|
Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and enjoy a little break from the busyness of Thanksgiving week. These Thanksgiving Poems are short and easy to read. The poems are appropriate for all ages. They are also thought provoking. They were selected to encourage you to truly think about the meaning of Thanksgiving. Share them with friends and family. Enjoy! Thanksgiving Poems Thanksgiving The year has turned its circle, The seasons come and go. The harvest all is gathered in And chilly north winds blow. Orchards have shared their treasures, The fields, their yellow grain, So open wide the doorway~ Thanksgiving comes again! ~Old Rhyme ~~~~~~~~ All in a Word By Aileen Fisher T for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather. H for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday. A for autumn’s frosty art, and abundance in the heart. N for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember. K for kitchen, kettles’ croon, kith and kin expected soon. S for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that abounds. That spells ~~~THANKS—for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving. ~~~~~~~~  At Grandma’s House I like the taste of turkey Any time throughout the year But it never seems to taste as good As when Thanksgiving’s here. Could be it’s all the trimmings That are cooked with it to eat- But I think it’s eating at Grandma’s house That makes it such a treat! ~Author Unknown ~~~~~~~~ Song of the Pilgrims By Nancy Sue Krenrich Across the rolling, wind-swept sea For months we’ve sailed along, I see a land that’s new to me Against the blue horizon. Oh, beautiful land of freedom born, I’ve come across the sea To reap your fruits and build my home, And make my people free. ~~~~~~~~
0 Comments
 Describing something ad nauseum will surely exhaust its credibility. It may even blend into the mobbed, congested network of our over-stimulated lives; thus, its crucial and precious lesson goes unlearned, unpracticed. Such is the case with Mindfulness. Everywhere you turn someone is talking about mindfulness, even me, right now! But I’m going to tell you the real deal about mindfulness. It’s not complicated.
When we think of mindfulness we invoke images of Yogi’s levitating, eyes drawn back so only the whites are visible, chanting harmoniously, ohm…ohm…ohm. This is not so. Mindfulness means being present at a precise moment. It is when all your consideration is focused on what you are doing, feeling, saying, enjoying, and being. Mindfulness can be freeing and inspire growth! Forced to Face Mindfulness can also be classified as Attention. And attention leads to Control and Balance. We all want control and balance in our lives. It all starts with mindfulness. Mindfulness leads to an altruistic life. You cannot hide from yourself whilst existing in attendance with your thoughts. Being present influences you to evaluate and scrutinize your life; it forces you to face any deficiencies. After that only two things can happen. You can disregard what needs to be changed or fixed in your life or take control and resolve any issues that have become apparent. Thus, growth is inevitable with mindfulness. But, it doesn’t come easy. Consistency is the key! Practice Makes…Pretty Good Mindfulness is a skill. It takes time to master like any other ability worth learning. You will never be perfect at being present; there is always room to grow. But you can master it until it becomes second nature. Epictetus was a Stoic philosopher who came to be known in the early second century C.E. He lived first in Rome as a student, and then as a teacher with his own school in Nicopolis, Greece. Epictetus explains in his writing how important it is to practice mindfulness. He told his students once they have let their attention lapse, it is very difficult to recover it, “Do you not realize that when once you have let your mind go wandering, it is no longer in your power to recall it, to bring it back to what is right, to self- respect, to moderation?” We must not allow “life” to influence us and take us away from mindfulness. Being mindful is being in control. Regularity in practice is essential but don’t think school ends any time soon. You’re here for the long haul! You’re Going to Be Here a While It is a war not just a battle. Take your time. Making our way through this life is difficult. It starts with our first breath and ends with our last. We are thrown into this world innocent, clueless; immediately we search to make sense of our surroundings. We continue this our entire lives. Epictetus proposed, “It’s a lifelong series of subtle readjustments of our character. We fine-tune our thoughts, words, and deeds in a progressively wholesome direction. When you actively