who only cut back on fat. Those who ate extra olive oil seemed to have an added benefit, according to the 2015 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Coffee
     Is coffee OK? A qualified yes, which is good news for coffee addicts. Women who drank at least five cups of coffee per day were less likely to be diagnosed with hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer after menopause compared with women who drank less than one cup a day, Swedish researchers reported in 2011 in a large population-based study in Breast Cancer Research. However, no need to start drinking coffee if you don’t like it. In general, 5 cups of coffee a day is a lot, and this kind of study can only show an association between the two factors, it doesn’t prove that coffee lowers breast cancer risk.
 Apples
     Don’t throw away those apple peels; they may be ripe with cancer-fighting compounds. According to a Cornell University study, triterpenoids and phytochemicals, antioxidant compounds found in apple peels, can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Keep in mind that the researchers looked at how apple extracts affected the growth of breast cancer cells in laboratory culture dishes, which doesn’t mean that eating an apple will have the same impact on breast cancer cells in a person. However, apples are good for you for lots of other reasons (fiber!), so it won’t hurt to get more in your diet. 
Nuts
     Snacking on nuts, especially walnuts, may have an impact on breast cancer, according to a team of researchers from the Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia. Eating two ounces of walnuts a day for about two weeks may change gene expression in confirmed breast cancers, according to a small study of 10 women published in Nutrition Research. The women were randomized to either eat two ounces of walnuts a day or no walnuts between the time a breast lump was identified and before they had surgery to remove it. After surgery, the researchers analyzed the gene expression in the tumors to see if they could find any differences between the two groups in terms of genes that control the growth of the cells.

Salmon
     Salmon is a popular type of omega-3 rich fish, and an intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with numerous health benefits. Chinese researchers reviewed 21 studies and found that people with the highest intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 is in this category) from fish had a 14 percent reduction in breast cancer risk compared to those with the lowest intake. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, omega-3 fatty acids may also decrease breast density in obese postmenopausal women, according to a 2019 study in the Journal of Proteome Research. Higher breast density is a known risk factor for breast cancer because it makes it more difficult to see potential cancers on a mammogram.
Broccoli
     Broccoli belongs to the cruciferous vegetable family, which also includes kale, bok choy, cabbage, radishes, and cauliflower. Key nutrients in this group of veggies, such as sulforaphane, may slow cancer cell growth in early-stage breast cancer, according to a team of researchers at Oregon State University and the Oregon Health & Science University. They studied 54 women who were scheduled for a breast biopsy after an abnormal mammogram. The women were randomly assigned to take a placebo or a supplement of a compound related to sulforphone called glucoraphanin. The supplements were safe for the women to take, but they did not seem to affect the breast tissue tumor biomarkers in any beneficial way, according to their 2015 study in Cancer Prevention Research, so more research is needed. 
Carrots
     Here’s another veggie that may help keep your breasts healthy. Women with the highest blood levels of carotenoids, a type of pigment found in carrots, had an 18 to 28 percent lower risk of breast cancer over a 20-year period compared to women with the lowest levels. The benefit seemed strongest for aggressive types of cancer, according to the 2015 study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Keep in mind that this type of study can’t prove that the carotenoids were the reason for the reduction in cancer risk, but the results are promising. 
Onions and garlic
     Onion and garlic are the main ingredients of sofrito, a condiment that’s a staple of Latin American cuisine. A study that was conducted in Puerto Rico and published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer compared 314 women with breast cancer to 346 women without it. The researchers found that those who consumed sofrito more than once per day had a 67 percent lower breast cancer risk compared with women who never ate it. The researchers point out that the total intake of onions and garlic, not sofrito alone, seemed to be responsible for the breast cancer risk reduction. Although how onions and garlic may protect against breast cancer remains unclear, garlic contains compounds such as S-Allyl cysteine, diallyl sulfide, and diallyl disulfide and onions contain S-Alk(en)yl cysteine sulphoxides—substances that may have anti-cancer properties.
Grains
     It’s never too early to take preventative steps to reduce your breast cancer risk, even in your teenage years. A Harvard study found that women who ate more high-fiber foods, like whole-wheat bread and beans, as young adults, had a lower breast cancer risk than women who ate less dietary fiber during these years.

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

TO

ALICE HOLMAN NESBITT

Aging gracefully means being flexible,

being open, allowing change,

enjoying change and loving yourself. 

~Wendy Whelan~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     October 5, 2023: You are entering a new chapter in your life. You know your story so far, but it is time to embrace the future as it unfolds before you. Set your heart and mind to live each day with the grace and strength that I provide, says the Lord. I am your fortress, your high tower, and your place of refuge. Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
     T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N

     Once we discover how to appreciate the timeless values in our daily experiences, we can enjoy the best things in life. Time is but the shadow of the world upon the background of Eternity. There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do. Wasting time is merely an occupation then, and a most exhausting one.
     Life is a thing to be lived, not spent; to be faced, not ordered. Life is not a game of chess, the victory to the most knowing; it is a game of cards, one's hand by skill to be made the best of. Life works upon a compensating balance, and the happiness we gain in one direction we lose in another.

