SEASON's GREETINGS!

IT'S NEARLY CHRISTMAS

I write this in September
And I can already see my breath
Because the temperature is falling
To fifty degrees or less;
There are frosted mornings
And skies are turning gray;
Next thing, there'll be snowdrifts
Fit for a sleigh.

In stores, they're gearing for Halloween
With pumpkins on display;
After October 31, we'll count the days
To shop til Kris Kringle Day;
Just when I thought the craze was over
And the presents were put away,
Alas! I hear Santa "ho-hoing",
It's nearly Christmas Day.

Christmas is a magical time,
Is there any doubt?
But I'm going to need a psychotherapist
To get my anxeties out!
The sugarplums might be dancing,
But they're messing up my mind;
The silver bells aren't doing much
To help me unwind.

September comes and October goes,
November is just a glance;
Once again, there'll be invitations
To another holiday dance;
I'll decorate the Christmas tree
With icicles, stars, and lights,
But I'll need a ton of eggnog
To get me through this night!

--Joel Bjorling, Gilson, USA Age 58

Secrets to a Long and Healthy Life

Your grandfather ate eggs every day for breakfast. He lived to be 100. Your aunt, who ate only healthful foods and never touched alcohol, died of cancer at 40.

Why is it that some people defy logic and outlive people who have healthier lifestyles? Scientists aren't sure.

People are different, and they age differently. Plus, aging is affected by a lifetime of habits, and it's difficult to discern one habit's effect from another's.

But scientists do know that people who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and remain active throughout their lives tend to live longer.

Research may someday provide more insight. But until more is known, everyone - regardless of heredity - can improve his or her odds of living healthier now.

Thanks to : Mayo Clinic

10 Tips for Tackling TOUGH TALKS with FRIENDS

1. Don't preach. Your friend needs a real friend, not a parent or a pastor.

2. Bring a friend. Maybe one or two friends can help you out, but make sure everyone knows each other well.

3. Start with affirmation. Before you bite into the thick meat of situation, serve up something easier to swallow like how important the friendship is to you.

4. Make it clear that you're condemning, just showing concern.

5. Be specific. Don't refer to vague situations. Present clear facts that are based on truth, not rumors or exaggerations.

6. Avoid words such as "always," "never," every." They don't mean much.

7. Find good place to meet that'll be free of distractions.

8. Be willing to own up to situations/conflicts/inconsistencies about your own life that your friend may bring up. Honesty is a good bridge builder.

9. Focus on your feelings rather than on your friend's failures. He's already going to feel awkward enough without someone beating it into him.

10. Be ready to go the distance with your friend. Everything probably won't change in one meeting. Be willing to meet again and again. Pray for your friend and ask God to give you the wisdom you need.

Source: Health&Home 2003 Jul-Aug (Friendly Fire: It's so big a deal!) -Joey O' Connor

ELEPHANTASTIC!

Elephant herds post their own sentries. When danger threatens, the sentry raises its trunk and though it may be as far as a half-mile away, the rest of the herd is instantly alerted. How this communication takes place is not understood. (Wow! Cool!)

Elephant tusks grow throughout an elephant's life and can weigh more than 200 pounds. Among Asian elephants, only males have tusks. Both sexes of African elephant have tusks. (Only African elephants? But, why?)

Elephant are covered with hair. Although it is not apparent from a distance, at close range, one can discern a thin coat of light hairs covering practically every part of an elephant's body. (Ows? Maybe I just have to take a closer look of their bodies.)

Elephants communicate in sound waves below the frequency that humans can hear. (Quite cool huh?)

Elephants are known to remain standing after they die. (What? I can hardly believe that! Over!)

Elephants perform greeting ceremonies when a member of the group returns after a long time away. The welcoming animals spin around, flap their ears, and trumpet. (Wow! Now I know that even animals know how to welcome a family member or a visitor; just like human used to do.)

Elephants sleep only two hours a day. (Oh gosh! Could you imagine sleeping 2 hrs daily? Whoa! Kinda hard thing to do!)

Elephants use leafy branches and plant stalks as fly swatters. (No comment!)

Source: www.absolutetrivia.com

Note : Sentences inside the parentheses are my reactions to each fact about elephants.

