LET'S DO LUNCH!

And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed

which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree

whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food."
~ Genesis 1:29 ~

Ever noticed that sluggish or sleepy feeling after eating lunch? After overindulging in non-nutritional foods?

When it comes to eating, we have gone our own way and given ourselves permission to glut on whatever we please. How can we expect to not be stressed?

One of the most shocking things is we're ready to pout every time our eating habits are addressed, but then, we're rallying prayer whenever health issues arise.

Sad to say, there's hardly a single one of us who isn't stressing behind some kind of disorder or disease. High blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis and obesity cause severe stress in nine out of ten lives.

In all honesty, we have to admit our addictions to typically BAD eating. Our Black American Diet largely consists of fried foods - especially meats - lots of pork, cooked-to-death vegetables, and plenty of processed foods and sweets.

Realizing that God has made provisions for us through the natural foods of this earth, we must feed our bodies food that's designed to de-stress them.

To be strong stress-survivors, we must focus on eating to live, rather than, living to eat. And instead of making poor choices and eating what tastes good to us, we must be mindful of what's good for us.


Peace I leave with you . . .

EXPECTATIONS

Remember how, in the beginning, we had such great expectations for certain things, only to discover later on that things were not like we thought?

Remember those terrible stresses? Here, again, most of us can identify with an old-faithful truth that warns, "Things are not always what they seem."

At one time or another, we've experienced dreadful headaches or heartaches from expectations gone wild. And the resulting stresses literally knocked us off our feet.

Once an obnoxious rich man bragged over the fact that he always drank "Kopi Luwak" -- world's rarest and most expensive coffee. This old man raved that Kopi Luwak coffee beans cost hundreds of dollars for a single pound of the exceptional-tasting coffee.

One day the rich tycoon was informed by a 45-year-career mechanic how the Kopi Luwak beans were processed. Interestingly enough, Indonesian cats eat the coffee beans and excrete them. The unique Kopi Luwak beans are then picked out of cats excrement.

Isn't that just like life? We, too, just like the rich man, have thought that we'd discovered the absolute grandest and the best -- all the while not having the slightest idea of the stinkin' truth.

So how do we chase those stresses away? One of the most profound things we can do is to do as the rich man did. When he found out the scoop about his beloved "Kopi Luwak," HE LAUGHED.

As many cups of cat-dung-confiscated coffee that he'd drunk, when the low-down dirty truth was exposed, he laughed and laughed.

Yeah . . . yeah . . . it sounds crazy, but sounding crazy is far better than actually being crazy. Sure, laughing at faulty expectations is easier said, than done. But laughter is a highly-proven stress reducer. So from now on, in situations where we're known to stress, LET'S LEARN TO LAUGH.


Peace I leave with you . . .

QUIET TIME

WHEN was the last time we sat down "alone" and enjoyed quiet, uninterrupted time? Do we regularly take mental breaks to release tension and stress, or do we indulge just every now and then?

To some, spending precious moments doing much-of-nothing seems like a waste of time. For those who are deeply bothered by stress, embracing quiet time is worth every single minute.

Solitude is an age-old art that's good for every ail. Not only is it an excellent relief for stress and anxiety, it is equally essential to the well being of our souls.

Spinning on life's merry-go-around and can barely think straight? Steal away to a private room or porch or backyard and spend time in tranquillity and peace. Even if it means locking up in the bathroom for a spell, find some quietness.

Basking in the blessings of quiet time can be rewarding regardless of who we are or what we do. When all around us is toxic and out of control, we do not have to be committed to the madness.

If we intend to greatly minimize our stresses, let's take time out to unwind and to liberate ourselves from daily drama.


Peace I leave with you . . .

PASSION

"There is in this world no such force as the force of a person
determined to rise." ~ W. E. B. DuBois ~


Looking back, we can see severe stresses from times and places where it seemed that certain classes of people were living their dream.

Many remember when elite Americans enjoyed stress-free lives, while dissatisfied others settled for mostly less-than-best.

People sacrificed unimaginable stresses trying to acquire a unique lease on life - as others obviously had. It finally became clear that one's yearning for a special kind of lifestyle was called "passion."