engage in gradually refining yourself, you retreat from your lazy ways of covering yourself or making excuses.” When we are actively engaged in our lives, we are being mindful. And when we are mindful, we have no choice but to grow. Getting Started Try this exercise. You can use a raisin or any other small edible like, nuts, berries, grapes, etc. For this exercise I will use a raisin. First, take a raisin and hold it in the palm of your hand or between your finger and thumb. Squeeze it gently. Take note of the texture. Next, take time to really focus on it; gaze at the raisin with full attention—imagine that you are from another planet and have never seen anything like this before. Reconnoiter every part of it, examining the highlights where the light shines, the darker caverns, the folds and crests, and any unique features. Now, Close your eyes and turn the raisin over between your fingers, squeeze gently. Take a whiff! Hold the raisin beneath your nose. Inhale. Envelop your nose with the aroma and fragrance. Take note of what may be happening with other senses. Notice your tongue. Now slowly bring the raisin up to your mouth. Delicately press it to your lips. Feel the texture on your lips. Softly place the raisin in your mouth; do not chew it! Spend a few minutes focusing on the raisin in your mouth. Explore it with your tongue. You should begin to taste it. Try to pick out the sweet and tart sensations. Then, after a few minutes take one bite. Let it continue to roll around your mouth. Notice what exactly happened. How did it split? Did it squish? How big are the remaining pieces? Continue to chew noticing all the changes. When you are ready to swallow the raisin, first detect the intent to swallow. Experience the pre- swallow activity, an increase in saliva. Be very conscious as you swallow the raisin. Follow it down until you cannot feel it any longer. You can apply this same technique to anything in life. Riding a bike, exercising, eating a meal, making love (being mindful during love making increases the pleasure tenfold!), or any other activity in life. One of the best ways to be mindful is to just sit with your thoughts. Don’t try to deflect, deny, or ignore them. Engage with your thoughts. Yes, this can be scary-at first. But after a while it is most assuredly freeing. Be one with yourself. Be good to yourself. Courtesy of - Khronology -Functional Fitness and Nutrition - kronologyfit.com Helping you age well and heal through food, movement and a healthy lifestyle!  This is for all the men in advancing age. The average fella would never let their vehicle run without proper maintenance. The auto parts store is a testament to that fact. When its time to change the oil, it gets changed. When its time for a tune up, the vehicle gets a tune up. If it needs a wash, he’s headed straight to the car wash. Ever vigilant in the care of the automobile. So why are men lacking in the self-care department? Why do men neglect their health? Why do men avoid asking for help even when help is warranted? The reasons why may vary dependent upon certain circumstances, but the number 1 reason is Toxic Masculinity. Let’s start by discovering Toxic Masculinity. [It] is defined as: noun - A cultural concept of manliness that glorifies stoicism, strength, virility, solitude, and dominance, and that is socially maladaptive or harmful to mental and physical health: toxic masculinity perpetuates expectations that are restrictive and traumatizing. The definition itself explains so much. This is why men do not seek help; whether it is for mental issues or to get back in shape. Men would rather suffer. According to Jill Berger, PhD, an expert in the studies the psychology of masculinity, “Traditionally, society demands that men emulate a Marlboro man ideal--tough, independent” Many lives are lost too soon due to this mentality. (The first 5 men to contact us with code MANUP10…. will receive 10% off the monthly nutrition and fitness program. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Hit me up! contactus@khronologyfit.com www.khronologyfit.com) I have had many opportunities to speak to different men about my journey from being obese and unhealthy to being in the best shape of my life. They all seem impressed and astonished and often follow up with questions on how I may assist them, but 10 out of 10 times nothing comes of it. It’s not that they are not sincere. It is not that they truly think they don’t need help. It is the idea that asking for help or asking to be guided through a difficult situation is a sign of weakness. In fact, seeking and receiving help is one of the strongest things a man can do for himself and his loved ones! I, too, was victim of a toxic masculine upbringing. My father was a stern