REMembering SLEEP

There are two types of sleep: REM and non-REM.

For the first 90 minutes of your sleep, you experience non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep. Here you drift from consciousness to total unconsciousness. REM sleep then follows. This is the dreaming stage.

The NREM-REM cycle is repeated six to 10 times throughout the night.

Do you know that:

• bed wetting, snoring, sleepwalking, and night terrors occur during stage IV or NREM sleep?
• NREM sleep relaxes the body, while REM sleep relaxes the mind?
• when you wake up in the middle of a REM sleep, you will remember your dream, but when you wake up during NREM sleep, you won't even know you dreamed?
• lack of REM sleep is more upsetting than lack of NREM sleep?

In a study conducted by N.R. Culler and H.B. Cohen, people who had been deprived of REM sleep for days became less well-integrated and effective. They also became confused and suspicious of other people. Thus, they withdrew from society. Moreover, sleep-deprived individuals appear anxious, insecure, irritable, and have a marked increase in appetite, leading to weight gain.

SOURCE: "A Healthy Rest"

ABC's of GETTING HIGH GRADES

Do you ever wonder why you're not getting As, A+s, 1.0s, 99s, or 100s in your report cards/grade slips? Despite burning your midnight candle and eyebrows, you still don't get the grades you've been aiming for. What's the matter?

Getting ahead in school is not just excelling mentally but socially, physically, and spiritually as well. Achieving high grades will be as easy as memorizing your ABC when you live a balanced life.

Attend classes regularly. Avoid making unnecessary absences.

Begin your day with God. Pray and read the Bible for your spiritual and intellectual growth.

Come to classes early. This will give you time to review your notes or do advance reading.

Divide long-term assignments/projects into small tasks that you can work on daily basis.

Engage in profitable or intellectually enhancing hobbies. Join sports activities, enjoy the beauty of God's creation, keep a diary, do one random act of kindness each day.

Focus on what you are doing at the moment for maximum efficiency.

Go out and make friends. Make amends with your enemies. Doing so does not only add colors to your life, they also complete the circle of life.

Help a classmate who is lagging behind. You'll master your lessons in the process.

Invite the Lord to be your Guide, Partner, and Friend and you'll always be on the right track.

Jot down notes. They come in handy during reviews.

Keep track of time. Wasted time equals lost opportunities.

Laugh often, love life, and live one day at a time.

Make a daily schedule. List the things that you need to do for the day to avoid forgetting them.

Never ever skip breakfast. Doing so is one of the biggest brain-damaging habits.

Offer your heart, soul, and mind to your Creator and King.

Participate in discussions. You'll learn more if you interact more.

Quit minding other people's business. You have no idea what they are really going through.

Research. Don't just settle with the things that you learn inside the classroom.

Stay fit. Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. A healthy body is a must to a healthy mind.

Take time alone to reflect and count your blessings.

Use your talent, knowledge, and skills for the glory of God.

Vent your feelings and opinions only after spending careful thought about them.

Wait, if you can, until you graduate in college before having a sweetheart.

Xerox or photocopy materials that you missed and study them.

Yearn to learn something new each day.

Zoom in on worthwhile opportunities that come your way. A missed opportunity is lost forever.

- Kathleen F. Bienes (2007 BSE summa cum laude graduate)

8 WAYS TO LOOK AND FEEL YOUNGER

CREATION Health is an exciting plan for changing your life. Rightly applied, you will achieve mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. You'll look younger and feel stronger. Each letter of the word CREATION stands for one of the eight principles drawn from the Bible.

Choice. Choice is your power and right to decide. It's the realization that you have more than one option. To choose is to know that your future is greater than your past; it's an attitude that considers that the best is yet to be.

Rest. Rest is the refreshing ease of inactivity following a full day's work; it's the mental and emotional release from the daily worries and concerns. Life-giving rest is found in the soothing calm and quiet of a good night's sleep and in the tranquility of spiritual peace.

Environment. Whether it's the majestic backdrop of mountains, beach sand squishing between your toes, or the heady fragrance of candles around your bathtub, environment sets the stage for the healing of the human soul.