~Jerome K. Jerome~

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS TO
OCTAVIA HARRIS
&
JERRY HOSEY
     The praise that comes from love does not make us vain,

but more humble. Life is a long lesson in humility.

Always be a little kinder than necessary.

Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

~James M. Barrie~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     I just don't want to forget this first day of the rest of my life!      Everybody has a tragedy or two in their lives. Something good comes out of every crisis. You have to understand that in a person's life there are a few precious moments in which decisions, choices that you make now, will affect you for the rest of your life. You can be a victim of cancer, or a survivor of cancer. It's a mindset.

~Dave Pelzer~

 Vanessa Bell Calloway

     At the age of 52, actress Vanessa Bell Calloway best known as Princess Imani Izzi in Coming to America was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as stage 0 breast cancer. Opening up about her experience with breast cancer with Ebony in a personal essay, Vanessa revealed surviving breast cancer changed her perspective on life.
     "I didn’t want to miss life. I decided cancer was not going to ruin me... Anytime you go through anything so emotional, you learn a lot. I’m very grateful and blessed. I love my birthdays even more," she wrote in her Breast Cancer Survival Story.
     After undergoing a lumpectomy, a mastectomy, and breast reconstruction, she's been living her best life as a 10-year breast cancer survivor. "I forget I even had cancer sometimes, because I’m so entrenched in the goodness of life. It’s a gift," she added.

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N 

     "Cancer is such a frightening and emotional roller coaster. It's a ride we all want to get off! My best advice is, find the 'glue' that will hold you together - whether it's religion, family, friends, music, yoga, a hobby or a cancer support group. Even our pets can be amazing healers. Be patient and don't give up. Trust me when I say you will come out changed and stronger on the other end of this." 

~Brenda Jones~

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Some Real Old School Blues

Kenneth Davis

 SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     October 8, 2023: In a vision I saw a man navigating a minefield. Every step was calculated and deliberate as he searched the landscape for even the slightest or most subtle signs of danger. His senses were heightened so that nothing would escape his attention. I watched this man as he followed an invisible path through difficult terrain, and I heard the Lord say: Even though you are making your way through what seems to be ominous circumstances, I am with you to direct every step and bring you through to victory. Do not be afraid. Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     There is always a way to be honest without being brutal. Beauty is revealed when we learn to see with our hearts. The more educated our hearts the greater beauty we can see. Therefore, beauty is revealed with age. Begrudging others leads to disharmony. Without harmony there can be no happiness. 
     Therefore, let go of grudges and restore harmony. In a harmonious world, happiness is possible. Whatever good there is in the world I inherit from the courage and work of those who went before me. I, in turn, have a responsibility to make things better for those who will inherit the earth from me. When you express your gratitude, you will bring joy to others' lives. When others know joy, your life will be filled with happiness.

~Arthur Dobrin~

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine. What I am is a humanist before anything - before I'm a Jew, before I'm black, before I'm a woman. And my beliefs are for the human race - they don't exclude anyone. You have to believe in yourself in spite of what other people believe. We're born with success. It is only others who point out our failures, and what they attribute to us as failure.
     I fear waking up one morning and finding out my life was all for nothing. We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark. When you're kind to someone in trouble, you hope they remember and are kind to someone else and so on. Soon it will be like a wildfire. If you don't look out for others, who will look out for you?

IT'S TIME FOR 
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

No honeymoon?
     The English language often got the better of my German grandfather, a pastor. During one service, he announced that two members of his flock were getting married. “You’re all invited to the wedding,” he told the congregation. “And also to the parish hall afterward for the conception.”

~Jerome Lossner~

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
 TO 
WENDOLYN WOOTEN PETTIES

     Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. 

~Lao Tzu~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND  by Marsha Burns

     October 10, 2023: Look to the horizon; there is a new day dawning. It is a day that gives you the opportunity to choose how you respond. It will either be positive or negative. You can either rise to new heights or plunge to lower depths. You can allow Me to be part of your day or not, says the Lord. Choose wisely. Romans 6:16 Do you not realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure.
     So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality, nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit. 

~Christopher McCandless~

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Change, even if unwelcome, forces us to reevaluate what our best options are. Those times of transitions are great opportunities to look for recurring patterns in your life and make adjustments to build on the good and reduce the bad.
     Don't be indecisive and unstable in all your ways. Rather, walk in the strength, confidence, and boldness that come from decisive action. No individual can achieve worthy goals without accepting accountability for his or her own actions. Our expectations determine how we respond. Be careful what you expect.