man and believed boys needed to begin to act as men as early as possible. I was told numerous times that “little men don’t cry” and “don’t come crying unless your bleeding”. I never witnessed my father cry. Of course, I’m certain he did cry; he is human, he has feelings. But he would never show them. He never took a sick day. He went to work, endangering others I might add, whether it was a cold, the flu, or something worse. While I was growing up, he never visited a doctor once for a checkup. That bad habit led to diabetes and a heart attack. These and many other behaviors influenced my maturation. As I approached adulthood, I was fortunate enough to be blessed with misanthropic mind. I started to question these behaviors and attitudes and realized-they are detrimental to my life, my existence. Slowly but surely, I was able to breakaway from that closed minded thinking and be free, think for myself. If I need help, I ask for it. I’m not afraid to grow and learn from others-even other men. Toxic masculinity is injurious to a man’s self-esteem, health, and physical conditioning. It is also insalubrious to romantic relationships. In the end toxic masculinity is a benefit to no one. This article is aimed toward my fellow older gents. I want you to take stock of your life, yourself, your health. Are you doing well? Are you in the best shape of your life? Can you be a better version of yourself? Answer honestly. If changes need to be implanted, then make them, even if this means asking for guidance. I love my associate men in the over 50 club. I want to see us all live long, happy, healthy, and fulfilled lives. We still have many, many adventurous, fruitful, momentous years ahead of us. Do we fritter away those years feeble, restricted, sickly, and monotonous? Or do we Live those years healthfully with virility, anticipation, love, drive, and machismo? The choice is ultimately ours. We, as men, must step up and man up and do what is best for ourselves and our loved ones. I really would love to start this revolution and make our generation the healthiest! The first 5 men to contact us with code MANUP10…. will receive 10% off the monthly nutrition and fitness program. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Hit me up! contactus@khronologyfit.com www.khronologyfit.com ~Will Autumn Leaves Changing Colors As summer ends and autumn comes Days get shorter, misty and cold And in this spectacular season Nature’s beauty graciously unfold Trees get ready to slow down And in autumn take some rest And show amazing colors of love That are all at their best  Green fades away quickly And yellow and orange appear To show off their vibrant hues And warmup their surrounding dear Sunlight and cool nights of autumn Help leaves to turn orangish red And combine all things smoothly To add magic in season’s lovely bed And all this shedding and replacement Of leaves continue throughout the year And trees only shed leaves in autumn To prepare for another winter dear This is God’s spectacular display Of beautiful colors of the fall During which many changes occur Including yellow, orange and red of all. ***Inspired by the changing colors of Autumn in Canada. Enjoy Autumn with these Pumpkin Dessert Recipes - Click Here  We want to share with you 4th of July quotes from famous Americans who have contributed so much to our freedoms and wonderful way of life. We are forever grateful. John F. Kennedy “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.” *************************** Peter Marshall “May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” *************************** Oliver Wendell Holmes “One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation forevermore!” *************************** Marquis de Lafayette “Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country.” ************************* Dwight D. Eisenhower “Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” ************************* George Bernard Shaw “Liberty is the breath of life to nations.” ************************** Condoleezza Rice “The essence of America—that which really unites us—is not ethnicity, or nationality, or religion. It is an idea—and what an idea it is: that you can come from humble circumstances and do great things. That it doesn’t matter where you came from, but where you are going.” ************************** Lee Greenwood “And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” ************************** Benjamin Franklin “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” *************************** Oscar Wilde“With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?” ****************************
Just print out the list below, add all the items on the list, and present them in a box or gift bag.
