Saturday December 5 2015  PEACE ABOUT FOREVER

Last evening was very enjoyable.  We joined our friends at church for a delicious pot luck dinner and then a show afterward.  The “show” was actually the children’s Christmas Pageant.  Though we do not have any children to watch in the pageant we love to attend.  My heart is always so sad when I look up on the stage and do not see our grandchildren participating.  I hope one year before they outgrow their childhood that they will have the opportunity to attend church consistently enough to be able to sing about the wonders of Christmas and the birth of Christ at the Children’s Christmas Pageant.  I would just love to see that performance.

The pageant was absolutely precious.  There is no entertainment better that a mass of children who are all trying to do their best and their best is just priceless.  There was a smile on my face all during the production as well as all the way home.  Their sincerity and innocence combined, creates memorable heartfelt moments.  The audience was full of beaming parents and grandparents.  I think the children’s pageant is my favorite Christmas service each December.

There is another special event we hope to attend tomorrow afternoon at the State Capitol building.  It is a group of children from all the area schools who combine to perform the story of Christmas, in still life acting, and singing.  Once upon a time there were fliers that were sent home by the schools informing the families of the opportunity to be part of the Christmas program.  I don’t know if you have ever heard of the name Anne Gaylor and her daughter Annie Laurie Gaylor who spear-headed the “Freedom from Religion” movement that began right here in Wisconsin in 1976, and which was incorporated nationally in 1978.  Now the schools are not allowed to advertise the event and the children must sign up outside of school to take part in the Capitol pageant.  The production is held in the Capitol’s Rotunda on thesecond floor,  The upper floors of the rotunda are also used for the still life acts of the Christ Child scene in the stables, and for the angels.  It is a magnificent depiction of the story of Christ with beautiful singing from the choir and musicians playing background music.  There is also a harpist also that adds so much to the event.  

On the bottom floor of the rotunda stands a very tall Christmas tree that goes up through the circle balcony above and can be seen at eye level on the second floor where the music and acting take place.  During our previous governor’s administration it was called the “The Holiday Tree”.  The current governor and his administration call it what it is, “A Christmas Tree”.   On the ground floor of the Capitol, next to the Christmas tree, there are always disclaimers about “mixing religion and state”.  Here is what The Freedom From Religion Foundation has on a large sign sitting in front of the Christmas Tree on the ground floor.  This is what is written on one of the disclaimers:

“At this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail.  There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.  There is only our natural world.  Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”  Freedom From Religion Foundation

I find it interesting, that though the pagaent is kept totally separate from the schools, that the school children in the area make ornaments at school and the ornaments are then donated each year to decorate the Capitol Christmas Tree.  They are beautiful due to each child’s unique imagination.  We try to attend every year to support the fact that we can still sing about the birth of Christ in a state run facility.  Just who is it exactly that owns and pays for the building?  I believe the last time I checked it was “we the people”.  And I also don’t remember our Constitution stating that we have “freedom from religion”.  Rather, and I quote from the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution:

“Prohibits the making of any law RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, impeding the FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION, abridging the freedom of  speech,…” 

So, the way I see it, we have the freedom to express our religion when and where we like, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation has their right to the freedom of speech in their signage.  But look out people!  A lot of our freedoms are being eroded DAILY by laws that seem to go against what our constitution states.  Stand up for our Constitution and do not allow the government take our freedoms from us.

I actually did not mean to get on a high horse about the Capitol pageant, however, since I still have freedom of speech and the right to say what I want to say, I will speak the truth as I see it. 

Now, I would like to address the two poems I included at the bottom of yesterday’s blog.  I was informed that they didn’t make a lot of sense and that I am also sometimes difficult to understand.  So, if any others found that to be true, I do apologize.  I have taken 26 words that are normal every day words, and written poems that are the “spiritual” definition as to what I think the word means.   The first word I wrote about was ATTENTION.  The poem following that title best describes to me the spiritual aspect of what that word means to me.

The second poem I wrote about was the definition of IMAGINATION.  That poem may have been easier to distinguish the word which I defined by the poem.  Perhaps they were both just a big flop but I did put a lot of time and effort into their creation.  Sorry if it was a waste of your time to read.