Activity. Activity is the gift of moment. It includes regular exercise and play. The best kind of physical activity (such as a walk in the park with friends) also enhances the mind, the spirit, and relationships. Activity should be enjoyable and an integral part of your lifelong health.

Trust. Trust in God brings the confidence that you rest secure; it's the peace of knowing that you don't have to be in control. Trusting in God allows you to keep your bearing as you navigate through the uncertainties of the world with assurance that your life has eternal purpose.

Intimacy. We want it, and we need it. Intimacy is found in those moments when one allows an aspect of true self to be shared, when we open ourselves up to the power of one heart touching another.

Outlook. Outlook is how you see the world. It's the colors on the palette with which you paint your life. A healthy outlook belongs to those who choose to open their minds to learn, stretch, and grow

Nutrition. Providing what our bodies need for fuel and pleasure, nutrition is the highest form of art and science converging. No other species on the planet has been given such vast variety and choice for sustenance.

Thanks to: Monica Reed

Read more.. Health&Home Jan-Feb 2008 pp.24-27

SLEEPLESS?

Rest is an important part of life's rhythm. Most adults do best with seven to eight hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble sleeping, don't reach for sleep medications. Take a warm, relaxing bath. Exercise daily. Maintain a regular schedule. Strive for a clear conscience and tranquil mind.

TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP

Many people occasionally have trouble falling asleep. Three common reasons for this are emotional stress, caffeine, and lack of exercise. Fortunately, all of these can be controlled.

Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and many soft drinks, can be reduced or eliminated from the diet.

Emotional stress can also be reduced by handling disturbing problems earlier in the day, when you are rested. Don't wait till bedtime to bring up problems.

A regular exercise program may be the best medicine of all for ensuring a good night's rest. It reduces stress and provides a pleasant physical fatigue that helps you sleep more soundly.

HOW TO SLEEP BETTER

• Take frequent breaks during the workdays. Walk around, get a drink of water, take some deep breaths.
• Daily engage in 30 to 60 minutes of active exercise. Exercise relaxes, restores energy, helps banish depression, and combats nervous tension.
• Maintain as regular a schedule as possible for going to bed, getting up, eating, and exercising. The body flourishes on regular rhythms.
• Eat the evening meal at least four hours before bedtime. Am empty, resting stomach is more conductive to quality rest.
• Try a lukewarm (not a hot) bath. It is helpful relaxation technique.
• Count your blessings. Fill the mind with gratitude and thanksgiving.
• A clear conscience and a grateful mind are the pillows to sleep on.

A big thanks to Aileen Ludington and Hans Diehl.

PRESSING DOWN DEPRESSION

Our health, happiness, and longevity, as well as our relationships with the family, friends, and associates, and our spiritual life-are interrelated and interdependent. Improving our health, pursuing worthwhile goals, developing positive mental attitudes, and nurturing spiritual values can help us deal more effectively with our feelings of depression and hopelessness.

THE POWER TO CHOOSE

One of the things that sets us apart from the other creatures is our ability to make choices. We can think about our actions, and we can choose between alternatives.

FAMILY and SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

We are social creatures, and most of us do best when we experience a sense of community and belonging that comes from our relationship to others. When we feel isolated or in conflict, it is much easier to slip into depression.

A HIGHER POWER

Through the ages millions have found comfort in time of need by turning to a Higher Power for strength and wisdom. Stories of people overcoming problems that seemed unsolvable are abundant.

It is easy for the hustle and bustle of life to crowd out time for spiritual nourishment. Yet those who have endured trying times can vouch for these values. Is your spiritual life the source of inspiration, strength, and renewal that it could be?


Thanks to Aileen Ludington and Hans Diehl: coauthors of Health Power

NEW MILLENNIUM ACROBAT SHOW

Big and small unicycles, large metal tubes, high pyramid formations, hot ring of fire, amazing tumblings, breathtaking performance, funny and jolly clowns, thin ropes and various bricks --- these are just some of the things I've witnessed in the ACROBAT SHOW here in La Libertad.

The Convention Center was full of crowded people; ready to witness a breathtaking event even though the tickets were P30 and P20 each depending on the age. The benches inside were not still enough for the audience. The show started when the auditorium was full enough of La Libertadnons. It began with a short prayer leaded by the Manager of the said show and the singing of the National Anthem followed.

