There will be challenging situations in your existence that will bring you to your knees.  You can choose to let it break or define you.  Please remember that you would not be where you are without those moments.  And, because of it, you are a completely amazing and beautiful creation of The Divine living linear time for the benefit of your soul. ~ Creator

By Dr. Michelle Kmiec

Contributing Writer for Wake Up World

There is a new buzz word regarding a possible predictor of a stroke, coronary heart disease or peripheral vascular disease, and that word is homocysteine; a non-protein α-amino acid derivative from the amino acid cysteine. Many epidemiological studies have shown that too much homocysteine in the blood (specifically the plasma portion) is related to a higher risk of cardiovascular events and atherosclerosis, the plaquing of the arteries.

So how does one collect so much homocysteine in the blood that it can result in such serious health risks?

The answer is simple: diet, lifestyle factors and chronic stress.

CREATING TIME AND ENERGY   We invite you to take a few moments to relax your muscles and to let go of the concerns of the day. Take several deep breaths in and out to oxygenate your cells and to increase the energy running through your body.

In order to have a more fulfilling life filled with passion and excitement, you would be wise to be selective of the activities in which you choose to be involved. Every person has the same 24 hours to work with each day. Sleep takes a major portion of that time. By the time you finish adding on the hours required to make enough income to take care of your basic needs, to cook and clean, there is little time and energy left in the day for recreational activities.

Many of you would do well to streamline the above-mentioned events first. Do you sleep more than you need? Diet and medications affect the amount of sleep needed to feel rested. When you are in a highly stressed job and lifestyle, the requirements needed for your body to rest are increased.

When you are healthy and vibrant, you will need less sleep to feel rested. Many of you sleep very little and wake up tired. This need not be. Does your work fill you with energy or deplete you? Are the people you work with kind and considerate? Are you able to take a day or two to rest when you are sick and tired? Is there another type of work you would rather be doing? Take these things into consideration and decide whether it is in your best interest to find a better-suited form of income for yourself. Have the courage to make the necessary changes.

Zen Gardner, Guest
Waking Times

“The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.” – Cornelius Tacitus (55 – 117 A.D.)

Everything on our planet is regulated – as in ruled by law.  Whether they be outright laws, local ordinances or any type of restrictions, in not just physical activity but also social rules over interactions. Under the guise of so-called democratic societies giving the impression that we agreed to all of this or even thought it up for ourselves, we now live seriously restricted lives, with the penalty of fines or incarceration looming over our heads if we don’t obey.

It’s all about control. Carefully manipulated control.

To regulate means: “to control or direct by a rule, principle, method, etc.” When you identify just how un-free we are to live, think and operate as we are naturally intended to, it can be quite a wake up call...

Christina Sarich, Natural Society
Waking Times

Through the efforts of just over a dozen volunteers, thousands of pounds of fresh fruit are being gleaned from historical orchards planted more than 150 years ago to give to nearby residents who live with less than enough food. Individuals who give back to the community often stock the pantries of those who are food-insecure during the holidays, but it is a relatively new phenomenon for those who can’t afford groceries to be given expensive or organic produce.

One group putting forth efforts to feed the homeless with high-quality produce is Village Harvest. Village Harvest began with the efforts of Craig Diserns, who thought backyard produce could be gathered to give to the homeless and food-insecure. His backyard efforts have turned into a huge harvesting of persimmons this year, which were crated by volunteers and taken to families residing near the private property where the fruit was picked.

It’s simple enough to think about being zen in the city; easy enough to imagine how calm and relaxed you could be in your 9 to 5 job and lifestyle, floating around the office like a monk and effortlessly accomplishing your goals while spreading peace of mind, but doing it, as always, is quite a different story. 5 minutes in any high-stress situation and most, if not all of the buddhist tenets we profess to hold go right out the window.

And that’s okay. It’s actually why the office is one of the very best places to put our practice to the test. Modern life is so hectic it would surely challenge even some of the greatest masters. The continual demands that are placed on us beg the proper discernment that zen can bring, if only we can stay centred enough to remain there. One of the surest ways of accomplishing this is building our ‘presence power’ in the moments that aren’t too challenging