This morning was a wonderful morning because I had all my workouts at the gym taken care of for the week and did not need to go today.  That always makes me feel as if I really have a day off.  So I spent the morning it in my library going through books which I bought on my trip.  I read parts of several and found the ones I will be studying this coming year.  One is a book by A.W. Tozer “THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY”.  Oh my goodness!  I am so looking forward to each chapter.  It is amazing how he opens up the meaning of who God is!  I think I may look up some of his other titles.  I also found a very interesting little something in one of the other books I discovered.  I will try to remember to tell you more about it this week.  It is too involved to write about today due to the length this blog already is.  So I will close with the poem I wrote this morning as I studied about God and who He is. 

PEACE ABOUT FOREVER

By Kathleen Martens

December 5, 2015

No matter how many times

I may walk away,

Jesus always beckons

Come, and with Me stay.

When I forget to say my prayers

The Holy Spirit taps my shoulder,

And speaks to me in loving voice,

“It is your prayers that make you bolder.

Lean not on self, but give trust

To the Lord who reigns on high.

Seek first the Kingdom of God

And all else will come nigh.”

And He receives me with open arms

And with love He fills me up.

And He bids me come and stay

And on His word to sup.

For there is no greater burden

Than facing eternity unknown.

But when I put my trust in God,

Peace is forever my own.

I hope this poem was a bit easier to understand.

Good night and God bless each one reading these words.  It is but 4:15 p.m. and it is dark, but in my heart a light shines brighter than the sun.  Or maybe I should say, “BRIGHT AS THE SON”.

Thursday December 3, 2015  I HEAR THE BEAT OF THE DRUMMER

I hear the beat of the drummer and each day it becomes closer and faster.  Twenty two days before Christmas and I will wake up one morning and it will be here.  JUST LIKE THAT!  At the snap of a finger.  There was once a time when it took forever for that special day.  Let me do a little reminiscing.

I know I have mentioned that as a child I lived in the project housing development, the place where there were no trees, all the project buildings were built alike, some one floor and some two floor, rectangular boxes with the clothes lines at the end or in front of each building.  Lots of cement all around the buildings and beyond that were rolling hills, usually brown and dry.  One reason they were brown and dry was because in the spring when everything came up like weeds, the project people came around with these big tanks on their back and sprayed everything with a slick oily substance of powerful weed killer to eradicate all the green growth.  Within hours the hills and all around the buildingS was black and dead from the potent spray.  But, this was always the fun time of the year for the ignorant kids of the projects.  As soon as the men were through spraying the poison, we kids in the projects would run and get our prized and hoarded cardboard, take it up to the highest hill across the street from our apartment building and slide down the back side of the hill on the slick slimy mixture, rolling in the muck at the bottom, as we tumbled to a stop.  It was a long hill and it must have felt much like it would sliding down in a sled in the snow country.  It was so fun because the grass was slick and cardboard went very fast.

At night I would come in with my slick shiny braids matted down to my head, smelling to high heaven, and my mother would make me take a shower.  My hair was only washed on Saturdays as I bent over the kitchen sink, so it had to wait until then.  It makes me cringe now to know I had that thick poison mixture on my scalp and in my hair, for who knows how many days.  Saturday my braids would come out and I had to hang my head over the sink as my mom would scrub my head until she LITERALLY drew blood (though just a few times that I remember).  Then she would send me outside in the nice weather and I would sit in the sun with my hair hanging down to my waist as it blew in the breeze, running my fingers through it so it would dry.  In the winter I had to stand by the heater that stood in the corner of the short hallway right outside the one bathroom we had.  My hair was thick and long and if I didn’t get it dry before bedtime I would wake up with damp hair.

The heater in the corner of the hall was a big boxy free standing gas burning apparatus.  There was a rope that was strung from corner to corner above it.  I owned one pair of socks and I would wash them out every night and someone would hang them up high by the toes with two clothespins so they would be dry by morning.  I had one pair of school shoes, usually white oxfords, which I took such pride in.  I insisted on polishing them every night.  Some of you may remember the little, rectangle fuzzy piece of cloth that you could hold over the opening of the white shoe polish bottle, turn it upside down, and then have the polish needed to add another coat of white on my oxfords.  I remember the polish becoming so caked and layered on the shoes over the school year that by summer they would be thick and cracked with all the diligent polishing.  But they were kept white that way.  I also had one pair of Sunday school shoes which I wore each Sunday morning and Sunday night.  But on Wednesday nights I was relegated again to wearing my over polished, painful oxfords.

