James Stone

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   
TODAY'S WORDS - TRIUMPHANT VICTORY

     There are no greater treasures than the highest human qualities such as compassion, courage and hope. Not even tragic accident or disaster can destroy such treasures of the heart. With love and patience, nothing is impossible. It is natural for us, as human beings, to look forward. Our eyes naturally look ahead. In this sense, we are made for moving toward a goal. A genuinely happy person is one who has rendered others happy. A person, who no matter how desperate the situation, gives others hope, is a true leader.
     Life is painful. It has thorns, like the stem of a rose. Culture and art are the roses that bloom on the stem. The flower is yourself, your humanity. Living here on Earth, we breathe the rhythms of a universe that extends infinitely above us. When resonant harmonies arise between this vast outer cosmos and the inner human cosmos, poetry is born. It is crucial that we develop real awareness of ourselves as citizens of Earth, linked by mutual and indissoluble bonds. When we clearly recognize this reality and ground ourselves in it, we are compelled to take a strict accounting of our way of life. Just as cherry, plum, peach and damson blossoms all possess their own unique qualities, each person is unique. We cannot become someone else. The important thing is that we live true to ourselves and cause the great flower of our lives to blossom.
     We can bring brilliant flowers of victory to bloom in our lives when we weather the hardships of winter and emerge triumphant based on our practice of the Mystic Law. The key to victories lies in how hard we struggle when we are in winter, how wisely we use this time and how meaningful we live each day confident that spring will definitely come. Life is the blossoming of flowers in the spring, the ripening of fruit in the fall, the rhythm of the earth and of nature. Life is the cry of cicadas signaling the end of summer, migratory birds winging south in a transparent autumn sky, fish frolicking in a stream. Life is the joy beautiful music installs in us, the thrilling sight of a mountain peak reddened by the rising sun, the myriad combinations and permutations of visible and invisible phenomena. Life is all things. People need to be made conscious of a very simple reality: we have no choice but to share this planet, this small blue sphere floating in the vast reaches of space, with all of our fellow 'passengers.'

 
~Daisaku Ikeda~

Kenneth Davis

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

5 "Bad" Carbs You Should Be Eating When You Have Diabetes, According to a Dietitian...
Carbs can be healthy when you have diabetes.
By Lauren Manaker M.S., RDN, LD, CLEC  Published on January 8, 2024   Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

