On the surface a comedian but in actual fact…

Charlie Chaplin dressed, walked like an idiotic Hitler. He was ‘silent’. No words could be held against him, but he spoke volumes through his silence. When he did speak, offstage, he revealed exceptional insight.

Article found in a magazine:   Wise Words From a Silent Hero

With all the chaos in the world, it is timely to remind ourselves of what is actually important in life. The following is an excerpt from Charlie Chaplin’s famous “The Greatest Speech Ever.”

“And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.”

“We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent, and all will be lost.

To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed- the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.”

And particularly relevant, is the following, as it applies to nearly all the world today. It should serve to awaken us to the knowledge that divided we will fall to the brutal immorality of today’s banking/government/military complex, but united, we have the power to change our futures for the better:

“You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then in the name of democracy let’s use that power- let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work that will give you the future and old age and security.

“By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will.” – Charlie Chaplin

HANDLING NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

Handling negative emotions.

      Some practical suggestions in handling our negative emotions-

1. RED:   What has loss of control cost you?

2. YELLOW:

Past emotional issues: list and give percentages (100% maximum emotional pain)

How did your family of origin cope with feelings? Are you displaying similar traits?                        

3.   GREEN:

How can I better handle my feelings?  

Steps to improve emotional control:-

3.1    Identify your feelings; Why am I feeling this? How ‘intense’ is my feeling

3.2    Accept your feelings. They are part of your navigational systems. Use them constructively. We are responsible for our own feelings and actions, blaming others is non-productive.

3.3    Thinking and feeling;  Ask yourself….

 “How does my thinking influence my feelings?”  and  “How do my feelings influence my thinking?”

Listen to your feelings they are sending you a message and relieve/control feelings by changing your thinking.  

4.      Frequent pattern:

EVENT eg criticism) → immediate interpretation/thought(“I’m not good enough/’he’s getting at me)→ feelings(hurt, humiliation, inferior)

(Red  = Stop, breathe, calm down, count to ten )

→

CHOICE: What do I make of this? What is the problem here? Is it valid/invalid?

 (yellow= consider what is happening)

→

ACTION/REACTION:  Ignore or be assertive?

(Decision= How do I respond?)

→

5.      Ways to control emotions:

a.      Becoming emotionally aware (primary eg hurt) secondary (eg anger)

b.      Physical Exercise; regularly.

c.      Healthy eating patterns.

d.      Being aware of the effect of chemicals you take(medication, supplements etc)

Learn to think logically: Traffic light technique

True Peace

I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!   (John 16:33)
 
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would create a painting that best demonstrated peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the paintings, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.
 
One painting was of a beautiful and calm lake scene. The lake was a mirror reflecting the towering snowcapped mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Most who saw this painting thought that it was the perfect picture of peace.
 
The other painting had mountains too. But, these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and lightning danced. Down the side of one mountain, tumbled a turbulent waterfall. When the King looked, he saw that behind the waterfall grew a tiny bush from a crack in the rock. Within the bush a bird had built a nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird in her nest. The King chose this picture as the one best demonstrating peace.
 
People grumbled at the King’s choice. The king responded to the people saying that he chose the second picture because peace did not mean being in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. The King explained that true peace meant to be in the midst of all those things and yet still be calm in heart.
 
[Jim Liebelt, HomeWord Devotional www.homeword.com]

A Few Jokes To Smile About…

A Few Jokes To Smile About.

---

Did you know that 97% of the world has difficulty with basic mathematics? 
Luckily I’m in the other 5%.

---

My therapist told me, “Write letters to people you hate and then burn them.”  Did that and now I don’t know what to do with the letters. 

---

They say you shouldn't go grocery shopping when you're hungry but I ran out of food a few days ago, and it's just getting worse.

---

I was hospitalized for a few days, and my wife reported that my dog really missed me. "She spends the night at the front door, awaiting your return,"she said.
"What an example of true love," I replied. "I wonder if you'd be that
concerned about me?"
"Honey," my wife answered, "if you were gone overnight, and I didn't know where you were, you can be sure I'd be waiting for you at the front door."