Though we were hand to mouth poor my mother was fastidious.  She said we may be poor but we didn’t have to look like or act like trash.  She kept our apartment as clean as physically possible (with forced labor), of which I was part.  What I remember in the summer, was leaving the apartment as early as possible and heading out over the hills to be with the neighborhood gang.  I use the world “gang” in an endearing way because it was not like the gangs of today.  It was just poor kids banding together to play.  I sort of organized and ruled most of the time.  I guess in today’s vernacular it would simply be called “being bossy”.  I always had lots of ideas.  One of my best ideas was raiding the garbage cans after one of the apartments had a repair job on the wallboard.  The trash was then always full of big hunks and pieces of thick hard sheet rock, which made the absolutely best chalk.  Since we had so much cement space I became an instant architectural designer.  My best friend Albert, who lived downstairs right below our apartment, would help me draw the floor plans of the most magnificent houses on the vast expanse of cement.  We would not let anyone else come into our house or step on our chalk lines.  Later in life I visited the area after the apartments had been torn down.  The cement area was much smaller than I remembered it being at age six and seven.

Well, I have done quite a bit of remembering but totally off the subject of what I wanted to elaborate about.  Back to my thought of anticipating Christmas.  Christmas was always exciting when I was little because it was the only time of the year when we received a toy.    I actually have most of the gifts I received over the Christmases of my childhood, (except one doll that melted due to a fire in the neighboring apartment).  Our apartment did not actually burn to ashes but the apartment next door did, (twice) and we had a lot of heat and smoke damage in ours.   That’s another story entirely.  Back to Christmas.  As I sit here I remember several Christmas seasons.  One in particular that I will mention was the year my sister turned four years old.  I was ten.  I snuck out in the middle of Christmas Eve night, and there under the tree was a little metal table and chairs about the right size for a preschooler.  A big Chatty Cathy doll sat in one of the chairs and the other chair had a pink teddy bear with a pretty bow around its neck.  I was so excited for my Chatty Cathy doll, knowing that Faith would be receiving the pink teddy bear and table and chairs.  Boy, was I ever wrong!  The Chatty Cathy doll was for my younger sister and I RECEIVED THE PINK TEDDY BEAR.  After all, I was a grown up ten year old.  I didn’t hanker for a TEDDY BEAR.  I tried to cover up my disappointment.  In no way would I want to hurt my mother’s feelings.  I knew everything cost money and we didn’t have much.  I used to listen through the thin walls when my parents thought I was sleeping and hear them talking about money and worrying so about having enough for food and for what expenses were coming up.  That always lay heavy on my little young soul.  I certainly didn’t want to be the cause of any angst when it came to money.  I found out years later, if I recall correctly, that is was my sister Velma who bought the doll for Faith.

When I was a child, I counted my years by Christmas day.  On the day after Christmas the year loomed long before me.  Now, on the other hand, when March comes I always announce to Dave, we better start getting ready for Christmas.  And in the blink of an eye it is here.  And in the month of December the whole month is Christmas.  The drum of December beckons me on.  Another year gone and by March, Christmas will almost be here again.

 My day began at 4:45 a.m., I was out of the house by 6:10 a.m., and at my destination by 6:50 a.m..  Fortunately, I did not run into rush hour traffic so I made excellent time.  I was on Grandma duty today.  Occasionally my grandchildren do not have childcare coverage so the two Grandmas are called to arms.  It was a good day.  Drove the older one to school, stayed with the younger one all day, played cars on the hardwood floors, played two games of Blokus with the four year old, fixed a morning snack, played with building magnets, fixed lunch, went and picked up the older one, then snack time again.  I played cars once again with two opponents instead of one, settled a few minor disputes, helped with homework, did a detailed Bible study with the eight year old, and greeted mom and dad when they arrived home.  Oh yes, I also wrote the above blog between what I mentioned in this paragraph.  I just did a little here and there as I entertained two kids.  All in all It was an excellent day.