     Despite what you may have heard, not all carbohydrates need to be avoided when you have diabetes. In fact, some carbs that have been labeled as “bad” or off-limits may actually offer some benefits if you’re actively trying to manage your blood sugar. Having diabetes means your body doesn't make enough insulin or can't use it as well as it should, resulting in too much blood sugar staying in your bloodstream. More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
     Managing diabetes effectively involves a combination of dietary modifications, regular physical activity and consistent monitoring of blood glucose levels. In certain cases, your doctor may also recommend taking certain medication to help regulate glucose levels.
Including Carbs When Managing Diabetes
     There isn’t a macronutrient that is as misunderstood as carbohydrates. With some claiming that carbs should be extremely limited and others calling carbs A-OK, the conflicting information can leave a person scratching their head. According to the ADA, carbohydrates can (and should) be a part of a diabetes-friendly diet, as long as the right carbs are emphasized and others are limited—or avoided, depending on your personal needs. 
     Simple carbohydrates, often found in ultra-processed foods like white bread and sugary beverages, are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, which can lead to rapid spikes in blood glucose. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates, often rich in fiber and found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, are digested more slowly, providing a steady release of energy and preventing sharp peaks in blood sugar. This is not to say that simple carbohydrates should be completely avoided, but they should be consumed in moderation and balanced with other nutrients. Ensuring a diet rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber can help maintain steady blood sugar levels and overall health if you have diabetes. 
"Bad" Carbs You Should Be Eating When You Have Diabetes
1. Potatoes
     “White” carbs tend to get placed on the “no-no” list for those with diabetes. But potatoes are a go. These are starchy vegetables that, when consumed with the skin, provide an impressive amount of fiber. (Each baked medium russet potato provides 4 grams of fiber, per the USDA). These spuds also contain protein, another nutrient that may help support healthy blood sugar levels, according to the 2022 edition of Advances in Food and Nutrition Research. 
     If you have diabetes, consider choosing potatoes that are prepared in heart-healthy ways, such as baked rather than deep-fried (like French fries). That’s because foods like fries typically are rich in saturated fat and sodium, and having diabetes increases your risk of developing heart disease, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Oh, and don’t forget to eat the fiber-packed skin, too.
2. Pasta
     Yes, pasta is a “white” refined carb. But unlike more “indulgent” white carbs like doughnuts and cookies, there’s evidence that pasta starch digests slower, helping to blunt the blood sugar response. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Nutrition examined the blood glucose response from consuming three different foods—pasta, bread and couscous—made of semolina wheat and water. Results found that pasta, both spaghetti and penne, had lower blood glucose and insulin response than bread or couscous, even though they were made from the same ingredients and consumed in equal amounts. Additionally, pasta required more chews than bread or couscous and also resulted in larger particles after chewing and digestion. This suggests that it’s the pasta’s structure that delays digestion and tempers the blood sugar response more so than bread and couscous.
     Ultimately, your portion matters. For people who have diabetes, eating pasta within their recommended total carb intake was not linked to worsening blood glucose control, fat gain or cardiovascular risk factors, according to 2019 data in the journal Nutrients. A 2-ounce serving of pasta makes about 1 cup of cooked pasta, which is about the size of a baseball. The key is to enjoy an appropriate serving of pasta with vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats, like olive oil.
3. Dried Fruit
     Dried fruit is often thought to be too sugary to be allowed on a diabetes-friendly diet. But certain dried fruits that are not made with added sugars can be a nutritious and convenient addition—just watch your portion sizes. 
     Prunes, or dried plums, are one example of a dried fruit that can be a part of a diabetes-friendly diet. Prunes contain fiber, a nutrient that may help support healthy blood sugar. Plus, they have a low glycemic index, per Nutrition Research in 2019, which suggests they have a smaller impact on blood sugar levels compared to foods with a high glycemic index. The authors also point out that prunes may also enhance insulin sensitivity due to their high sorbitol content.
4. Carrots
     Perhaps because they are naturally sweet, in some circle's carrots are thought of as a food to avoid for those with diabetes. But despite their sweet taste, carrots are not high in sugar. One medium carrot contains approximately 2 grams of dietary fiber and only about 3 grams of natural sugar, according to the USDA, two features that may help support blood sugar control. Carrots are also high in antioxidants and vitamins, particularly vitamin A, contributing to overall health.
5. Cereal
     Cereal comes in a wide range of varieties, from sugar-packed choices chock-full of artificial colors and flavorings and zero fiber, to whole-grain, fiber-rich options. As long as your cereal is made with whole grains and it is free from added sugars, generally, you should be able to enjoy a serving if you are managing diabetes. And if your cereal is made with oats, you may get even more of a health benefit. 
     Oats are a highly beneficial food for people with diabetes. This whole grain has a fiber called beta-glucan, known for its ability to lower both blood sugar and insulin levels. A 2021 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that the consumption of oat flakes was associated with significant reductions in post-meal blood glucose.
     Pro tip: When enjoying cereal while managing diabetes, try adding flaxseed, chia seeds or nuts to your bowl to include more fiber, healthy fats and protein to potentially help support blood glucose control.
Bottom Line
     For people with diabetes, carbs aren’t the enemy. And some carbs that are traditionally labeled as “bad” are actually OK for many people who have diabetes, especially when enjoyed in an appropriate portion and as part of a balanced and healthy diet. Since different people have different needs, it is important to always talk to your health care provider to ensure these foods are appropriate for you.