On the first part of the show, the performers showed their various pyramid formations. Even if you're only on your seat, you could actually feel how dangerous and how high the formations were. The eyes of the audience were hooked with the different performance they've seen.

The following performance was a little bit dangerous than that on the first. Performers were riding on their unicycles on the metal tubes and even on the thin ropes. They even settle on a board above a rolling cylinder with another person on their shoulders. As I was watching the performance, I could say that it was a very difficult thing to do and needs extra measures and carefulness.

I could see in the eyes of the performers that they were doing all they could do just to entertain people watching their show. Every peso is worth for the performance. With just a twenty peso bill, you could lively witness an event that is only seen in TV's.

At this point of time, the ACROBAT performers are traveling to different places not just here in our province but also in every corner of our country; making every people smile. They wanted to share their uncommon talents to Filipino people. Even though they too undergo mistakes in their performance but still, they are striving hard to perform nicely in the eyes of the people.

Overall, it was indeed a memorable and a breathtaking performance! More power to the performers!!!

Why Do People Become Overweight?

Obesity tends to run in families. Some people have a genetic tendency to gain weight more easily than others because they burn calories more slowly. During times when food was scarce, this was a real advantage. But now that food is available 24/7 in most industrialized countries, an efficient metabolism that once ensured our survival now works to our disadvantage.

Although genes strongly influence body type and size, the environment also plays a role. People today may be gaining weight because of unhealthy food choices (like fast food) and family habits (like eating in front of the television instead of around a table). High-calorie, low-nutrient snacks and beverages, bigger portions of food, and less-active lifestyles are all contributing to the obesity epidemic.

Sometimes people turn to food for emotional reasons, such as when they feel upset, anxious, sad, stressed out, or even bored. When this happens, they often eat more than they need.

For more info visit: http://kidshealth.org

LIGHT CAUSES BREAST CANCER : STUDIES SHOW

Women exposed to light during the night have higher risk of cancer. Studies by Scott Davis of the Hutchinson Cancer Research and colleagues, and Eva S. Schernhammer of Harvard Medical School also found out that light exposure may be caused by working the night shift, having insomnia, or being exposed to light in the bedroom during sleep.

According to Johnni Hansen of the Danish Cancer Society, one possible explanation for the relationship of light exposure and cancer has to do with melatonin production. Melatonin is produced by the brain's pineal gland. Because it is released into the bloodstream at night, the hormone is thought to play a role in regulating sleep.

Hansen notes that when normal melatonin cycles are interrupted in women, the production of estrogen from the ovaries is higher and this may contribute to their breast cancer risk.

Thanks to : Health & Home March-April 2002 (NEWSLINES)

A TEACHER's WORTH

This poem was made last October 5, 2010 and this was a tribute to my mom, who happens to be one of the faculty members in our school, presently called, La Libertad Technical-Vocational School. I hugged her tightly as I gave this framed poem to her on our "Teacher's Day Program". I just want to share it with all of you. :)

Teacher…. What a very common word

To each of us in this whole wide world,

But a teacher is considered a superhero

For she is there in times of sorrow.

A teacher is a special gift from God

Faithful, loving, patient and glad,

Making things that will not make us mad

Comforts us every time we are sad.

Whenever you’re in a problematic situation

A teacher will always find the best solution,

She will always be at your side

And in her you can surely abide.

A teacher is our second parent

Understanding and forever patient

Jolly, funny and sometimes cool

The number one hero of a school.

A teacher’s worth is so unexplainable

Could not be similarly described by people,

A teacher is willing to sacrifice her own

And is always working hard to the bone.

In this Special Day

I just want to say,

You’re just one of a kind

And you’ll be in my heart and mind.

How could I ever say thanks?

To a teacher, hero and a mother like you

Who had greatly made a big difference in my life.

I know that words are not still enough

To express my biggest “THANKS” to you

But I do hope that you’re proud of me

And I will walk in the right path where you want me to be…

"Same-sex Animals Don't Cohabit, But Why Do Humans?"