One more thing to add to my day.  My Sunday appointment to pick up the final wedding book of my career did not take place.  Well, I arrive home about 20 minutes before they were scheduled to be here this evening.  The book has been signed, sealed, and delivered (or at least picked up)!  I came up the stairs singing!  They loved it!

BECAUSE THEN I WILL BE…

By Kathleen Martens

December 3, 2015

Over the past three years

I’ve had so many endings.

Planning for retirement

Now is no longer pending.

Today is a momentous one

That has a lot of meaning.

My professional work is over!

Workload no longer steaming.

Two little projects left to do

For friends without the stress.

And when that is all finished

I will then be due my rest.

Because then I will be

Fully and completely retired!

But that is not what I intend,

Rather, I will be re-fired!

Today I lived a long time, very slow, very busy, and I’m not done yet!  I only watched a part of a movie last night.  Tonight I hope to finish it.

Good night and God bless you. 

Tuesday December 1 2015  WHERE DO I START?

PREFACE:  Please note that the body of my blog is actually quite short today.  If you scroll down you may think it way too long  to read.  At the end of what I wrote I have included part of a website with more information about the topic that I discuss, briefly due to some wise words a woman told me today.  Please read if you find it helpful, otherwise after I say good night, please skip the rest.  However, if you start reading it you may find it very stimulating and interesting!

MY BLOG:

If I were to try to tell you all that Dave and I did today I would be here until midnight typing.  So, I will suffice to say we were busy and on the go from the time we awakened this morning until sitting down at this computer at 7:41 p.m.  Our errands for the week are done.  Perhaps not a good idea to jam them all into one day because Dave’s stamina went downhill rather quickly there at the end.  We won’t try that again.  It is just that we live so far out from everything that when we go to town we try to get everything done in the area we go to in order to save time and gas. 

The dishwasher sounds like music to my ears for it means the end of the day is being put to bed.  I certainly wish I could hear the sound of the vacuum drone but that is not to be until we are both signed, sealed, and delivered so to speak.  I have two more weeks of limited arm use and Dave has at least three more weeks before he can return to light duties.

I intend to write a very short blog tonight as I still intend to try to fulfill one of my December goals.  That goal is to watch a Christmas Movie every day.  Perhaps not a great aspiration to aspire to but one, none the less, I’d like to try to put under my belt as an accomplishment.  Needless to say that my dream of taking the entire month of December off has not started yet.  Maybe tomorrow.

A GIFT TO MYSELF

By Kathleen Martens

December 1, 2015

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day

With empty hours when I can play.

Because today was all about work

None of which I might shirk.

Every day builds for tomorrow

Which I must not lend to sorrow.

I did today what had to be done

Even if it was not quite fun.

But I think, I can still squeeze

Two hours that will greatly please.

If one movie I can get through,

Then tomorrow I’ll watch number two.

To stay awake will be my aim,

And my goal will not be stained.

No matter how hard it will be,

I want to do it just for me.

It is my gift to myself

To watch those movies on the shelf.

And then again after next year,

In December, I’ll hold them dear.

While I was at the gym this morning I met a lady named Anne.  We had a small conversation about exercise and how it helped our bodies stay limber and work better.  I then asked Anne my latest question:  What one thing caught her unaware as she started aging?  Her answer was quite interesting and beautifully spoken.  I am grateful for her permission to share it with you here.

“JUST AS WE’RE SHARING ABOUT KEEPING OUR BODIES NIMBLE, I FEEL LIKE YOUR INTELLECT AND YOUR SPIRIT, YOU HAVE TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE THAT TO KEEP IT NIMBLE, OTHERWISE YOU CAN GET STIFF.  I FOUND MYSELF GETTING STIFF IN THE INTELLECT, AND THAT WAS A BIG SURPRISE.”

I found Anne’s remark quite interesting and insightful.  Statistics show that cardio exercise on a regular basis is extremely helpful for our brain power, as is reading, engaging in conversations, having friends, eating healthy, doing crossword puzzles, power thinking, meditating and a host of other things as well.