     This is for information purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

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
TODAY'S WORDS - REALM OF GRATITUDE 

     The world is crazily in love with you, wildly and innocently in love. Even now, thousands of secret helpers are conspiring to turn you into the beautiful curiosity you were born to be. Life is a conspiracy to shower you with a nonstop feast of interesting experiences, all of which are designed to help you grow your intelligence, shed your pretensions, and master the art of ingenious love.
     Life always delivers the creative energy you need to change into the new thing you must become. Factual information alone isn't sufficient to guide you through life's labyrinthine tests. You need and deserve regular deliveries of uncanny revelation. One of your inalienable rights as a human being should therefore be to receive a mysteriously useful omen every day of your life.
     Push hard to get better, become smarter, grow your devotion to the truth, fuel your commitment to beauty, refine your emotional intelligence, hone your dreams, negotiate with your shadow, cure your ignorance, shed your pettiness, heighten your drive to look for the best in people, and soften your heart -- even as you always accept yourself for exactly who you are with all of your so-called imperfections. All of us need to be in touch with a mysterious, tantalizing source of inspiration that teases our sense of wonder and goads us on to life’s next adventure. It's about time you admitted that you are a miraculous work of art. You came into this world as a radiant bundle of exuberant riddles. You slipped into this dimension as a shimmering burst of spiral hallelujahs. You blasted into this realm as a lush explosion of ecstatic gratitude. And it is your birthright to fulfill those promises. You're alive because of love. You're made of love. Love is a laboratory where you can uncover secrets about yourself that have previously been hidden, so be ravenously curious. 

 
~Rob Brezsny~

Kenneth Davis

OBITUARY - COURTESY OF ESTELLA MAYHUE-GREER, BONNIE MILLS AND ROBERT PHIFER

Kenneth Davis

THROW BACK THURSDAY OUTFITS

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

A little throw back. Do you remember the black light? They set the mood for this song.

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 
TODAY'S WORDS - IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE 

     The diversity of America is a strength of the country, and I don't think that we use that. We don't talk about our strengths. I mean, having so many diverse people in this country from all aspects of all over the world, and we don't use that. I think we should talk about who we are - that melting pot that we've become. Trends come and go, but cool is forever. Music has always been and will always be a strong gateway to connect with consumers in an emotional hot state. I think kids today are going to look at their Facebook postings like bad tattoos one day.
     Great ideas can come from anywhere. There are no titles around an idea. If people are saying you’re wrong that’s probably a good sign that you’re a genius. I tell young entrepreneurs to use the leader in their industry as a benchmark as they work to create their own brand. Don't look at what your competition is doing - if you emulate the leader in your industry, you will achieve a higher level of engagement with consumers and make their buying experience richer. 
     Hip-hop started as this niche moment, and the values of it, the cultures that it carried on its back; language, clothes, the way you wear your clothes, the items that you consume, all came with the music as an art form. And those things helped transform how people buy, shop, speak, engage. Hip hop culture has done more for race relations in American than anything since Martin Luther King. And I really believe that. I realized how far-reaching the effect of hip hop was when I walked by a jewelry store named Bling in a small, rural town in France. Hip hop has made a huge impact on urban culture. Yet many brands still don't speak to young people in a tone and manner that's representative of them.
     There's much more money being brought into the advertising and communications business than in the music industry. I used to run record companies, and I went to the advertising business at 29 years old. What I want to do is basically tell my generation's story about how music and culture helped affect a generation, and a generation that's so profound, that it went on to elect the first African American president. When you grow up in life and you're poor, and because you're an athlete or you got rich overnight in music, unless you have access to financial advice or for the transition or matriculation of that process, then of course, you're going to go broke. I always say the first sign of a good idea is a lot of people not believing in it. I can tell you this right now, if you have an idea that makes complete logical sense and people don’t believe in it, then you probably have a brilliant idea. At the root of any societal issue is human truth, especially those truths we find hard to confront.