---

WISE WORDS FROM “The Book of Celtic Wisdom” BY MICHAEL SCOTT

• Words have magical power. They can raise up the spirits or dash them down.
  

• May the Lord grant you food and clothes apleanty.
  A feather pillow for your head,
  And may you be forty years in heaven
  Before the devils even knows you’re dead.
  

• There is little shame in stealing, cheating and fighting, provided that,
  When you steal, you steal the heart of your sweetheart,
  When you cheat, you will cheat death, and
  When you fight, you will fight for a worthy cause.
  

• There is luck and there is discipline.
  Discipline achieves more.
  

• Words have a magical power.
  They can raise up the spirits or dash them down.
  They can bring laughter as easily as tears.
  Spend words like a miser counting coins.
  

Make each word count.

GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHY GRIEVING

1. Recognize that grieving, when you have suffered a loss, is normal.

2. Accept feelings of grief: “I don’t need to pretend; this is how I feel”

3. Recognize that there are stages of grieving that have been recognised in the grief journey; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and eventually acceptance.

4. Journey through the pain and loss, don’t suppress your feelings.

5. Speak to God about your struggles, remember how Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:33-36) He understands!

6. Talk to ‘safe’ people about your loss, however, recognise that everyone experiences grief differently.

7. Don’t change the subject if pain/grief comes up in conversations, share as much as you are comfortable doing.

8. Your grief may be deeper and last longer than expected.

9. Don’t feel guilty if you laugh at something, or enjoy something.

10. Take as much time as you need to recover.

11. Remember, death is not the end.

THE PAIN OF A BROKEN HEART

Once upon a time there was a Rag Doll. She was a very happy doll.

She believed that she was very loved, looked after and cared for.

Then she started to get older and was not so pretty anymore and her body was not so good. She was told that she was not a nice doll anymore in any way, so somebody started to undo the stitching on the doll and take out the stuffing and throw it away.

 She was not cared for or loved anymore.

There was a nice new porcelain doll to play with.  

When all the stuffing was removed and thrown away on the dump,

all that remained of the rag doll was the tattered outside material. 

(written by a woman whose husband had an affair with a younger woman)

author unknown

MEMORY LOSS: 7 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY (MAYO CLINIC)

Try these simple ways to improve your memory.

Can't find your car keys? Forget your grocery list? Can't remember the name of the personal trainer you liked at the gym? You're not alone. Everyone forgets things once in a while. Still, memory loss is nothing to take lightly.

Although there are no guarantees when it comes to preventing memory loss or dementia, some activities might help. Consider seven simple ways to sharpen your memory. And know when to get help for memory loss.

1. Be physically active every day

Physical activity raises blood flow to the whole body, including the brain. This might help keep your memory sharp.

For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, such as jogging. It's best if this activity is spread throughout the week. If you don't have time for a full workout, try a few 10-minute walks throughout the day.

2. Stay mentally active

Just as physical activity keeps your body in shape, activities that engage your mind help keep your brain in shape. And those activities might help prevent some memory loss. Do crossword puzzles. Read. Play games. Learn to play a musical instrument. Try a new hobby. Volunteer at a local school or with a community group.

3. Spend time with others

Social interaction helps ward off depression and stress. Both of those can contribute to memory loss. Look for opportunities to get together with loved ones, friends and other people, especially if you live alone.

4. Stay organized

You're more likely to forget things if your home is cluttered or your notes are in disarray. Keep track of tasks, appointments and other events in a notebook, calendar or electronic planner. You might even repeat each entry out loud as you write it down to help keep it in your memory. Keep to-do lists up to date. Check off items you've finished. Keep your wallet, keys, glasses and other essential items in a set place in your home so they are easy to find.

Limit distractions. Don't do too many things at once. If you focus on the information that you're trying to remember, you're more likely to recall it later. It also might help to connect what you're trying to remember to a favorite song or a familiar saying or idea.