I just looked up a website to see if I could find a bit more information about keeping your brain healthy.  I am going to post what one site suggested to do.  It is quite lengthy so just read what you want and know that I will sign off here and pray that you have a wonderful night.

Good night and God bless you!

Here is the website name for the information below. It is not a direct link  you can click on but if you would like to further investigate it, copy the address and then paste it into your web browser. Everything from here to the end is from the site mentioned below.  I make no claims on what is said from this point on.  Anything you try at home is at your own risk.

http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/100-ways-to-keep-your-mind-healthy/

Brain Power: 100 Ways to Keep Your Mind Healthy and Fit

L

1

Email It!

Staff Writers — February 26, 2013
Whether you are 25 or 75, it’s always a good time to think about ways to keep your mind healthy. People with strong minds live a richer and more fulfilling life. The following list incorporates plenty of mental, physical, and nutritional ways to keep your mind sharp throughout your lifetime. Keeping your mind sharp is also a great way to help you be successful.  You are sure to find some great ideas you can start doing today. 

Get plenty of mental exercise

The brain can atrophy just like a muscle can. Take the following suggestions to give your mind a mental workout every day.

1. Use your brain. There is a lot of knowledge up there, so put it into action. Doing tasks such as thinking through problems or avoiding the calculator for simple arithmetic is one way to exercise your mind.
2. Crosswords. If you get the newspaper, work the crossword puzzles each day. They usually get progressively more difficult as the week goes on, culminating in the most challenging puzzle on Sunday. If you don’t get the newspaper, you can find many free crossword puzzles online.
3. Scrabble. Play Scrabble with friends in person or play online. Scrabble is a great way to get your brain thinking.
4. News. Keep up with current events. Whether your interest is politics, world news, or your local small-town gossip, staying current with the news stimulates your mind.
5. Read. Read anything…books, magazines, the back of cereal boxes. Reading keeps your mind pumping, and you learn new things at the same time. It’s definitely a bonus if your reading material has some depth to it, though.
6. Puzzles. While working jigsaw puzzles, you must think about how the shapes and colors match up. The problem-solving skills of working puzzles help keep your mind sharp.
7. Movies. Watch a thought-provoking movie. Movies like The Fountain,Jacob’s Ladder, and 12 Monkeyscan leave your brain pondering what you watched for days afterward.
8. Word puzzles. Solve brainteasers such as anagrams, logic problems, or rebuses. You can have fun with these puzzles any time you have a few extra minutes.
9. Video games. Who said video games are a waste of time? Some video game playing can help fight Alzheimer’s.
10. Hobbies. Start a new hobby or take up an old, forgotten one to get your creative juices flowing.

Don’t forget physical exercise

Whether you want an all-out, five-day-a-week gym workout or you just want to keep from being a couch potato, physical exercise will help keep your mind as well as your body fit. Exercise increases blood-flow and oxygenates the brain, so get moving.

11. Yard work. Mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or just picking up the twigs that have fallen on the yard are all great ways to get exercise.
12. Walk the dog. Getting Fido and yourself outside for a walk improves both your mood and your health — which both lead to a stronger mind.
13. Swim. Jump in the lake or take a swim at your neighborhood pool for a great form of exercise.
14. Bike. A leisurely bike ride through a park or down a dedicated bike trailis not only good for your body, but you will enjoy the scenery too.
15. Yoga. Practicing yoga is an excellent way to get your body and mind moving any time of the day.
16. Tai chi. Learn this ancient form of graceful movement and stretching for a super way to start each morning.
17. Hike. Put on some sturdy shoes and get moving. Hiking can be as easy as exploring a city park or part of a more elaborate visit to a state or national park.
18. Dance. Take dancing lessons. Learn to tango or do the latest line dance and put your body in motion. You’ll age betterand feel better.
19. Tennis. The mental and physical stimulation of this popular game will have your brain health in top form.
20. Golf. Enjoy a leisurely round of golf for both exercise and social benefits that will help keep your mind fit.

Challenge your brain

Learning and experiencing new things is a great way to challenge your brain. Going beyond just a daily workout, these ideas will give your mind a real chance to exercise as well as add a whole new dimension to your life.