~Steve Stoute~

Kenneth Davis

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 

     I learned from my uncle that jazz, like symphony music, was built to last. In a jazz atmosphere, the audience members were so quiet and respectful of the musicians that you felt you were almost part of a meeting at a church or a temple, where everyone was completely in tune with the sermon and what the whole event was about. In jazz, you listen to what the bass player is doing and what the drummer is doing, what the pianist and the guitarist is doing, and then you play something that compliments that, so you are thinking simultaneously and thinking ahead.
~David Amram~

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   
TODAY'S WORDS - SUFFERING OF OTHERS
 

     Around us, life bursts with miracles--a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere. Each human being is a multiplicity of miracles. Eyes that see thousands of colors, shapes, and forms; ears that hear a bee flying or a thunderclap; a brain that ponders a speck of dust as easily as the entire cosmos; a heart that beats in rhythm with the heartbeat of all beings. When we are tired and feel discouraged by life's daily struggles, we may not notice these miracles, but they are always there. Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping. You do not suffer because things are impermanent. You suffer because things are impermanent, and you think they are permanent. Be Yourself. Life is precious as it is. All the elements for your happiness are already here. There is no need to run, strive, search, or struggle. Just Be.
     The way you speak to others can offer them joy, happiness, self-confidence, hope, trust, and enlightenment. Mindful speaking is a deep practice. Some people live as though they are already dead. There are people moving around us who are consumed by their past, terrified of their future, and stuck in their anger and jealousy. They are not alive; they are just walking corpses. When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending. People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. The Three Kinds of Pride are: (1) thinking I am better than the others; (2) thinking I am worse than the others; and (3) thinking I am just as good as the others.
     If we take the time to look deeply, we see that understanding and compassion arise from suffering. Understanding is the understanding of suffering, and compassion is the kind of energy that can transform suffering. If suffering is not there, we have no means to cultivate our understanding and our compassion. This is something quite simple to see.  The essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognize the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others, to put ourselves "inside the skin" of the other.
     We "go inside" their body, feelings, and mental formations, and witness for ourselves their suffering. Shallow observation as an outsider is not enough to see their suffering. We must become one with the subject of our observation. When we are in contact with another's suffering, a feeling of compassion is born in us. Compassion means, literally, "to suffer with." Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others. When you begin to see that your enemy is suffering, that is the beginning of insight.

 
~Nhat Hanh~

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

A little tour of Memphis and St. Louis with BB and U2

Kenneth Davis

    SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     February 9, 2025: Listen for the sound of silence and be comfortable with it. When nothing is stirring you to deep thought or action, you must stir yourself so that you do not lose your edge. Take the initiative through a desire to know Me more personally and intimately. Explore the depths of spiritual truth and delight yourself in the light of revelation. Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAYS WORDS - TAKE THE INITIATIVE 

     The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. 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 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. Some people feel like they don't deserve love, so they walk quietly into the empty spaces.  
     Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon... what it means to you. We just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living.  You don't need human relationships to be happy, God has placed it all around us.
     If you want something in this life, reach out and grab it. I read somewhere, how important it is in life, to not necessarily be strong, but to feel strong. 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 conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality, nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. It is the experiences, the great triumphant joy of living to the fullest extent in which real meaning is found. God it's great to be alive! Make each day a new horizon.

~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   

TODAY'S WORDS - DO THE BEST YOU CAN

     No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. You will face many defeats in your life but never let yourself be defeated. Please remember that your difficulties do not define you. They simply strengthen your ability to overcome. We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate - thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising.
     Open your eyes to the beauty around you, open your mind to the wonders of life, open your heart to those who love you, and always be true to yourself. Each one of us has lived through some devastation, some loneliness, some weather superstorm or spiritual superstorm, when we look at each other we must say, I understand. I understand how you feel because I have been there myself. We must support each other and empathize with each other because each of us is more alike than we are unalike. If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you will look forward, do so prayerfully. But the wisest course would be to be present in the present gratefully. If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing, you can be.
     Just do right. Right may not be expedient, it may not be profitable, but it will satisfy your soul. It brings you the kind of protection that bodyguards can’t give you. So, try to live your life in a way that you will not regret years of useless virtue and inertia and timidity. We do the best we can with what we know, and when we know better, we do better. When you know you are of worth, you don't have to raise your voice, you don't have to become rude, you don't have to become vulgar; you just are. And you are like the sky is, as the air is, the same way water is wet. It doesn't have to be a protest.
     If you are going down a road and don't like what's in front of you and look behind you and don't like what you see, get off the road. Create a new path! My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