After generations of all kinds of stressful struggles, we came to the realization that our battles were a direct result of our passions. We discovered that passion was a divine inheritance for all.

One of the most astounding discoveries -among black, white, red, yellow, and pink - was that passion is not prejudice. It will dwell in any body's heart.

Let's ponder our own passions. Are we stressing-out while waiting for our dreams to come true? What are we doing, other than stressing, to keep the dreams alive?

Surely, if we are to live our long-awaited dreams, we have to take personal responsibility for seeking ways to grab hold of them. And the absolute first thing we must do is "believe."

Yes, yes, and yes again . . . "IF WE CAN BELIEVE IT, WE CAN ACHIEVE IT."


Peace I leave with you . . .

LEARNING TO LIVE WELL

When first born, one does not enter the world knowing how to live. Regardless of how rich, or famous, or well-loved, or cuddled and cooed, we must go through a process of learning.


In order to master the essentials that goes with "a good life," it is imperative that we put forth personal efforts--again and again and again.

Learning to live with less stress is nonetheless. We have to extend our minds and bodies and time and determination. If we are to go from stressed-out individuals to mature stress-survivors, we'll have to invest consistent efforts.

Many of us are not living well in the area of stress because, like many other areas in our lives, we don't know how. So what if we're adults? Not knowing is not knowing, regardless of our years.

Whatever age or stage we may be, surely we've some recollection of first time endeavors and how we had to "learn" to do this-and-that before doing them well. From walking and talking, to potty-training, to riding a bicycle, to driving a car, to exploring those hush-hush territories, learning was key.

And whatever we learned or whenever we learned it, one age-old observation remains true: We have to crawl before we walk . . . Here, again, learning is a process.

As we pursue the art of living well and determine more and more to de-stress, we must be willing to learn-- and to do whatever it takes to be victorious. As long as it's not unhealthy or unholy.



Peace I leave with you . . .

TEATIME

Noticed how every time we turn around there's some new updates on the benefits of tea? Researchers are constantly affirming its effectiveness to fight fatigue, strengthen memory, aid digestion, and yes, even help prevent cancer.

In many cultures, the art of drinking tea has become a way of life. The Chinese and Japanese practice elaborate tea ceremonies that transform the simple details of tea drinking into a thing of beauty and tranquility.

Their teatime is more than simply drinking a soothing cup of hot (or iced) tea, it is their special time to ponder the four principles of tea--harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. The tea ceremony serves as a way to focus mental energies, relax, and enjoy a rich tradition.

Compared to other types, GREEN TEA is reported to be "king'' of the teas. Scientific research indicates that green tea can help prevent high cholesterol levels, rheumatoid arthritis, formation of blood clots leading to heart attacks and strokes, and the growth of cancer cells.

For those who are devout tea-drinkers and can't seem to make it through the day without a good cup of tea, wonderful. For those who're waiting for someone to twist their arm in gentle persuasion, the time has come.

In an era when society is checkered with changes and mounting stresses, it's refreshing to know that "Teatime" is still the time for achieving peace of mind.



Peace I leave with you . . .

LET'S DANCE!

Having a hard time trying to exercise because of unfavorable weather conditions? Hindered by the lack of funds for costly gym workouts?

Not a problem. Try this. Steal away to a private room, turn on some peppy tunes, and dance . . . dance . . . dance.

Dancing is, by far, an incredible fun and relaxing form of exercise. And it's inexpensive. When combating daily stresses, exercise can do wonders for the mind and body. Along with reducing stress and lifting our spirits, dancing strengthens our heart and all those other tight muscles.

See, as we dance (exercise), we release small molecules known as endorphins in our bodies. These endorphins act just like a drug and gives us a high. A "happy" high--a sort of well-being and satisfied feeling. So the more we exercise, the more endorphins we release--the more endorphins released, the happier we are.

For a truly hilarious dancercise, try some 'Ole school tunes. It's okay to laugh, cry, holla and scream . . . but don't stop dancing.

And, oh, if dancing is taboo in certain homes, don't despair. Gather some fast-paced praise songs and jump up and down and move all around and shout. . . shout . . . shout. As long as we can keep that adrenaline pumping, we're making progress in reducing stress.


Peace I leave with you . . .