Pointing fingers

NO POINTING FINGERS

A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a
successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?"
The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticize your wife for
her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind
that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a
better husband than
you."

We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are
afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he
would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is
the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one
finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves.

If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.

Keep your cool

Dear Friends,

Now that the days are longer and hotter, the electric bills for many are skyrocketing. Air conditioning can be such a blessing, but using it too freely results in large electric bills. So here are some tricks for staying cool and comfortable all summer long without breaking the bank.

First, make sure your AC air filter is clean. If not, replace it so the air conditioner doesn't have to work so hard to pull air through the system. Then turn your AC up a bit. 19 degrees may feel great, but it requires a lot of electricity. To save energy, it is generally recommended to keep your summer thermostat at 26 degrees or above. One way to make 26 degrees seem cooler is to use your ceiling fans, or even floor fans, to keep the cool AC air moving through your home. Ceiling fans can shift the temperature by several degrees and may even make it possible to keep the thermostat a little higher than 26. Of course, power cuts … you can’t help.

Another way to cut costs and keep things cooler inside is to close the blinds on windows that get a lot of sun exposure. Keeping the inside shaded helps keep your home cooler. And remember, lighting your home with incandescent bulbs generates a lot of unwanted heat, so consider making the switch to energy efficient CFL bulbs or LED lighting to save money on two levels.

The summertime is our outdoor time, so get out of your house and into other cool environments during the heat of the day. Sit in a greenly garden and read under a shady tree, enjoy a movie, or visit the mall. Have a short cool shower before you go out, or better yet, go swimming. You might even pack a picnic meal and plant yourself under the shadiest tree at the park for a couple of hours. You'll save money, stay cooler and have fun.

There are also lots of great ways to keep your body cooler, whether you are inside or outside. Dress smartly for summer weather. By all means, avoid silk and synthetic, heavier cottons, and dark-colored clothing that absorb and hold heat next to your body. Investing in summer clothing made of lightweight and light-colored micro-fiber will reflect the light's rays and heat away and will keep you cooler and more comfortable.

You can also do a lot with what you choose to eat and drink. For example, eat less at mealtime, but more frequently throughout the day. Smaller meals don't need as much metabolic heat to digest. Enjoying chilled fruit is a great summertime treat that also helps lower your body temperature. And be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

If you are trying to keep the thermostat turned up this summer, give these tips a try. They work for me and I hope they will help you stay cool and comfy all summer long.

Have a great week.

Friendship to ease you

Dear Friends,

I just had a really lovely phone conversation with my friend Amutha. Amutha has been sick in recent weeks and during our conversation, she told me that she felt she had recovered faster from her illness due to the support she received from friends like me. I was and am very touched by her remark. However, I am not surprised by the idea that friendships have the power to better our well-being.

Scientific studies reveal that friendships and positive emotional connections have an influential role over our health. In fact, our relationships with good friends are apparently even more important to our psychological well-being than family relationships. Such relationships for the elderly who remain socially active boost their cognitive functions and help them to stay healthier and live longer.

However, we all can enjoy the benefits of friendships, But we have to invest time and energy into developing and maintaining them. I know that sometimes this is easier said than done, but it is well worth the effort. According to the Mind experts, having friends can help you to reduce your stress levels, boost your self-esteem, improve your personal lifestyle and leave you feeling happier and more fulfilled. Now those are some substantial benefits.

Even with a busy lifestyle, you can find ways to maintain friendships. With the internet and cell phones and the like, it is easier than ever to connect with friends, so take advantage of those opportunities to make a short phone call, instant message or share on Facebook. Another way to keep up with friends is through lunch dates. We have to eat so why not invite a friend you to enjoy a meal so that you can catch up with each other? Any activity that will put you together with a friend for some quality time can make your life and theirs much better. The possibilities are many: shop together, play bridge, exercise at the gym, go for walks.

And if you are looking to build new friendships, try things like volunteering or joining a community group such as a trainers’ club, reading group, crafting circle, or some other organization that appeals to you and will put you in close proximity to others with similar interests. Don't be afraid to accept invitations to social events, even if you don't know very many people. You'll find it easier to get to know people and create friendships if you put yourself out there.

I'm sure you have some wonderful friends, but how long has it been since you made some time for them? It's never too late to reconnect with old friends or to work on finding and building new friendships. Having good friends really can be a lifesaver!

I challenge you to connect with at least three friends this week; whether they are friends from your past or you are reaching out to someone you'd like to know better.

French food culture

Dear Friends,

How would you like to eat whatever you wanted, without having to worry about your health or gaining weight? Diet and excess weight have become a major source of preoccupation and health concern for most of us. I believe that it is possible to enjoy food in a way that benefits both your health and your waistline. Just look at the French! This week, I want to compare what we eat and how much we eat to how the French do it. I think we might learn a thing or two!

The French manage to stay trim, even while eating many of the things we are advised to avoid, like butter, eggs, and cheese. Moreover, even though they enjoy rich foods denied to most dieters, they still manage to have lower cholesterol levels and less heart disease than we do. And the number of overweight Frenchmen and women is far below that of Americans. Eleven percent of French adults are said to be obese, while three times as many Americans suffer from that condition.

So what do the French do that makes a difference? First, let's consider what they eat. The typical French diet includes more fresh food, such as bread, fruit and vegetables, than the typical American diet. That means that they consume less processed foods, which tend to contain high carbohydrates and preservatives.

Next, they give priority to mealtimes, making them a social and family experience. This is an important point, because in the end, they eat less, feel satisfied with their meals, and also get to enjoy the rich food and drink that we often tend to feel guilty about. They embrace the joy of eating, rather than wolfing down food on the run, while running from one place to the next. Studies have shown that when we make time for meals and eat at a more relaxed pace, we end up being more satisfied with what we have consumed, even though we actually have eaten less food.

If you want to eat more like the French, you might choose to break up your meals in courses with smaller portions, take smaller bites, and let your taste buds experience all the flavor that each bite has to offer. Choosing foods that are natural rather than processed when you cook will go a long way towards improving your health, your waistline, and your satisfaction level with eating.

So, why not give eating like the French a try?