Archive for March 30, 2019

Go Dark for an Hour

March 30, 2019 Comments Off on Go Dark for an Hour

It’s happening now, wherever 8:30 PM local time arrives for you, in over 160 countries around the world and on all continents. People are turning off their lights for an hour in solidarity for working toward a sustainable future. 

Turning off the lights is only a symbol, of course, but this annual event (a dozen years old) really is having an effect.  One year, 35,000 American Girl Scouts were inspired to go into their community and install 132,141 energy-efficient light bulbs.  The former president of Botswana organized to plant 100,000 trees in devastated areas.

Participate by turning off all lights tonight 8:30 – 9:30.  Yes, all lights, including the TV and phone.  Join with others to acknowledge the fact that all of us together need to work on saving our not-inexhaustible resources and keeping our Earth healthy for future generations.

To watch the lights go our for that hour across the globe, click on
https://www.earthhour.org/earth-hour-live .

DOUSE THOSE LIGHTS TONIGHT 8:30 – 9:30.



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Fully Packed Irish Proverb

March 28, 2019 Comments Off on Fully Packed Irish Proverb

Today’s Thursday Thought–an Irish proverb–is short but packed with meaning.

“People live in each other’s shelter.” – Irish proverb

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Deadly Racism Approved by Supreme Court

March 27, 2019 Comments Off on Deadly Racism Approved by Supreme Court

There are two types of black people—”regular black folks” and “***gers” was the expressed belief of a juror deciding in favor of the death penalty for Black defendant Keith Tharp. Lower courts wouldn’t handle the hot potato appeals. Then it went to the Supreme Court–and they refused to hear the case, too! So Tharp awaits execution.

We’re supposed to be judged by a fair and impartial jury. If you were____ (insert your race or nationality) on trial for your life, how would you feel about a juror who was obviously and vocally prejudiced against your race or nationality and influencing the other jurors? Would you feel you were being judged fairly and impartially?

Think about that as you read what happened to Tharp, and, consequently, to our justice system. Read The Supreme Court Won’t Hear the Case of an Inmate Sentenced to Death by Racist Juror.

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Depressed? Stressed? High BP? Try This

March 26, 2019 Comments Off on Depressed? Stressed? High BP? Try This

Whoever heard of “horticulture therapy”? Not me. Apparently, it’s a real thing that’s being used in the field of mental health. It seems that plants can help people overcome depression, and gardening helps people both mentally and physically.  It has helped vets, people with addiction, kids, and older adults. According to Gardening becomes healing with horticultural therapy, “Many studies have found that just being in nature — such as taking a walk through a garden, a park, a forest — can improve not only your state of mind but your blood pressure, your heart rate and your stress hormone levels and, over time, can lead to a longer life….But taking care of a plant or a garden with guidance from a therapist goes a step further.”

This is an interesting article, worth a read.

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A Way to Re-Home the Homeless

March 25, 2019 Comments Off on A Way to Re-Home the Homeless

It’s a miracle! Well, a miracle message. That’s what the non-profit is called because that’s what they deliver. They’re partnering with cities to get these messages out. The organization makes videos of a homeless person and uses it to try to find family who have lost contact with them. The videos have been successful in reuniting people and getting them off the streets and back home.

Read about this organization, what they do, and the success story of Wayne and his niece Jasmine.

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Join the WildLife

March 23, 2019 2 comments

It’s Spring!  Time to start planning for a healthier, more beautiful home for your family and for the little creatures living close to you.  In fact, your yard (or even apartment balcony) can be certified by the National Wildlife Foundation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program.  It takes five steps: 1) provide a food source for your little visitors in the form of native plants, which take less water and produce nectar, berries, or seeds; 2) supply clean water for drinking and bathing—like a birdbath or pond; 3) put in logs, rocks, or a birdhouse to give cover, for both protection and a place to raise young; 4) practice environmentally friendly gardening, using less lawn, mulching, and rain barrels or other water conservation methods; 5) go to https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify and certify your new habitat (this is optional but fun).  For details, go to that website or call the NWF at (800)822-9919.  Creating your habitat will bring sunshine to your family and life to your little corner of the world.

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It’s All About YOU

March 22, 2019 Comments Off on It’s All About YOU

Did you miss it yesterday? World Poetry Day. Yes, it’s an actual declared day, celebrated on March 21 each year. Back in 1999, UNESCO
(the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) started it, with the intent of encouraging people to read, write, publish, and teach poetry throughout the world.

Why?! Poetry is hard to understand and doesn’t relate to me!


Wrong. Poetry tells the stories of our lives–the good time, bad times, inspired moments, deep-in-despair moments–all that makes us human. We see ourselves, whether in a phrase or in the whole poem. In other words, it isn’t a bunch of sing-songy, forced-to-rhyme lines (not true poetry) but statements (rhyming or not) that remind us of our shared human experience.

It’s not too late to celebrate it. In fact, I invite you to download, at no cost (yes, free) my book of poetry, God Sneezed. You can find it at your favorite e-book seller, or just click this link:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=god+sneezed . I’m sure you’ll find something there that reminds you of you.

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A Lesson from Mark Twain

March 21, 2019 Comments Off on A Lesson from Mark Twain

I love Mark Twain. His writings are full of humanity, humor, and little life-lessons–like the one I offer you for today’s Thursday Thought:

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain .

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Solution Sunday

March 20, 2019 Comments Off on Solution Sunday

A couple of senators got together and came up with an idea that can actually unite rather than divide us–Solution Sunday. It involves food, conversation, and a diverse group of people. It’s even something we can all do. Take a look at this video:

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A Gym for People with Autism

March 18, 2019 Comments Off on A Gym for People with Autism

How’s that for a great idea? Mark Fleming is himself on the autism spectrum and, therefore, understands the challenges of the condition. Who better to use his BA and MA in Exercise Science to open a gym where people with autism can go and work out in a comfortable, understanding setting? Who better to fill the activity-void people on the spectrum face?

It’s an interesting story. You can find it at https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/07/health/iyw-trainer-opens-a-gym-for-people-with-autism-trnd/index.html?utm_source=The+Good+Stuff&utm_campaign=c530ddfae6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_03_08_04_50&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4cbecb3309-c530ddfae6-101645781

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