 ~Maya Angelou~

Kenneth Davis

IT'S TIME FOR 
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

Joycelyn Lacy (Sommerville)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

   February 11, 2025: It is time to put things into perspective. Many of you have gotten distracted with issues that have no eternal value. These are days when you must draw closer to Me than ever before, says the Lord. You need to dig in and earnestly seek My face with a desire to actually live in the Spirit. Romans 13:11 Put on Christ and do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAY'S WORDS - LIVE IN THE SPIRIT

     Unless we agree to suffer, we cannot be free from suffering. When we start to feel anxious or depressed, instead of asking, "What do I need to get to be happy?" The question becomes, "What am I doing to disturb the inner peace that I already have?" Zen is the spirit of a man. Zen believes in his inner purity and goodness. Whatever is super-added or violently torn away, injures the wholesomeness of the spirit. The more you suffer the deeper grows your character, and with the deepening of your character you read the more penetratingly into the secrets of life. All great artists, all great religious leaders, and all great social reformers have come out of the intensest struggles which they fought bravely, quite frequently in tears and with bleeding hearts.
     Personal experience, therefore, is everything in Zen. No ideas are intelligible to those who have no backing of experience. Zen opens a man's eyes to the greatest mystery as it is daily and hourly performed; it enlarges the heart to embrace eternity of time and infinity of space in its every palpitation; it makes us live in the world as if walking in the garden of Eden. The meaning of service is to do the work assigned ungrudgingly and without thought of personal reward material or moral. You ought to know how to rise above the trivialities of life, in which most people are found drowning themselves. Enlightenment is like everyday consciousness but two inches above the ground. The worst passion we mortals cherish is the desire to possess. Even when we know that our final destination is a hole not more than three feet square, we have the strongest craving.
     The rocks are where they are- and this is their will. The rivers flow- and this is their will. The birds fly- this is their will. Human beings talk- this is their will. The seasons change, heaven sends down rain or snow, the earth occasionally shakes, the waves roll, the stars shine- each of them follows its own will. To be is to will and so is to become. Copying is slavery. The letter must never be followed, only the spirit is to be grasped. Higher affirmations live in the spirit. And where is the spirit? Seek it in your everyday experience and therein lies abundance of proof for all you need. Zen, in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one's own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom. By making us drink right from the fountain of life it liberates us from all the yokes under which we finite beings are usually suffering in this world.

~D.T. Suzuki~

Kenneth Davis

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   
TODAY'S WORDS - THROUGH TO VICTORY

     Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness. Life is the wonder with which we are all infused. We learn as much from sorrow as from joy, as much from illness as from health, from handicap as from advantage and indeed perhaps more. In this unbelievable universe in which we live, there are no absolutes. Even parallel lines, reaching into infinity, meet somewhere yonder. I learned to distinguish between the two kinds of people in the world: those who have known inescapable sorrow and those who have not. You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings.
     People on the whole are very simple-minded; in whatever country one finds them. They are so simple as to take literally, more often than not, the things their leaders tell them. Men cannot be free in a nation where women are forbidden freedom. Race prejudice is not only a shadow, but also a shadow over all of us, and the shadow is darkest over those who feel it least and allow its evil effects to go on. The mind that doggedly insists on prejudice often has not intelligence enough to change. When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail. The rich are always afraid. Exclusion is always dangerous. Inclusion is the only safety if we are to have a peaceful world. None who have always been free can understand the terrible fascinating power of the hope of freedom to those who are not free.
     There're two kinds of folk in the world, just like there's two kinds of life in a seed. Something sends one kind up to hunt its food in the light and air and sends the other kind down into the earth to make the roots. Doing and being are very closely tied together, and unless you are doing what you secretly want to do, you aren't able to be the sort of person you want to be. If I have learned anything in my long life it is to be grateful for every occasion when I followed my sympathies and avoided my antipathies. To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind. Our bodies can be mobilized by law and police and men with guns, if necessary-but where shall we find that which will make us believe in what we must do, so that we can fight through to victory? Destructiveness comes only when life isn't lived. People who can live their lives don't destroy themselves. There is one word that can be the guide for your life- it is the word reciprocity. 