21. Learn. Be curious about the world around you. If you hear an unfamiliar word, look it up. See a flower you don’t recognize? Find out what it is.
22. Music. Learn to play a musical instrument, learn how to read music, or take a music theory class.
23. Language. Study a foreign language. Maybe you can revive that high school Spanish and prepare yourself for a visit to Mexico.
24. Art. Learning a new art form doesn’t require that you have talent, just an interest to learn. Study the art of photography, learn to paint, or find out how to throw pottery.
25. Switch hands. Try using your less dominant hand for simple tasks like eating or writing. Changing hands really stimulates the brain.
26. Chess. Learn how to play chess or find a chess partner if you already know how.
27. Career. Is your career meeting your need for fulfillment or damaging your health? If it’s the latter, think hard about making a switch.
28. Travel. Whether you’ve always wanted to travel the now-defunct Route 66 or wanted to explore Mayan ruins, take a trip. Exploring different cultures and breaking out of your routine sharpen the mind.
29. School. Go back to school for that degree you never got. Studying at college is a great brain challenge.

Eat healthily

The connection between what goes in your body and how your brain performs is a strong one. All of these nutritional tips will provide you with delicious and brain-healthy ways to eat.

31. Antioxidants. Eating foods that are antioxidantscan help improve focus, problem-solving, and memory. Supplements can help, but food with antioxidant properties work best.
32. Fish. The ultimate brain food, eat fish a few times a week for a healthy mind. Try to avoid mercury-heavy fish such as swordfish and stick with safer fish such as salmon.
33. Avocado. Avocados have monosaturated fat (the good fat), which increases blood flow. Increased blood flow equals a healthy brain.
34. Fruits and veggies. Your mama always said to eat your vegetables. She was right, and you’d be stupid to ignore her … literally.
35. Whole grains. Two and a half servings of whole grains a day can significantly reduce your chance for a stroke and other chronic diseases.
36. Olive oil. This miracle elixir has been shown to break up clots in capillaries and generally help with blood flow. Consider replacing your other vegetable oil with a good quality olive oil.
37. Onions. Onions have antioxidant enzymes that may help block damage to the blood-brain barrier. Just don’t breath on us.
38. Superfoods. Ever heard of Goji berries? What do they have in common with blueberries? They are both part of the new group called superfoods. These are the best foods to eat for the most nutritional punch.
39. Cooked food. Raw food is all the rage when it comes to healthy eating, but recent findings show early man developed much faster after he discovered the joy of cooking.
40. Breakfast. It may be known as the most important meal of the day, but it is now considered the best meal for your brain too.

Supplement your diet the brain-healthy way

Supplements don’t just have to come in pill form. Find out how each of these supplements to your diet will help promote a healthy brain.

41. Omega-3. Omega-3 amino acids are one of the best brain supplements you can take, helping stave off Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and depression.
42. Green tea. Drinking green tea is great for a healthy mind because it is full of antioxidants. Steep a cup and know you are helping your mind stay strong.
43. B Vitamins. A vitamin B complex will give you your daily requirements of thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, and more that help you metabolize foods, keep you from getting sick, and slow the aging process.
44. Water. Staying hydrated benefits your body and brain by keeping you detoxified and oxygenated, so drink lots of water.
45. Kombucha. The benefits of drinking this raw fermented tea may have been overblown a bit, but it has been shown to improve liver function, at the very least.
46. Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that is beneficial to brain health. Take it to give your brain a boost.
47. Vitamin C. Used in conjunction with vitamin E, this supplement may help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.
48. Matcha. This stone-ground, powdered form of green tea is a super-concentrated version of the green tea that comes in tea bags. Buy the highest quality for a super blast of brain health.
49. Grape seed extract. Studies have shown a connection between taking grape seed extract and preventing the onset of dementia, as well as fighting colorectal cancer on its own.
50. Lecithin. Not only does lecithinimprove brain function, it breaks down bad cholesterol and helps blood pressure, to boot.

Take these only in moderate amounts or not at all

Some things are just better left out of your body or only introduced in small doses. Find out what you should limit or eliminate to help keep your mind in good health.

