It Does Make You Feel Good. Natural Highs!

Think about them one at a time before going on to the next one.

It Does Make You Feel Good. Natural Highs!

1 Falling in love.

2 Laughing so hard your face hurts.

3 A hot shower.

4 No lines at the supermarket.

5 A special glance.

6 Getting mail.

7 Taking a drive on a pretty road.

8 Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

9 Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

10 Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.

11 Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).

12 A bubble bath…

13 Giggling.

15 The beach.

16 Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.

17 Laughing at yourself.

18 Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you

19 Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

20 Running through sprinklers.

21 Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

22 Having someone tell you that you’re beautiful.

23 Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS

24 Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

25 Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep

26 Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).

27 Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

28 Playing with a new puppy.

29 Having someone play with your hair.

30 Sweet dreams.

31 Hot chocolate…

32 Road trips with friends.

33 Swinging on swings.

34 Making chocolate chip cookies.

35 Having your friends send you homemade cookies.

36 Holding hands with someone you care about.

37 Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

8 Watching the expression on someone’s face as they open a much desired present from you.

39 Watching the sunrise.

40 Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.

41 Knowing that somebody misses you. 42 Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.

43 Knowing you’ve done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

This picture is taken from public domain and not the people in the story.

How true?

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving
family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I’ve aged, I’ve
become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my
own friend. I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for
not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t
need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat,
to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before
they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until
4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful
tunes of the 60 &70’s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a
lost love … I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging
body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to,
despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just
as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not
break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when
somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car?
But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and
compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will
never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning
gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep
grooves on my face..
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair
could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about
what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore.
I’ve even earned the right to be wrong. And may heaven help all those
idiots to know, what you and I both know, That I am always right..

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I
like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but
while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have
been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every
single day(if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING.

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING

A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don’t.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I learned most of
life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I looked at you and
wanted to say, ‘Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn’t looking.’

I AM SENDING THIS TO THE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS,
BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES.

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend)
influences the life of a child.

How will you touch the life of someone today?
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak
kindly.
Leave the rest to God

Don’t regret growing older.
It is a privilege denied to many.

-Unknown

ENLIGHTENED PERSPECTIVE

ENLIGHTENED PERSPECTIVE

Please Read all the way to the bottom:  If you will take the time to read these. I promise you’ll come away with an enlightened perspective. The subjects covered affect us all on a daily basis:

They’re written by Andy Rooney , a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words. Enjoy…….

I’ve learned…. That the best classroom in the world I S at the feet of an elderly person.

I’ve learned…. That when you’re in love, it shows.

I’ve learned…. That just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my day!’ makes my day.

I’ve learned…. That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I’ve learned …. That being kind is more important than being right.

I’ve learned…. That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I’ve learned…. That I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in some other way.

I’ve learned…. That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I’ve learned…. That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I’ve learned…. That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I’ve learned…. That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I’ve learned…. That we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.

I’ve learned…. That money doesn’t buy class.

I’ve learned…. That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I’ve learned… That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I’ve learned…. That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I ‘ve learned…. That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I’ve learned…. That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I’ve learned…. That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I’ve learned… That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I’ve learned….. That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I’ve learned. .. That life is tough, but I’m tougher.

I’ve learned…. That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

I’ve learned…. That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I’ve learned…. That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I’ve learned…. That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I’ve learned…. That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I’ve learned…. That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you’re hooked f or life.

I’ve learned…. That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

I’ve learned…. That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Do you remember when?

The Sack Lunches

If you have not tried this in your lifetime, I encourage you to do so.
The warm feeling you get is really precious.

One well worth passing on.

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned
seat.  It was going to be a long flight. ‘I’m glad I have a good book to
read and perhaps I will get a short nap,’ I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled
all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.  I decided to start a
conversation.  ‘Where are you headed?’ I asked the soldier seated
nearest to me.

‘Petawawa.. We’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then
we’re being deployed to Afghanistan .’

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack
lunches were available for five dollars.  It would be several hours
before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help
pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he
planned to buy lunch.  ‘No, that seems like a lot of money for just a
sack lunch. Probably wouldn’t be worth five bucks.  I’ll wait till we
get to base.

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.  None were buying lunch.  I
walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty
dollar bill.  ‘Take a lunch to all those soldiers.’  She grabbed my arms
and squeezed tightly.  Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me.  ‘My son
was a soldier in Iraq ; it’s almost like you are doing it for him.’

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were
seated.  She stopped at my seat and asked, ‘Which do you like best -
beef or chicken?’

‘Chicken,’ I replied, wondering why she asked.  She turned and went to
the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from
first class.  ‘This is yours

with thanks.’

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading
for the rest room.  A man stopped me.  ‘I saw what you did.  I want to
be part of it.  Here, take this.’  He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Air craft Pilot coming down
the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked , I hoped he was
not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my
side of the plane.  When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out
his hand, and said, ‘I want to shake your hand.’