This is the perfect gift for the retiree’s party and will be the hit of the celebration. Everyone will be sure to enjoy it! These items could also be used as party decorations and party favors. Just use your creativity for a fun, memorable celebration! Items to include in the Survival Kit: Balloon: to start the celebration with a BANG! Gold Leaf: because you’re worth your weight in gold Love Heart Candy: to remind you to follow your heart Marker: retirement MARKS the beginning of a new journey! Elastic Band: try to stay flexible during your retirement years Candy Watch: to use your time wisely Marble: to help replace the ones you lost at work Tea Bag: retirement is just one long tea (or coffee) break! Seeds: For all the seeds of knowledge you have sown Starburst Candy: For a burst of energy when you need it! Straw: to have a drink & let your hair down Money: to help with your retirement fund Candle: to keep your future bright Toothpick: to pick out the best in every day Confetti: to remember that life is a party, and the best is yet to come! M & M’s (share size): share your M & M’s with your retiree friends Image Source… It’s time to decorate your front door for spring and the upcoming Easter celebrations with this easy, creative umbrella door decoration. By using spring colors and items associated with springtime, you will have a great addition to your front door.  Directions: * A bouquet of pink tulips, along with greenery and dyed eggshells filled with daffodils. They are tucked neatly into an umbrella for a unique Easter door decoration. * To make, tie a pretty pink ribbon halfway up a closed umbrella to create a makeshift vase for your arrangement. * Create pockets between front ribs and tuck in tissue paper to support a crafts-store bird’s nest. Use blown-out dyed Easter eggs, fresh flowers, and greenery such as ferns and moss. * When you’re finished, wire the arrangement to a hook to hang on your front door. * You now have a door umbrella decoration that is just right for spring and Easter! Editor’s Tip: To keep flowers fresh, put the stems in water vials or heavy plastic bags filled with floral foam powder which is available at floral supply stores. Source… Did you know? Jigsaw puzzles help you exercise both the right and left side of the brain. Working a jigsaw puzzle helps keep your brain young! Your left brain thinks logically and follows sequence while the right brain is creative, intuitive and emotional. When working a jigsaw puzzle, you harness both sides of the brain. Jigsaw puzzles engage the brain to retain information on shapes and colors in order to choose pieces that will fit together properly.This hunt for pieces requires your brain to memorize what each piece looks like or should look like and what kinds of pieces you are searching for in order to complete the picture. Doing this repeatedly reinforces short-term memory. This engaging activity:
Here are two jigsaw puzzles for you to work and enjoy! Click link beside each photo…   Sou
Interesting facts about jigsaw puzzles! They were first created by an English mapmaker by the name of John Spilsbury in the late 1760’s. He made a puzzle by gluing a map of the world on a piece of wood and cut out the countries. Children would put the pieces together to learn to identify individual countries and their relation to one another. This was much like our puzzles of the United States that we all worked on when we were growing up. Thus, jigsaw puzzles were originally invented for education instead of entertainment. Jigsaw puzzles are now loved by people of all ages. Jigsaw puzzles became a form of daily amusement and activity for adults in the early 1900’s. However, they were quite expensive ($5 for a 500-piece puzzle in 1908). By the time of the Great Depression in the early 1930’s, they became more reasonable in price. In fact, 10 million puzzles were sold per week during this time in history. This was an escape from the troubles of the Depression years. Source... This is such a good depiction of the Expectations vs. Realities of Winter and what really happens in life. Don’t we all have great expectations of how things should be? And, then reality sets in but, hopefully, we can laugh and move on! Can you identify with any of these?  The Expectations vs. Realities of Winter
 Take the Baby Boomer Memory Test to see how well you remember the Baby Boomer Generation! NOT a pushover test. Baby Boom Memory Test! Get ready for 20 questions. Write down your answers so you will not forget! Answers at the end. No peeking! Good luck!
 No Peeking! Below are the right answers to the Baby Boomer Test: 1. D – Wonder Bread 2. G – Cassius Clay 3. B – He Is us 4. A – Good night, Chet 5. G – When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent 6. D – Maynard G. Krebs 7. C – Pants on fire 8. F – The American Way 9. C – It’s Howdy Doody Time 10. E – Oh my 11. D – Over 30 12. C – Joe Namath 13. G – A little dab’ll do ya 14. F – On Blueberry Hill 15. B – Mary Martin 16. G – John, Paul, George, Ringo 17. D – Who wrote the book of Love 18. B – Cause I eats me spinach 19. A – Smile, you’re on Candid Camera 20. F – Melt in your mouth not in your hand Thanks for taking the Baby Boomer Memory Test! Another Test: Memory Test |
Archives
November 2021
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