~Pearl S. Buck~

Kenneth Davis

Here’s How Long You Need to Walk
 to Lower Your Blood Sugar, New Research Finds
By Kristine Gasbarre Qaderi Updated on Aug. 06, 2024
https://www.thehealthy.com/

     Sports medicine researchers suggest a short stroll can have a big impact on your blood sugar health. If you’ve ever noticed a pattern of eaten something relatively heavy and high in carbohydrates…and then, noticed that your heart was pounding…then it’s very possible you’ve experienced the effects of high blood sugar. Keeping a balanced blood sugar level is important for everyone, even if you’re not diabetic—as approximately 40 million Americans are, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Diabetes Association. Fortunately, for many of us, the fix can be simple. According to a 2022 review in the peer-reviewed journal, Sports Medicine, bringing down your blood sugar could be a walk in the park. (Even a short one!)

The effect of walking on blood sugar.

     A group of researchers at Ireland’s University of Limerick and Manchester Metropolitan University in England performed a meta-analysis of seven past studies that had compared the effects of sitting, standing, and light-intensity walking on blood pressure, insulin levels, and post-meal blood glucose (blood sugar), all which the researchers reported are considered to be “cardiometabolic health markers” that can be keys to indicating an individual’s risk factor for chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. The past studies had included mixed-gender participants that were over 18 years old.
     From their analysis, the researchers of the current study found that for people who were overweight or obese, simply standing “significantly” reduced blood sugar levels when compared to sitting. However, the researchers reported, “Light-intensity walking was found to be a superior intervention compared to standing and prolonged sitting.” So what’s considered light-intensity walking? The past studies showed effectiveness for a two-minute walking break every 20 minutes and a five-minute walking break every 30 minutes. The walking speeds that researchers found to have “good” effect on blood sugar were between 1.5 miles per hour and two miles per hour. The best part? Those participants had walked on a treadmill or a marked track. Imagine what just getting out in the fresh air could do for your body!

What’s a healthy blood sugar level?

     The Mayo Clinic suggests that a blood sugar level of less than 140 milligrams per deciliter is “normal.” However, this can vary depending on certain health factors and when you’ve eaten your last meal. To determine the healthiest blood sugar level for you, it’s best to speak with your licensed healthcare provider.

     This is for information purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS
 TO 
PATRICIA ELLIS BURGOS
 & 
HARRY TAYLOR

     Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained. The older one gets, the more one feels that the present must be enjoyed; it is a precious gift, comparable to a state of grace. Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. 

~Marie Curie~

Joycelyn Lacy (Sommerville)

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  
TODAY'S WORDS - PLACE OF PEACE