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain’s hand.
With a booming voice he said, ‘I was a soldier and I was a military
pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch.  It was an act of kindness I
never forgot.’  I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of
the passengers.

Later

I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs.  A man
who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand,
wanting to shake mine.  He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.  Waiting
just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in
my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word.  Another
twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip
to the base.  I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five
dollars. ‘It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about
time for a sandwich.  God Bless You.’

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their
fellow travelers.  As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer
for their safe return.  These soldiers were giving their all for our
country.  I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little.

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check
made payable to his country for an amount of ‘up to and including my
life.’

That is Honor, and there are way too many people who no longer
understand it.

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone
on your email buddy list.

——————————————————————————–

How old are you ……….

‘Someone asked the other day, ‘What was your favorite fast food when you
were growing up?’

‘We didn’t have fast food when I was growing up,’ I informed him. ‘All
the food was slow.’

‘C’mon, seriously. Where did you eat?’

‘It was a place called ‘at home,” I explained. ! ‘Mom cooked every day
and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room
table, and if I didn’t like what she put on my plate I was allowed to
sit there until I did like it.’

By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to
suffer serious internal damage, so I didn’t tell him the part about how
I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other
things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system
could have handled it:

Some parents NEVER! owned their own house, wore Levis, set foot on a
golf course, traveled out of the country or had a credit card. In their
later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card
was good only at Se! ars Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears & Roebuck.
Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe he died.

My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we
never had heard of soccer. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50
pounds, and only had one speed, (slow). We didn’t have a television in
our house until I was 5. It was, of course, black and white,

I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, it was called ‘pizza pie.’ When
I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off,
swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It’s
still the best pizza I ever had.

We didn’t have a car until I was 4. It was an old black Dodge.

I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in
the living room and it was on a party line. Before you could dial, you
had to listen and make sure some people you didn’t know weren’t already
using the line.

Pizzas were not delivered to our home. But milk was.

All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered
newspapers; my brother delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7
cents a paper, of which he got to keep 2 cents. He had to get up at

6AM

every morning. On Saturday, he had to collect the 42 cents from his
customers. His favorite customers were the ones who gave him 50 cents
and told him to keep the change. His least favorite customers were the
ones who seemed to never be home on collection day.

Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the
movies. Touching someone else’s tongue with yours was called French
kissing and they didn’t do that in movies. I don’t know what they did in
French movies. French movies were dirty and we weren’t allowed to see
them

If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want
to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren.
Just don’t blame me if they bust a gut laughing.

Growing up isn’t what it used to be, is it?

MEMORIES from a friend:

My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother’s house (she died in December) and
he brought me an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. In the bottle top was a
stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but
my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt
shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the
ironing board to ’sprinkle’ clothes with because we didn’t have steam
irons. Man, I am old.

How many do you remember?

Head lights dimmer switches on the floor.  Ignition switches on the
dashboard. Heaters mounted on the inside of the fire wall. Real ice
boxes. Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.  Soldering
irons you heat on a gas burner. Using hand signals for cars without turn
signals.

Older Than Dirt Quiz:

Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about

Ratings at the bottom.

1 Blackjack chewing gum 2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar
water 3. Candy cigarettes 4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass
bottles 5. Coffee shops or diners with table side jukeboxes 6.
Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers 7. Party
lines 8. Newsreels before the movie 9. P.F. Flyers 10. Butch wax 11. TV
test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there
until TV shows started again in the morning. (there were only 3
channels) < /B>12. Peashooters 13. Howdy Doody ! 14. 45 RPM records
15.S&H greenstamps 16 Hi-fi’s 17. Metal ice trays with lever 18.
Mimeograph paper 19 Blue flashbulb 20. Packards 21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns 23. Drive-ins 24.Studebakers 25. Wash tub wringers

If you remembered 0-5 = You’re still young If you remembered 6-10 = You
are getting older If you remembered 11-15 = Don’t tell your age, If you
remembered 16-25 = You’re older than dirt!

I might be older than dirt but those memories are thebestpart of my
life.

Don’t forget to pass this along!!  Especially to all your
reallyOLDfriends…

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * There
were no computers…ipods…wii…cell phones…cordless
phones…colored TVs….pop tarts…frozen TV dinners….CDs and
DVDs……all the stuff you have now you enjoy, we didn’t have.

“Dear Mugger,

I was the white guy with the black Burberry jacket that you demanded I hand over shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend. You also asked for my girlfriend’s purse and earrings. I hope you somehow come across this message. I’d like to apologize.

I didn’t expect you to crap your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. Truth is, I was wearing the jacket for a reason that evening, and it wasn’t that cold outside. You see, my girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber 1911 .45 ACP pistol for Christmas, and we had just picked up a shoulder holster for it that evening. Beautiful pistol, eh? It’s a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head, isn’t it?