5. Sleep well

Not getting enough sleep has been linked to memory loss. So has restless sleep and sleep that gets disturbed often. Make getting enough healthy sleep a priority. Adults should sleep 7 to 9 hours a night on a regular basis. If snoring disrupts sleep, make an appointment to see your health care provider. Snoring could be a sign of a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea.

6. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet is good for your brain. Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose low-fat protein sources, such as fish, beans and skinless poultry. What you drink also counts. Too much alcohol can lead to confusion and memory loss.

7. Manage chronic health problems

Follow your health care provider's advice for dealing with medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, hearing loss and obesity. The better you take care of yourself, the better your memory is likely to be. Regularly review the medicines you take with your health care provider. Some medicines can affect memory.

When to get help for memory loss

If you're worried about memory loss, make an appointment with your health care provider. If memory loss affects your ability to do your daily activities, if you notice your memory getting worse, or if a family member or friend is concerned about your memory loss, it's particularly important to get help.

At your appointment, your provider likely will do a physical exam and check your memory and problem-solving skills. Sometimes other tests may be needed too. Treatment depends on what's causing memory loss.

O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO

At age 20 George Matheson (1842-1906) was a student at college, was engaged to be married but began going blind. When he broke the news to his fiancée, she decided she could not go through life with a blind husband. She broke off the engagement.

George had three sisters who were very close to him and helped him through his studies.

The day came, however, in 1882, when one of his sisters fell in love and prepared for marriage herself. After the wedding George went to his home feeling despondent and lonely as his sister’s wedding brought back memories of his own broken relationship 20 years earlier. How was he going to face the future alone, having now lost the one who had encouraged and supported him.

It was in that moment of realization that he penned the words of that lovely hymn, “O love that would not let me go. Matteson later wrote that  “The hymn was the fruit of that suffering.”

The hymn celebrates the constancy of God's love––"love that wilt not let me go"––"light that follow'st all my way"––"joy that seekest me through pain."  It concludes by celebrating "Life that shall endless be."

Richard Donavan writes, “When I read the various accounts of Matheson's writing this hymn, one sentence struck me as especially important.  It was this––Matheson said, "The hymn was the fruit of that suffering."  There is an important lesson in that.  All of us suffer some sort of heartbreak or disappointment or disability at some point in our lives.  What makes all the difference is our response ––whether we let the hardship stop us or inspire us to greater effort. 

Matheson suffered two severe blows that could have stopped him in his ministry––the loss of his eyesight and the loss of his beloved.  In both cases, he made the best of a bad situation––and we are all the richer for it.  As this hymn reveals, it was his faith in God that kept him going through the adversities that he suffered.  He believed that God's love would not let him go––and that God's light would follow him all his way––and that God's joy would seek him through his pain––and that faith made all the difference.”

A Few Jokes To Smile About…

A Few Jokes To Smile About.

---

My friend told me he had the body of a Greek god...
I had to explain to him that Buddha is not Greek.

---

An elderly couple were sitting in the lounge about to have afternoon tea. The husband got up and said I feel like some ice cream and syrup.

The wife said write down my order, I would love biscuits and tea. Write it down. You will forget.

A while later the husband arrived with beacon and eggs, and the wife said where’s the toast? I told you to write it down

---

Gallagher opened the morning newspaper and was dumbfounded to read in the obituary column that he had died.  

He quickly phoned his best friend, Finney. 
"Did you see the paper?" asked Gallagher. "They say I died!!"

"Yes, I saw it!" replied Finney.   "Where are ye callin' from?"

---

LONE-LINESS vs ALONE-NESS

I remember my father singing a song, I think it was reminiscence of the time he spent in North Africa during WWII, the words, as I remember them were “Lonely as a desert breeze, I may wander where I please…”  As the memory emerged so I began thinking of loneliness, and how different it is to aloneness.

There is a sadness, a longing, an emptiness hidden in the word loneliness. Think of the widow in her home, children married with families of their own. The funeral is over, and she is alone after all have left, she washes the dishes, vacuums the house, makes a cup of tea and the silence descends…she is alone.

