Today’s Thursday Thought quote struck me as a very simple truth.
Tag Archive for body
It’s Vital to Us as Americans
I know. You’re already tired of IMPEACHMENT, and the trial is just starting. Many of us are tempted to fast-forward to the end, when the final decision is made. That’s not a good idea.
We, the people, need to listen to the actual facts and tune out political posturing, half-truths, and outright lies. We need to analyze what we hear (and speakers’ telling body language), especially the questions coming directly from Senators later in the process, to determine if the Senators (both sides) are being true to their solemn oath to be fair and impartial. We need to scan the Senate floor, seeing if they’re being attentive or just napping or finding a way around the no-electronics rules. In short, we need to WATCH.
Why? Because the process reflects on us as a democracy. It shows the world if we can be trusted to practice what we preach. When it’s over, no matter what decision is made, it affects our future. If the people in power (President, Senators, others) have successfully manipulated the system, there’s no safeguard against their enacting self-serving laws, laws that make more Americans vulnerable and enrich the powerful on the backs of the poor and middle class. And our nation’s reputation and influence in the world–already severely damaged–sinks lower and lower.
But if they go 12 hours at a stretch….! Set your VCR. Watch the proceedings in bits, catching up to current time, then delete and reset for recording starting at that point. No, I don’t expect you to watch every second. But watch the majority of it. Be informed. Be critical. Be a concerned American.
And remember that an important election is coming up. If you think the Senators failed in their duty, don’t fail in yours. Make it right through your vote.
Body Heat
I just learned something that can help those of us suffering through extra-hot days. Oh, I know about protecting my skin with proper clothing and sunscreen. Now I know that sweating may be a smelly nuisance, but it gets rid of 22% of our body heat. Meaning that sweating is a good thing. I learned, too, that I should be drinking A LOT more liquid than I do, like half my body weight in ounces. (Think of all the exercise I’ll get traipsing to the bathroom.) And I should avoid eating high protein foods in the heat, because they interfere with the body’s ability to cool itself.
Now I have a choice: follow all that advice or stop complaining about the heat!
Get Outside NOW!
Being out in nature is good for our minds, bodies, and spirits. We know that. But there’s no place close to where I live.
Wrong. Let the Nature Conservancy tell you where beautiful, soul-refreshing nature preserves are in your area. Go to Explore Nature in Your Area, choose your state from the drop-down menu just above the word “Features” in green, and find the natural wealth in your own backyard.
Then…get outside and enjoy!
Personal: The Human Touch
Thank you for your patience while I took some time off from my blog (as well as from many other things). It has been a hard space in my life, laying to rest my beloved husband of 35+ years. Being without him will continue to be hard.
But the experience reminded me of the importance of the human touch. His fingers grazing mine when he needed something from the bedside table he couldn’t reach. His smile as I rubbed his feet while we talked, with me doing most of the talking. Mutual reassurance at 3 A.M. when I’d hear irregular breathing, lay a hand on his chest, and feel the pattern change to calmness. That little current flowing between us as we held hands for our morning couple-prayers, even after the actual words came only through my lips.
Hugs of children, grand-children, and friends–hugs that brought healing tears and pushed away fears and anticipated loneliness. And all their cheek-kisses, back caresses, adjusting wayward strands of our hair, finger massages, and quiet hand-holding for both of us and for each other.
During times of grave illness and death, loving people are frustrated because they really do want to do something to help. So they say, “If there’s anything at all that I can do….” What I want to say to many of them is that their simple touch brought us both so much comfort and encouragement. To others I’d say that God gave us each a body so we can minister to each other through the grace of a simple human touch.