51. Fast food. The saturated fats and generally poor food quality of fast food is not something you want to keep putting in your body. Reducing fast food as much as you can will help keep you mentally fit.
52. Heavily processed food. The preservatives, artificial ingredients, and high fat content of processed foods are not good for the body. Try to eat foods as close to their source as you can. A slice of cheddar cheese is so much better for your brain than a slice of processed American cheese.
53. White sugar. Refined “table” sugar creates strong fluctuations in blood-sugar levels, which results in a whole host of health problems, including cardiovascular and cholesterol issues. Stick with a more natural sweetener such as honey, cane sugar, or agave.
54. Hydrogenated vegetable oils. The oils found in margarine and other processed foods hold a direct link to higher cholesterol, which in turn, leads to less blood flow to the brain.
55. Caffeine. Reduce your caffeine intake. But don’t worry about eliminating it altogether, as studies indicate a little caffeine may be beneficial to your brain.
56. Alcohol. Keep drinking to a minimum — one or two drinks a day at the most. Heavy drinking is directly linked to memory loss.
57. High fructose corn syrup. This artificial sweetener may be worse for you than sugar, tricking your brain into making you think you’re hungry when you’re not.
58. Saturated fat. Replace saturated fat from animal products with monounsaturated fat from healthy vegetable oils.
59. Environmental pollutants. The toxic effects of pollutants is not healthy for the body, and especially the brain. If you live in a heavily polluted city, you might want to consider moving.
60. Heavy metals. Heavy metals disrupt the protective blood-brain barrier and are not easily flushed from the body. Two sources of heavy metals are mercury found in many fish and lead found in places such as some job sites, in certain dishware from Mexico, and lead pipes in older homes.

Be safe

Protecting your brain from injury is a great way to promote a fit mind. Brain injury can debilitate the brain’s functioning. Learn how to protect your head from injury with this list.

61. Sports helmets. Protect your head when doing certain physical activities such as bicycling, skiing, or rollerblading by wearing the appropriate helmet for your sport.
62. Smoking. Smoking robs your body of oxygen, and oxygen is essential to a healthy brain. Also, studies showthat Alzheimer’s is twice as likely to occur in smokers as in non-smokers.
63. Heat stroke. Avoid heat stroke for a healthier brain. If you plan to be out in the sun, always wear a hat and stay hydrated with plenty of water. Keep in the shade as much as possible.
64. Driving. Practice safe driving habits. Becoming a defensive driver reduces your chances of getting in an accident.
65. Handrails. Use handrails on steep stairs or any stairs if you are in bad weather. Wet or icy stairs can cause you to fall easily.
66. On motorcycles. Always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or scooter to protect your head in the event of a wreck or loss of control.
67. Drugs. Dare to be drug free, bro. Some drugs can diminish brain capacity, and overdosing on certain street drugs can cause permanent brain damage. Just don’t run this risk to your brain.
68. Repetitive injury. Any repetitive head injury considerably elevates the chances of long-term brain injury. Sports such as football, soccer, and boxing all run a higher risk of repetitive injury, so take caution if you participate in sports with higher risk.
69. Seatbelts. Always wear a seatbelt when you are in a car — front or back seat. If you are in a car accident, your chances of sustaining a head injury while buckled up are much lower.
70. Home safety. Practice smart safety around the house such as using a sturdy ladder rather than a rickety one or just stacking items on a chair to get items out of reach.

Reduce stress

 Not only does stress help keep your body healthy, it also improves mental health. Use these suggestions for ways to find stress relief and relaxation for your life.