Have you seen or hears of a homosexual dog, cat, or bird, snake or elephant, animals of the SAME-SEX who cohabit or live together as couples? Never! Yet man, those stupid men or women, are fighting to win a battle to allow same-sex marriage or cohabitation!

If even animals find this same sex cohabitation impossible or intolerable, why does man find this acceptable? This simply is against human nature, period. Same sex marriage among people is an act worse-and even lower-than animals! It's not only un-human, but also un-animal like. We don't know what it is.

Animals live by instincts 100% including sexual instincts. Animals do not reason. Yet as animals, they cannot accept the experience of making love with the same sex. It's too nauseating! It is just too un-animal like! But hey, those homo sapiens are advocating for the same sex marriage and cohabitation! The end of man is really coming. This is too much stupidity and un-Godly. God made precisely humans as male and female as written in the Bible. What are these un-humans trying to say? And worse, some equally un-human courts grant this stupid petition. let them live together if they like, but let's not desecrate the sanctity of marriage with this stupidity.

Thanks to : Ely P. Dejaresco

"MELT the POUNDS OFF"

Diet are quickly-fix traps that don't last. Many people skip from one to the next, losing weight now and gaining it back later. This cycle id discouraging, defeating, and often dangerous. A lifetime commitment to good health practices is the only safe path to permanent weight control.

The 10 Principles of Losing Weight

1. Think long-term. Shortcuts and quickie plans never last.

2. Do it for yourself. Improving your health and energy are better motivations than a coming class reunion.

3. Prepare the way. Keeping a diet journal will help you become more aware of what you eat and why.

4. Think fruits, grains, legumes and vegetables. In the standard American diet more than 50 percent of calories come from fat, sugar and alcohol.

5. Control portion sizes. Serve yourself smaller portions and put away leftovers before you eat.

6. Eat three meals a day. Eating at regular intervals will not send your body into a deprivation (starvation) mode, which may cause you to eat and binge more.

7. Maintain your program. Successful weight-loss managers realize that they are not temporary diet - they are starting a permanent new lifestyle.

8. Exercise. It's fun and keeps you flexible. Activity is the key to successful weight control, particularly in middle age.

9. Don't overdo it. Don't push yourself to the higher end of the target stage.

10. When you think activity - think "play". Walking the dog, gardening, yardwork, household chores, sports, bicycling, and playing with kids are all reproductive activities. How do kids exercise? They play! You can have fun too.

(HEALTH & HOME 2005 book - February)

DISCIPLINING THE MIND

A person's values are products of one's learning process, largely based on innate potentials and motivation afforded by environment. In no small scale, sensory organs play their roles; what the senses receive, the mind digests.

The richness or intensity of the inculcation of, say, positive values on the person through the mind is not simply based on the innate capacity of one to think, reason and interact in a learning situation. It equally depends on the seasoned quality of his experience which are either limited by his power and will to choose or by what is desirable to him which is readily accessible in his environment.

Through the interrelated functioning of a person's mind, senses and surroundings, values-worthwhile or otherwise-are thus learned.

Fortunately, the mind may be disciplined to dictate on the sensory organs the kind of experiences the individual must engage in. In turn, the senses may be left to receive any sensory impression, by an undisciplined mind-a mind lacking in enlightened reasoning and will to influence the formation of life's finer set of ideals.

In particular, a child's mind possesses only innocence, and because of immaturity is incapable of discerning the difference between a trashy sensory experience from that which is nobly fit for his mental consumption.

Thus the child belongs to that critical stage in which genuine, effective guidance finds its meaningful place. there must be a golden depth and reasonable adequacy of guidance provided to a child during the process of learning and growing up in order that he or she may achieve positive choices towards his self-direction, self-actualization and self-realization.

The events of childhood and the developmental trends in these tender years cast long shadows into the future, say psychologists. thus the need to guide and protect our children and young people from the evil pornography. -Rose Rivera Gramonte

from: PORNOGRAPHY CENSORED!

SILENCE PLEASE!

We often read this sign in libraries, conference rooms, or any place where noise is unwelcome. But perhaps we need to put this sign in our seas, too. People are often longing for a quiet environment and should better apply this idea to the habitat of our aquatic friends. Noises caused by loud bangs, explosions, humming of ship engines, and other irritating sounds are endangering the fishes that rely on their super-sensitive hearing to navigate and communicate. Scientists found out that whales and dolphins that died stranded on beaches and shallow waters in the Bahamas had severe ear traumas.