     Your life follows your attention. Wherever you look, you end up going. Instead of fretting about getting everything done, why not simply accept that being alive means having things to do? Then drop into full engagement with whatever you're doing, and let the worry go. If a problem looks difficult, relax. If it looks impossible, relax even more. Then begin encouraging small changes, putting just enough pressure on yourself to move one turtle step forward. Then rest, savor, celebrate. Then step again. You’ll find that slow is fast, gentle is powerful, and stillness moves mountains.
     Having fun is not a diversion from a successful life; it is the pathway to it. If you feel stuck in your present life, if you feel no enthusiasm for anything, if you think you have no purpose or that you lost that purpose somewhere along the way, I guarantee you are living in a dungeon made of stories. And that none of those limiting stories are true. Emotional discomfort, when accepted, rises, crests and falls in a series of waves. Each wave washes a part of us away and deposits treasures we never imagined. Out goes naivete, in comes wisdom; out goes anger, in comes discernment; out goes despair, in comes kindness. No one would call it easy, but the rhythm of emotional pain that we learn to tolerate is natural, constructive and expansive... The pain leaves you healthier than it found you.
     It isn’t necessary to know exactly how your ideal life will look; you only have to know what feels better and what feels worse. Begin making choices based on what makes you feel freer and happier, rather than on how you think an ideal life should look. If you'd rather live surrounded by pristine objects than by the traces of happy memories, stay focused on tangible things. Otherwise, stop fixating on stuff you can touch and start caring about stuff that touches you. Don't expect the future to look like the past. Clear away expectations, and let yourself picture a wild, grand new world. It's only by starting in a place of peace that we find our purpose and power.
     Whether you've seen angels floating around your bedroom or just found a ray of hope at a lonely moment, choosing to believe that something unseen is caring for you can be a life-shifting exercise. Imagine what you'd do if it absolutely didn't matter what people thought of you. Got it? Good. Never go back. Do something today that you think is too delicious, too selfish, too wacky to fit within the rules of your life. Peace is more than just a feeling. It's the mental and physical frequency where you'll find all your real power.

~Martha Beck~

Kenneth Davis

TIME FOR ANOTHER 

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Happy Birthday to all the February-born Warriors

Warriors born in February tend to be unique, creative, and generous. They may have a side to them that they don't show the world. However, they could sometimes also be slightly aloof, detached, and quickly distracted as well. In addition, they are less irritable and are often visible even when among a huge chaotic crowd because they are calm and observant.

According to a study from Harvard, our classmates born in February are taller and stronger. They also weighed more at birth and scientists believe this was due to a mother’s increased eating during winter months. The same study also found that those born during the winter tend to do better on intelligence tests. 

If you are celebrating your birthday this month, you are more likely to be artistic. According to one study, the month you were born can play a role in your career path, and found that many artists were born in February. So whether you find your artistic side with painting, performing, or creating awesome content, your birthday may be your inspiration.

February Warriors tend to be happier. Even though they are born in the middle of winter and may have to compete with gray skies and cold weather, one study found that those born in the winter are more content and well-behaved. Other studies found that people born in February say they are happy with life and their career choice.

February Warriors share their birth month with celebrities such as Abraham Lincoln, Langston Hughes, Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Hank Aaron and Chris Rock. 

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   
TODAY'S WORDS - TIME OF RECONCILIATION
 

     All human beings have three lives: public, private, and secret. It is life, more than death, that has no limits. Life is not what one lived, but what One remembers and how One remembers it in order to recount it. What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it. Do not allow me to forget you. Just as real events are forgotten, some that never can be in our memories as if they happened. Even when the winds of misfortune blow, amazing things can still happen. Life is but a continual succession of opportunities for surviving. Age isn't how old you are but how old you feel. Take advantage of it now, while you are young, and suffer all you can, because these things don't last your whole life.
     It is a triumph of life that old people lose their memories of inessential things. Curiosity is one of the many masks of love. Inspiration gives no warnings. Old people, with other old people, are not so old. The secret of a good old age is simply an honorable pact with solitude. The heart's memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good. For those who may be hurting over lost love: Don't cry because it is over... smile because it happened. Nobody deserves your tears, but whoever deserves them will not make you cry. Never stop smiling not even when you're sad, someone might fall in love with your smile. I became aware that the invincible power that has moved the world is unrequited, not happy, love. It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams. One minute of reconciliation is worth more than a whole life of friendship!  A true friend is the one who holds your hand and touches your heart.

~Gabriel Garcia Marquez~