A man is sent to a remote area to complete a work contract. He works hard all day then the siren goes indicating for them to “down tools”.  Many co-workers head off to a nearby bar, but he has had his brush with alcoholism and cannot put himself to the test. Too tired to do anything constructive, but not tired enough to sleep…loneliness!

A child sits alone on the playground of the new school. Children all around are playing games with their friends, they have been in the same school, the same town, forever. Loneliness!

I also think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is alone and wrestling with the knowledge of the suffering that He will have to endure… and the sadness of the ‘brokenness’ and weakness of so many people. He weeps for them….  Those closest to Him cannot understand, cannot comfort Him!

However, there is a vast difference between ‘loneliness’ and ‘alone-ness’.

Alone-ness has a totally different ambiance, meaning, experience! We need to have “alone” time. Some writers rent remote accommodation so that they can fully focus on the thoughts that they are trying to convert into words. When we are alone with only ourselves, no-one to prevent or interrupt our inner journey, then the real ‘soul’ work begins. The Psalmist speaks to himself and says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?”   A time to acknowledge our thoughts and feelings, away from well-meaning friends and loved ones who would offer solutions or encouragement. A time to actually feel … to rejoice, to mourn, to be proud, to admit failure, to be angry and to explore why that emotion is so strong, to be able to think, plan and dream.

Jesus, John the Baptist, and many spiritual giants and guru’s have spent time in the ‘desert’ or in quiet spots in mountains etc. It seems to be that in that silence, clarity is easier to come by. Think of the opposite-the noise of a busy city, town, environment. It is not easy to think and feel deeply in those places.

We may not be able to escape to the desert, or such like places, but we can proactively create such a place for ourselves.

Loneliness is a cry for love and companionship

        Aloneness is a time for inner rejuvenation

Healthy and unhealthy ways to judge.

Have you ever been misjudged? It is a painful experience. You cannot defend yourself and it causes negatives such as loss of confidence, anger, sadness, etc.

Have you ever been accused of being judgemental?  It is so easy to fall into that trap for example - thoughtlessly agreeing with an item of gossip, believing ill of someone simply because of a rumour, misjudging something because of lack of investigation, etc.

So often we are guilty of snap judgements or accepting someone else’s point of view. We listen to a news report, or a current scandal, and make a decision without really knowing the facts. However, there are many types of judging……

Various types of judging:

Krino (Greek: To pronounce an opinion)

The function of this type of judging is to come to a decision, accepting something or rejecting it. To make a decision whether something is right, or wrong.

Anakrino (Greek: ‘to examine or judge’)

This is a level higher than Krino; “the process of careful study, evaluation and judgement” (J.B. Lightfoot).

It can be likened to the forensic analysis of something.

Diakrino (Greek: determine, give judgment, decide a dispute)

This takes judgement a step deeper; careful examination ‘back-and-forth’ /discern / dispute/properly investigate/ to separate, make a distinction, discriminate, to prefer.

Hopefully this would be the process in a court of law before a judgement is passed of guilty/not guilty!

In life we do have to make judgements, it shapes who we are and what we stand for and it also determines our future. How many rash decisions have led to lifetimes of misery and yet how blessed we are when we have made the right decision. However, we cannot judge others.

Martin Israel said: “When I start to tell you what is good and what is bad, and what you should do and what you shouldn’t do, I immediately fill you with my own prejudices.”

Elvis Presley’s bible went on auction Aug 2012. Many annotations on the pages. One such is:         “To judge a man by his weakest link or deed is like judging the power of the ocean by one wave.

NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES – INTRIGUING ACCOUNTS

In my years of counselling, I came across people who actually had near death experiences.

Ethel Witherspoon shared her written account of her experience with me---

“This was an experience that started while I was still in Primary School, either Grade 6 or 7. This was at Wynnum State High School about 1944 or 1945.

I must have been kept in or stayed behind for some reason, as there was no one else in sight.

I’d just crossed the road when I distinctly heard a voice saying, “You’ll be dead before forty.” I stopped walking and quickly looked around me. There was no one in sight, not even a vehicle.

I couldn’t wait till I turned forty. No one knew about this, as I thought they would say that I was mad if I told them.