But it is not only the loudness that bothers our aquatic friends but also the pitch and frequency. Some sounds that are inaudible for human's hearing may be too loud for their hearing range and vice versa.

So, every time you get into water, remember: SILENCE PLEASE!

Thanks to : HEALTH & HOME (2002) -Newslines

Do Women Really Talk More Than Men?

Yes! It is something one half of the population has long suspected - and the other half always vocally denied. Women really do talk more than men.

In fact, women talk almost three times as much as men, with the average woman chalking up 20,000 words in a day - 13,000 more than the average man.

Women also speak more quickly, devote more brainpower to chit-chat - and actually get a buzz out of hearing their own voices, a new book suggests.

The book - written by a female psychiatrist - says that inherent differences between the male and female brain explain why women are naturally more talkative than men.

Studies at Harvard show that girls learn to talk earlier than boys, and articulate better. From their earliest years, girls talk more than boys. Even as adults, men never seem to catch up. It is estimated that the average male speaks about 12, 500 words per day while the average woman doubles that with more than 25,000! This could explain why men don't want to talk much after getting home at night. They have already expended 12,500-word limit. Their wives may have expended 12,500 also, but they have saved as many for their husbands.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-419040/Women-talk-times-men-says-study.html#ixzz13L7CMaRS

: Health and Home (Nancy Van Pelt-TALKING STYLES)

"THE WINDOW"

http://www.indianchild.com/inspiring_stories.htm

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should hehave all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.

The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

Moral of the story:

The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy.

The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits. If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.

"MANY SPECIES, ONE PLANET, ONE FUTURE"

People have attempted to study the complexity of the universe and not a few scientists have explored its wonders. Our own solar system is one of the billions of other solar systems, which are also member systems of billions of galaxies in the universe. So far, our solar system has been gifted with a planet where several species are made to exist – planet Earth. Endowed with beauty and perfection, it has supplied man with all its needs. Different species have long been living together in an ecosystem sustaining one another until man steps forward and starts destroying the environment that provides him with his material necessities.

The future is now uncertain for the existence of every living species if the folly of the human beings is not checked. Endangered species are increasing in number almost everyday because we tend to disregard their preservation. On the other hand, drastic environment changes brought largely by economic activities and irresponsible human practices are causing serious harm to plants, animals and their habitat. Earthquakes may destroy some stocks of fish, oil spills may destroy some stocks, and floods and droughts may hurt some.

Our planet is now on the verge of destruction. Many have come to believe that if man does not refrain from his unrestrained activities that destroy biodiversity, then one day, we will only wake up with nothing but ourselves dying. Biodiversity is the variability among organisms on Earth and within an ecosystem. Maintaining biodiversity is necessary to preserve the health and survival of an ecosystem.

We have the capacity to preserve and destroy anything. Equipped with the right attitude to take good care of our environment, we can preserve humanity with other species that supplement our existence. What we need today is not the wonders of technology if one has to preserve the biodiversity in any region on earth but the moral perspective of a concerned citizen who has a natural love not only of his own species but the other diverse species living together with him on his planet. Man has to take action because species have interdependence among themselves. If one becomes extinct, others may be affected as well and the event continues if human intervention is ignored.

There may be lots of possible solutions to prevent biodiversity loss. One of them may be massive tree planting where it provides trees as sanctuaries and habitats of some animal species. Another may be the conservation of energy and fuel avoidance of patronizing wildlife products, and many more. If we do not act out what we need to do right now, maybe the future is too late.

God designed our planet to be inhabited not only by one species but millions of them to reflect his creatorship and divine nature. That man, as the crowning act of creation, may preserve himself and the creation God has entrusted him to have dominion with. If only he remembers the stewardship he has been privileged to enjoy on, then he will have taken extra measures to consider the existence of species not their extinction. But it is not too late to make up the time we have lost. Our present time is more than enough to prepare for the future. However, this endeavor cannot be done by one superman but a shared responsibility of all men who consider themselves to have the right to live longer under the sun.