I know it probably wasn’t a great deal of fun walking back to wherever you’d come from with that brown sludge flopping about in your pants. I’m sure it was even worse since you also ended up leaving your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. I couldn’t have you calling up any of your buddies to come help you try to mug us again. I took the liberty of calling your mother, or “Momma” as you had her listed in your cell, and explaining to her your situation. I also bought myself some gas on your card. I gave your shoes to one of the homeless guys over by Vinnie Van Go Go’s, along with all of the cash in your wallet, then I threw the wallet itself in a dumpster.

I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell. They’ll be on your bill in case you’d like to know which ones. Alltel recently shut down the line, and I’ve only had the phone for a little over a day now, so I don’t know what’s going on with that. I hope they haven’t permanently cut off your service. I was about to make some threatening phone calls to the DA’s office with it. Oh well.

So, about your pants. I know that I was a little rough on you when you did this whole attempted mugging thing, so I’d like to make it up to you. I’m sure you’ve already washed your pants, so I’d like to help you out. I’d like to reimburse you for the detergent you used on the pants. What brand did you use, and was it liquid or powder? I’d also like to apologize for not killing you and instead making you walk back home humiliated. I’m hoping that you’ll reconsider your choice of path in life. Next time you might not be so lucky. If you read this message, email me and we’ll do lunch and laundry.

Peace!”

Tips for a Happier Life

Tips for a Happier Life

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Sleep for 7 hours.
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did the previous year.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink plenty of water.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
14. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
15. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
18. Smile and laugh more.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don’t compare your partner with others.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Forgive everyone for everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
28. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
29. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
30. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
31. The best is yet to come.
32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
33. Do the right thing!
34. Call your family often.
35. Your inner most is always happy. So be happy.
36. Each day give something good to others.
37. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
38. Share this with someone you care about (Click the “Share” link below)

Written by a yogi called Nithya Shanti.

Sent by Paloma Griffin

Blue Kitchen

http://www.blue-kitchen.com/2008/12/

About Blue Kitchen

Blue Kitchen is about food. Making it, eating it, thinking about it, talking about it. It’s not about precious food, though. I love to cook, but I’m not obsessed with it. You won’t find recipes here that involve two dozen esoteric ingredients or require you to start making something three days before you plan to serve it.

Sure, some weekend kinds of dishes may take a couple hours of cooking. Many, though, will be things you can throw together after work in about the same time it would take the pizza delivery guy to get there—okay, or maybe a little longer.

For beginning cooks, I hope you’ll find recipes, techniques and ideas that sound doable and worth tackling. For experienced cooks, I hope that at least once in a while I can make you think, “wow, I didn’t know that” or “hey, that actually sounds good.” For everyone, I hope you’ll find ways of making good—and occasionally, great—meals.

You’ll also find articles about ingredients, kitchen tools, wine, health matters, cool little shops and restaurants we’ve found—and, more likely than not, the occasional non-food digression. Because good food is only one part of good living.

Who’s in the kitchen?

I’m Terry B, an amateur in the best sense of the word. I cook because I love it. Not only have I never taken a professional cooking class, I’ve actually had to overcome a childhood in which bread was invariably squooshy and white, and the most used utensil in the kitchen was the can opener. In our Midwestern household, frozen vegetables were deemed too exotic. But perversely, fish was always frozen. And breaded. And dreaded.

I started cooking when I was out on my own, out of necessity at first. Then I found I enjoyed it. Still, like most guys who sort of dabble in the kitchen, I developed maybe a half dozen dishes that were pretty good and coasted on them. But one day, I happened to look at a recipe and realized that [a] I could do this and [b] I had a pretty good idea what it would taste like. A real “Aha!” moment for me, the first of many. And the beginning of going from liking to cook to having a real passion for it.

Sometimes I turn the kitchen over to my wife Marion, a truly great cook who inspires and encourages me in so many ways pretty much on a daily basis. When she gets into the kitchen, you’re in for a treat.

What’s with the name?

Blue Kitchen is the name of the mythical restaurant I will never open, because I’m smart enough to know that it would be punishingly hard work and that, realistically, I have neither the stamina nor the true culinary talent to make even a middling success of such an endeavor.

The name Blue Kitchen evokes visions of a romantic, bohemian place—chalkboard menu, little wooden tables and mismatched kitchen chairs, art on the walls, candles on the tables and jazz on the sound system. But where the name actually comes from is that when the wheels start falling off things in the kitchen—both measuring cups are in use and I need another one, I can’t find the right pot lid, the pasta’s done and the sauce isn’t—I start cursing up a storm. The air in the kitchen can become quite blue on a bad night.

It used to be when I let loose with a string of expletives, Marion and our daughters would come running to see what was wrong. Now they just laugh, knowing that it’s business as usual in the kitchen and whatever the problem is, I’ll figure something out.

Stick around—and come back often. You’ll like Blue Kitchen. I swear.

A special thanks to my friend Rich Meyer, principal of Swell Advertising in St. Louis, for the superb Blue Kitchen masthead/logo design. I’m responsible for all the words and photographs on Blue Kitchen, unless otherwise noted. All content is copyrighted and all rights are reserved, of course.