In 1972, when I was 39 years old, fell pregnant again. An ultrasound scan told them that there were problems. I wasn’t told what they were.

Approximately about 8 weeks before the due date, I was admitted to hospital. Seven weeks before the due date, I ended up with an emergency hysterectomy and ended up in intensive care.

There I had massive blood transfusions. One day I found myself floating up above the room. I could even see into the corridor that was outside. I seemed to be in a brilliantly lit cloud. It was just so peaceful.

Then I saw sister…(I’ll leave her name out) running along the corridor outside of my room. She raced in, went to a table and came back and injected me with something. By this time there were others around me. I kept on waving my hands at them saying “I’m alright. “I’m alright”.

When I came back down the first thing I said to all of them was, “Why did you bring me back?”

The next day when Sister.. came in, I told her how I’d seen her running along the corridor to get to me.

She said, “Which way did I come?”

I pointed to the direction from where she had run, and added, “You lost your veil back there too.”

She was amazed and replied, “I did too.”

All this happened just 10 days before I turned forty. So, in fact, I did die before I turned forty.

I don’t tell too many people this story. Too many people would think that I’m strange.

But I distinctly heard a strong male voice telling me that day, that I would be dead before I was forty.

--------------

Many years ago, I became fascinated with these accounts and found many people that had similar experiences. One that was outstanding was a female canoeist who went down rapids, her canoe upturned and was wedged between two boulders. When her friends realized this, they managed to free her and get her to land. However, by this time she had died. A medic in the group continued artificial respiration for what seemed a long time. Suddenly she coughed expelling water...she was alive!

I found that there was a group in the UK who all had had near-death experiences. I was fascinated to read the accounts; each one different, but with similar factors. Ninety-nine percent of their experiences were positive.  (Marge Stathakis)

POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTION

We often fall into negative interactional patterns. Some of these patterns and prejudices are absorbed from our childhood and others through experiences that have coloured our outlook.

Instead of drawing up a long list of “I will no longer…”  let us be positive and practical in changes we can make in our social contacts. Enjoy the journey as you experiment with the following suggestions…

1. Make a commitment to yourself that you will not pre-judge anyone. Recognize your inherent prejudices e.g., race, culture, religion, social standing, appearance…

2. Ensure that you have sufficient self-confidence not to feel threatened by any social contact. How would you rate your interpersonal self-confidence? (shy, reticent, comfortable, outgoing?) Are you also aware of the way your non-verbal messages are conveyed? For example, what is your body language when you are shy, angry, embarrassed, etc.?   Recognize that you are unique, as each person is, and allow others to get to know you.

3. Anticipate that you are meeting someone with a different history, life-experiences, joys, and sorrows. Be interested to get to know them. It is not about you, however, in time they will want to know about you.

4. Learn how to remember their names. A person’s name is important to them. Be sure to use their name when you greet them.

5. Acquire the quality of being relaxed and easy-going. Recognize that you have value, and have qualities that are of value. However, ask yourself, “What is my motive for connecting to another person?” If there is a genuine desire to get to know the other person, and to share deeply, this will ensure that there is no strain in being with you.

6. Cultivate the quality of being stimulating and interesting so that people will want to be with you.

7. Do not be self-centred or egotistical. Guard against giving the impression that you know it all. Be natural and humble.

8. Recognize your own faults in social interactions and consciously seek to correct them e.g. interrupting, not listening, being judgemental etc.

9. Do not be afraid to introduce discussions on deeper levels as your relationship develops. Be interested in what they believe and share yours.

10. Never miss an opportunity to congratulate anyone on their achievement, or to express sympathy in grief/disappointment.

11. Sincerely attempt to heal every misunderstanding that might have occurred. Apologise, if appropriate, for your part.

12. Pray for them, it will be your unvoiced gift to them.

A PROFOUND PRINCIPLE OF LIFE

I was amazed when thinking about this principle of life. So simple, yet with far reaching consequences.