71. Emotions. Keep in touch with your emotions. Pretending you don’t have certain feelings such as anger, sadness, or loneliness will just push these feelings down until they come back out in less than ideal ways. Identify your emotions and accept them for what they are.
72. Bath. Soak in a hot bath to feel the stress just melt away from your body. After a 15 minute soak, your body and mind will both feel refreshed.
73. Meditation. For improving focus and stress relief, meditation can’t be beat. It can even permanently impact your brain for the better.
74. Breathing. The deep, relaxing form of breathing used during yoga practice can bring benefits to your brain as well. Not only will this deep breathing serve as a form of relaxation, it also oxygenates the body, which keeps the brain healthy.
75. Relaxation exercises. Try some of these relaxation exercises, and you will teach your body how to feel calmer, thereby reducing your stress levels.
76. Fun. Have fun in life. Take time away from work and family responsibilities to just enjoy life. When you can’t get away, learn how to find the joy in all you do.
77. Yes!Think positively and you will discover that your approach to life is one of much less stress. You will feel empowered to make things happen and to appreciate what you’ve already accomplished.
78. Smile. Smile and laugh often. Not only will a happy demeanor help you feel better, it will also affect those around you.
79. Sleep. Getting enough sleep and sleeping well contribute to a reduction in stress levels. Find out how to get a good night’s sleepwithout a sleep aid.
80. Get a pet. Pet owners show fewer signs of stress and are less lonely. Think about going through a pet rescue organization to help find a home for a needy animal and helping yourself too.

Stimulate Your Senses

An experience that incorporates one or more of your senses serves to stimulate brain activity and help keep your mind sharp. The following activities will provide you with plenty of sensory experiences you will enjoy while strengthening your mental acuity.

81. Sculpt. Pick up some modeling clay and play with some simple sculpting. You don’t have to be Rodin to enjoy the feeling of the clay in your hands.
82. Aromatherapy. In reasonable segments, aromatherapy sessions can do wonders for your stress levels.
83. Massage. Get a massage and enjoy the tactile sensation of a professional working out the stress and tension in your muscles. Massage therapists typically use essential oils in their massage oil, so you also have the added benefit of a pleasing scent.
84. New food. Try a new type of food, especially if it is a different ethnic food than you are accustomed to eating. Thai food and Indian food both utilize a wide range of herbs and spices that will stimulate your sense of taste, smell, and sight.
85. Chai. If you haven’t experienced the sensation of chai, give it a try. This tea infused with a variety of spices and blended with milk or a non-dairy milk substitute will awaken your tongue and mind as well.
86. Garden. Reach your hands into the earth and plant some herbs and flowers. Gardening is a great multi-sensory experience, as you feel the soil, hear nature and the neighborhood around you, taste herbs you’ve grown, and appreciate the color and beauty of the flowers you nurtured.
87. Sex. Enjoy sex with your partner. Not only will it stimulate your senses, it has also been shown to sharpen your mind through itscardiovascular benefits.
88. Concert. Listening to music, whether it’s a small chamber music ensemble or a full-out rock show, will stimulate your brain.
89. Bake cookies. The feel of the dough, the smell of the baking cookies, and the taste of your finished product is a great multi-sensory experience.
90. Yarn. Play with yarn or thread as you learn to knit, crochet, or embroider. Not only will you love the tactile sensation of the varying types of textiles, but you will also challenge your brain to a new learning experience.

Be Social

Having a strong social network reduces isolation and stress and stimulates the brain through shared learning experiences and emotional connections. Even if you already have a good group of friends, you will likely find some great ideas for strengthening those social connections with these tips.

91. Email. With the widespread usage and popularity of email, there’s no reason not to keep in touch with old and new friends alike. Be sure you actually send a message, though, and don’t just forward jokes.
92. Letters. Rediscover the lost art of writing letters. Don’t just type it up, either. Find a beautiful stationary and hand-write a letter to an old friend.
93. Clubs. Join a club. With everything out there from the Elks Lodge to a nature conservancy group, you are sure to find a group of folks with similar interests as you.
94. Volunteer. Volunteering can be a great way to meet people, stay social, and be making a difference.
95. Phone. In this age of electronics and heavy scheduling, the art of a leisurely phone call to a friend can become lost. Pick up the phone and talk to someone.
96. Dinner group. Start a dinner club with six or eight people. Have each person bring one dish and alternate homes for hosting.
97. Book group. Combine reading with the social aspect of discussing your book to gain two benefits to brain health.
98. Cooking class. Taking a cooking class will not only get you out and meeting new people, you will be learning how to eat more healthily, too.
99. Cards. Playing cards is a fun and social experience. Find some card-playing partners and set up a weekly or monthly card date.
100. Online. Join an online discussion group. Find a topic about which you are interested in learning or you are already an expert and join in a discussion.