Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Barry

“Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.”

—Sun Tzu, Ancient Chinese Military general & Philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Ricardo Cruz

What is your personal assessment of your health? Consider all aspects including your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual status.

What current habits and practices enhance your well-being and nourish your vitality?

Despite all of our best Blue Zone efforts, we all eventually decline and rust.

Our telomeres shorten and our cells don’t always replace themselves with the exact genetic codes of our youth.

I’ve heard that over the years about 70% of our health can be positively influenced by our actions.

Regardless of the exact number it is in our best interest to keep our life swords sharp and strong.

EXERCISE:

What factors in your world act like salt water, having a corrosive effect on your life?

How can you minimize or eliminate their toxic effects to optimize your chances of a long and healthy life?

Check out Blue Zones and investigate the work of the Human Longevity Institute for some approaches being used to galvanize our lives for the better.

My experience of life is what I agree to attend to

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Barry

“My experience of life is what I agree to attend to.”

—William James, 19th Century American philosopher, historian, and psychologist

Image form Unsplash by Fábio Lucas

How do you spend your days?

Who do you spend them with?

How agreeable and satisfied are your answers to these questions?

To what degree do you feel free to attend to your days as you desire?

How is your ability to choose your path blocked by factors outside of your control?

I recently reached a meditation milestone of 1400 consecutive days—the mindfulness exercises have been of significant value to my life off the cushion.

Building greater acceptance, patience, and compassion, and being more equanimous with life as it unfolds have been bonuses to my initial efforts to be less stressed, and grow calmer.

EXERCISE:

What steps can and will you take in the coming days to enhance your experience of life, and that to which you attend?

There is a big difference between fresh air and an air freshener

Posted on August 1, 2023 by Barry

“There is a big difference between fresh air and an air freshener.”

—Gretchen Rubin, NYT Bestselling Author

Image from Unsplash by Matthias Hyde

AQI or Air Quality Index is a term more and more people are familiar with these days due to the many Canadian wildfires.

Do a search for the most polluted cities in the world and you might be shocked at how many cities are almost always at unhealthy, severe, and hazardous levels.

Looking beyond forest fires, what other activities are the cause of such hazardous conditions?

Look into the ingredient lists of various air fresheners and you’ll see many noxious substances adding to the toxic load!

How aware are you of the things you put into your body?

How mindful are you of what’s in your food, water, and air, and their impact on your health?