What the future holds is not for us to know but for us to consider. We may not be living beyond our years but we have children and grandchildren to consider besides ourselves, we need to prepare a future environment for them to live in. An environment where biodiversity is preserved and the news of endangered species is foreign to the ears of the people.

Save the species. Save the planet. Save the future.

"UNMAKING FRIENDS WITHOUT MAKING ENEMIES"

You may have been friends since grade school, but that doesn’t mean you have to be friends forever. If someone is making bad choices and constantly trying to drag you down with them, then it may be time to terminate the friendship. Thing is, ending it badly can cause you grief. “It’s important to end a toxic friendship gracefully so you minimize the toxicity,” says Dr. Jan Yager, Ph.D.,author of When Friendship Hurts. Here’s how to do it right away.

*LOSE THE GUILT.

No matter how terrible your friend’s behavior is, it’s natural to feel guilty for wanting to end it. “Many people want to hang on to a friendship after it’s no longer offering the positive energy and connections that it used to,” says Yager. “The question is why you feel the need to hang on rather than face the way the friendship has dwindled.” Focus on why you want to end the relationship-if your buddy can’t respect your feelings or boundaries, he isn’t really a friend.

*DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DUMP HIM?

Is this person going through something that you don’t want to be part of right now or is his behavior so awful that you never want to see him again? If he is going through a tough time, then it may not be a good time to judge his worthiness as a pal. Think it through carefully; because once you dump a friend, there is little chance of reconciliation.

*SUGGEST A COOLING-OFF PERIOD.

Yager suggests that some friendships can be saved by stepping back from a bad situation. This stops you from saying or doing something irretrievable. Giving yourself a chance to chill out can put things in perspective. Staying away from that friend for a few days or months could make things OK again later on.

*EASE OUT OF IT.

The least stressful way to end a friendship is to try to gently phase it out of your life. Being busy when they suggest hanging out may mean that they take a hint. This way, everyone saves face-the two of you just drifted apart. “Big confrontations may be dramatic, but after the excitement has diminished, those involved may feel residual anger that takes a lot longer to fade away than if the ending were handled in a more subtle, graceful way,” says Yager.

*TERMINATE IT IMMEDIATELY.

“Sometimes, however, it’s not possible to end a toxic friendship slowly. The situation requires a dramatic and sudden action,” says Yager. For example, if a friend steals from you, a confrontation is pretty much unavoidable. You need to stay your piece, but in a way that will not fuel a vendetta. Make it clear that what he has done is unacceptable and that you can no longer be friends with him, but try to stay cool (tough to do but so worth it) without resorting to slurs and insults.

*STAY CALM WHEN CONFRONTED.

Being dumped by a friend is the ultimate blow, so you need to handle this awkward interaction as gracefully as possible. Explain that it is not him you are rejecting but the way the two of you interact. Be honest and nice so that both of you get out of the confrontation with your dignity intact. “This reduces the potential of despair related to the end of an intimate relationship,” says Yager.

* STAY NICE

Once the dream is over, it can be tempting to unload on your other friends, but this should be avoided. If people ask why you are no longer friends with so-and-so, resist the urge to spill and give the same reasons you gave so-and-so. It does you no credit to dis an ex-pal. We all know there are two sides to every story, and who’s to say you’ll get the sympathy if he tells too?

*UNDERSTAND THEIR FEELINGS

If your friend gets upset and vents about you, let it go. Don’t respond to insults or gossip about the end of the friendship.

* SEEK SUPPORT IF THEY HOLD A GRUDGE.

If your ex-friend starts making life difficult in ways that verge on criminal behavior, don’t be afraid to seek support from your parents or even the police. Nobody has a right to intimidate you because you don’t want to hang out with him anymore.

*MAKE BETTER CHOICES NEXT TIME.

“Find more positive friends or spend more time with those friends who are there for you,” suggests Yager, then there’s less possibility of getting into his awkward situation again. Just think of all the extra time you’ll have to hang out with people who make you happy-life’s too short to spend it with people who don’t.

Thanks to Lola Augustine Brown from Vancouver, Canada. (Health&Home2007:May-June:pp.36-37)