"Give, and it will be given to you". Scripture here refers to our actions and the consequence thereof. Often these words are used to explain the way we use our finances. If we give, we will receive. However, there is a far deeper meaning to these words. It encapsulates a profound truth about generosity and mutual benefit in every walk of life. This isn’t merely about material wealth, but encompasses, kindness, honesty, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, blessing, delight and so much more.  Mary Jo Leddy, explains it this way, “The air you breathe into the universe is the air that it will breathe back, and if your energy is right, it will renew itself even as you give it away."

What does that mean?

Picture a farmer sowing seeds in a vast field. If the farmer sows generously, the yield will be plentiful. Conversely, if the sowing is sparse, the harvest will be little. This analogy highlights the idea that the generosity and kindness we extend to others will return to us in kind.

Simply put, the air you breathe into the universe symbolizes the actions, thoughts, and energies you release into the world. If your energy is positive, compassionate, and generous, it will ripple back to you, replenishing and enriching your life. It is like throwing a pebble into a pond, it ripples out and then returns to where it began.

Another example of giving and receiving is this, when you give something away, your hand opens up. Now, it’s open to receive new things.

St Luke puts it this way, "For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" In essence, this passage invites us to cultivate a spirit of generosity and compassion, love and forgiveness, not only for the tangible benefits but also for the inherent joy and fulfillment that come from enriching the lives of others. It encourages us to trust in the cycle of giving and receiving, where acts of kindness create a ripple effect of positivity and abundance in the world around us and in our own lives.

A Few Jokes To Smile About…

A Few Jokes To Smile About.

Three ‘one liners’

• The problem with kleptomaniacs is that they always take things literally

• Adam & Eve were the first ones to ignore the Apple terms and conditions.

• The world champion tongue twister got arrested. I hear they’re going to give him a tough sentence.

“Yes, Theo, what is it?” asked the teacher.
“I don’t want to alarm you, Miss Davis, but my dad said if I don't get better grades, someone was going to be in big trouble.”

                                                                                                                     An eight-year-old girl went to the office with her father on “Take Your Kids to Work Day”. As they were walking around the office the young girl started crying and getting very cranky. Her father asked what was wrong. As the staff gathered around, she sobbed loudly: “Daddy, where are all the clowns that you said you worked with?”

A man shouted frantically into the phone,
“My wife is pregnant, and her contractions are only two minutes apart!”  
“Is this her first child?” asked the dispatcher.
“NO!” he exclaimed, “this is her husband.”

Living Life Well

Every minute someone leaves this world behind.

We’re all in “the Queue” without knowing it.

We will never know how many people are ahead of us.

We can’t move to the bottom of the row.

We can’t get out of the line.

We can’t avoid the queue.

So, while we wait in the line,

Make the moments count!

Make priorities.

Make time.

Let your qualities be known.

Make your people feel important.

Make your voice heard.

Make big things out of small things.

Make someone smile.

Make the change.

Make love.

Make peace.

Get it together.

Make sure you tell your people that you love them.

Make sure that you have no regrets.

Make sure you are ready.

Live life, and let live, enjoy, be grateful,

don’t waste time arguing, fighting, and doing bad things.

Life is short, live it, be humble, love yourself,

and be happy with what you have.

Have a happy life.

Healthy Sleep

Getting sufficient, wholesome sleep is essential to our health and well-being, however, we do not pause often enough to check this part of our lives. Factors in our sleep hygiene that can affect our health and well-being are: snoring, sleep apnoea, shift work, poor sleeping environment, caffeine consumption, alcohol or tobacco use, babies or small children, chronic stress, unhealthy sleep patterns e.g. staying up too late. However, we are not helpless victims of circumstances etc. we do have the power to improve this area of our lives!

HEALTHY SLEEP GUIDELINES:

1. Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time, more or less, every day.

2. Ensure that your bedroom is cool, quiet and dark.

3. Limit your screen time: blue light emitted by phones, tablets, computers and Tv’s can disrupt the body’s ability to produce melatonin- the hormone that regulates sleep. Try to avoid these for at least an hour before bedtime.

4. Try not to eat a large meal before bedtime.

5. Do not use your bedroom as a workroom, if possible.

6. Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol as both interfere with your sleep cycle.