~Dan Miller~

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

2 Blood-Sugar Stabilizing Foods To Help You Sleep Better, According To Experts
Story by Faith Geiger https://www.shefinds.com/

     High blood sugar can lead to a number of health issues. In addition to putting you at risk of diabetes, heart disease, nerve damage, and more over time, there’s another factor of your health that unstable blood sugar could throw a wrench in: Your sleep. If your blood sugar is too high, you may find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This is due to the possibility of dehydration, overheating, irritation, and even the need to get up and use the restroom in the middle of the night. Luckily, there are things you can do in order to stabilize your blood sugar in order to lower your risk of running into these roadblocks. That includes working certain foods into your before-bed diet.
     To discover a few of the best foods that could help keep your blood sugar levels stable and promote better sleep, we spoke to health experts Trista Best, dietitian, and Lisa Richards, nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet. They told us that tart cherry and oatmeal are two of the best options.
1. Tart cherry
     Maybe you've heard about the benefits of tart cherry for sleep. It's been getting a lot of buzz in the wellness world lately. Tart cherry juice is even a central component of the popular "sleepy girl mocktail." According to Best, the effects seem promising. "Tart cherries are a beneficial food to consume before bed due to their dual capacity to enhance sleep quality and stabilize blood sugar levels," she says. "These cherries are a natural source of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles."
     In addition to being a natural source of melatonin, Best points out that "tart cherries have a relatively low glycemic index, meaning they release sugars into the bloodstream gradually, preventing abrupt spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels during the night." That's such a win-win! "By incorporating tart cherries into the evening routine, individuals can potentially experience better sleep while also supporting balanced blood sugar levels, ultimately contributing to overall health and well-being," she concludes.
2. Oatmeal (add almonds and banana!)
     Looking for something a little heartier? Richards suggests eating oatmeal before bed. This superfood is packed with health benefits, including stable blood sugar and better sleep. "Oatmeal's complex carbohydrates release glucose gradually, preventing rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels," she explains. "This gradual energy release can help sustain you through the night without disturbances."
     If you want to reap even more benefits from your oatmeal, she also suggests adding almonds and/or bananas to the mix. "Almonds provide healthy fats and a small amount of protein, which work together with oatmeal's complex carbs to keep blood sugar steady. Moreover, almonds are a natural source of magnesium, which supports relaxation and may aid in sleep regulation," Richards notes.
     Meanwhile, she adds, "Bananas contain not only complex carbs but also a significant amount of vitamin B6, a precursor to melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. The combination of these ingredients creates a synergistic effect, potentially promoting a deeper and more restful sleep." Perfect!
The bottom line
     There are many things that could make it difficult for you to sleep at night; unstable blood sugar levels is only one of them. However, if blood sugar seems to be your issue, adding these foods to your diet couldn't hurt. You may also want to try sleep-supporting supplements and implementing a relaxing nighttime routine. All of this can contribute to a better night's sleep, and, in turn, a happier, healthier life.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N 

     Memory is corrupted and ruined by a crowd of memories. If I am going to have a true memory, there are a thousand things that must first be forgotten. Memory is not fully itself when it reaches only into the past. A memory that is not alive to the present does not remember the here and now, does not remember its true identity, is not memory at all. He who remembers nothing but facts and past events, and is never brought back into the present, is a victim of amnesia.
     You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope. Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody's business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbor's worthy.

~Thomas Merton~

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Becoming a musician is a strange thing. It's not all cupcakes and ice cream. You're trying to master an instrument, and you sometimes can't tell if you're getting better. You love it, but you also hate it. I've had experiences where people say, 'I hated jazz before I heard you guys!' I'm like, 'You didn't hate jazz before you heard us; you hated the idea of jazz.'
     So much good music has been looked over because of preconceived notions of genre. Jazz is like a telescope, and a lot of other music is like a microscope. There's a whole stereotype of the jazz musician that's into poetry and reading and metaphysics and all that stuff. Really, it's a sign of someone who's searching, whose mind is open, looking for answers. Whatever ideas you may come up with, the beautiful thing is the search.

~Kamasi Washington~

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

BLOWIN BLUES - STEVEN JOHNSON

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N 

     Autumn is the hardest season. The leaves are all falling, and they're falling like they're falling in love with the ground. Forests may be gorgeous but there is nothing more alive than a tree that learns how to grow in a cemetery. 
     I am living today as someone I had not yet become yesterday and tonight I will borrow only pieces of who I am today to carry with me to tomorrow. For Halloween I'm gonna be emotionally stable. No one's gonna know it's me.

~Andrea Gibson~

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
TO
DELORES BOOTHE ARMSTRONG

     There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.
~Sophia Loren~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

And you thought BB only played Lucille, his guitar. 

Kenneth Davis

 SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     October 15, 2023: You are living in perilous times, and you often think that the peril is outside, in the world and in external circumstances. However, the most peril is found in the condition of your will to go on or not. Remember that discouragement destroys faith. Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N 

     The next time you catch yourself starting to feel bad about anything, immediately stop everything you are doing for a moment and, as simply and as honestly as you can, ask yourself: "Is this what I really want? The greatest power you possess in life is your understanding that life gives you a fresh start any moment you choose.
     Discouragement is a negative emotion with more than one trick up its dark sleeve.  It tricks you into mentally or emotionally dwelling in the very place you want to leave.  Drop all such sorrow permanently by daring to see through this deception of the unconscious mind.  You have a destination far beyond where you find yourself standing today.

~Guy Finley~