7. Limit the use of sleeping tablets as over-use will affect your physical, emotional and psychological well-being.

8. If you exercise before bedtime, you may feel more energized.

9. A healthy practice is to jot down all the things on your mind e.g. what you need to do the next day etc, otherwise your brain will try to remember and not relax! Include writing a to-do list. Once you have noted it, you can relax.

10. Explore a pre-sleep routine that will relax you e.g. take a relaxing, warm bath, ensure that you have settled everything for the night, lower the lights in the house and listen to calming music.

11. Try to get into sunlight during the day, this helps regulate our cycadean rhythms.

12. Avoid checking the time at night and avoid late afternoon naps.

13. Find peace as you prayerfully thank God for the good things that happened in the day, even the small things like seeing an unusual bird.

14. As you close your eyes, try to remember a pleasant place you visited or a happy memory.

15. Try relaxation exercises like tensing and relaxing your muscles from your feet to your face.

16. Do not fear your dreams – they are pathways to your unconscious world as well as a means of restoration. Remember too that God often spoke to His people through dreams.

A LIFE DESTROYED AND REMADE

A testimony from the booklet “Friend in Jesus”  by David Heritage (A booklet of testimonies from ex-convicts)

TESTIMONEY OF DAVID HERITAGE:

I was born in Cape Town in 1970 and on my birth, I was left in the care of the hospital, as my mother died a few days after my birth and my father could not take care of me. I was adopted within a year of my birth but throughout my life was physically, emotionally and sexually abused. In 1985 I gave my life to God at the Kloof Methodist Church in Durban and tried my best to be a good, faithful Christian. However, in the army during 1990 I moved away from God and from there my life was on a rapid downhill.

I mixed with wrong friends and started yielding to Satan more and more. On the night of the 9th December, 1994 I shot and killed my adoptive parents. I was sentenced in 1996 to 25 years imprisonment where I find myself today.

In October,1996 I gave my life back to God- repenting and accepting Him into my life. Since that day I have not looked back!

I relate my story to that of Jonah. Just as Jonah went his own way, not listening to God, so did I. Just as Jonah, realising that he was wrong crawled back to God in the belly of the fish, so did I in my prison cell. As God heard Jonah and saved him so I believe God heard me and saved me!

Through my study of the book of Jonah I discovered a number of interesting points on backsliding which have been encouraging to me, as someone who did backslide and who found a way back to God.

My wish is that my testimony will serve as encouragement to those of you who have perhaps departed from God. Remember that if God could accept me back the He certainly will take you back! Praise God - how wonderful and gracious He is!

(Costa and I, Marge, were involved with David from the time of the murder of his parents till we left Johannesburg and were overjoyed to hear of his on-going work with ex-convicts. He was faithfully supported through his prison years by a member of the Bryanston Methodist Church)

Read more on Facebook:  NEW LIFE CITY CHURCH :    ‘In dialogue with David Heritage’

LEONARDO DA VINCI’S 7 STEPS OF THINKING

• CURIOSITA: An insatiable curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning.

  Our eldest son, at a very young age, would ask “What if…?”

• DIMONSTRAZIONE: A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence and a willingness to learn from past mistakes.

  I was never a ‘natural cook’.  As I was putting the biscuits in the oven to cook, our young son asked “Are you going to burn them now?”

• SENSAZIONE: Continual refinement of the senses as the means to enliven experience.

  To be innovative we must be aware of what is going on around us.  To be ‘blissfully unaware’ is not an option here.

• SFUMATO:  It is about our willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox and uncertainty.

  Life is not straightforward, nor are relationships. Accepting this helps us to reduce our stress.

• ARTE/SCIENZA: Developing a balance between logic and creative thinking.

  Other terms for this are balancing between art and science as well as whole brain thinking.

• CORPORALITA: This is about maintaining a healthy body as well as a healthy mind. 

  One of the core concepts of da Vinci’s approach is keeping our bodies and our minds fit. Fit minds lead to more innovative and creative solutions.

• CONNESSIONE: 

  This is the simple recognition of the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena.