Yetqwid

Fundamental to our wellbeing is food and rest. Both have evolved into complex sciences that are subject to serious study and frivolous and sometimes dangerous trends. Initially sleep would have been snatched; anything more than 15 or 20 minutes would have increased the likelihood of early man becoming prey to larger more powerful predators. In these circumstances soft ground or perhaps a broad tree branch would have sufficed for a quick rest. Even now when you are utterly exhausted you can sleep just about anywhere and in any position. With time we became more organized socially and technologically, with fire and weapons and larger groups we could settle and gradually leave the more nomadic lifestyle behind. Of course with security we could now group all those condensed periods of rest into a longer more conventional nights sleep. From that time to this we have searched for materials that will provide a barrier between us and the ground, something that is capable of changing any surface into a comfortable, safe and warm environment. Through time we have moved from straw beds to feather beds, springs to foam; finally arriving...

A decade ago, I used to compete in Okinawan Karate. Competitive karate is a roller coaster ride of glorious victories and bitter failure. There were days I found myself pummeled like a useless rag doll. And there were other days I scythed through opponents like an unstoppable juggernaut. Every punch broke through and every kick landed somewhere satisfyingly soft. oooh how I loved that. I would zip around the squared ring like Neo on steroids, launching a flurry of eye-blackening attacks with a detached sense of killer calm. My team never ceased wondering how I can be a sluggard one day and a murderous one-man army the next. Joe, Trish used to tell me, How in the world do you get into the zone the way you do?. You were amazing- That guy never stood a chance. I d shrug and say that destiny meant for me to win that day. Today, I realized it s all a matter of states. What in the world is that. Turn on the TV or listen to the radio and you ll soon hear a popular self-help guru asserting how success is all a state of mind and exhorting that prosperity comes from shifting paradigms and adjusting mind states. Step back a bit more and...

What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities. - Joseph Addison, English essayist, poet, politician 1672 - 1719 I was reminded this week of a wonderful story told by Dr. Wayne Dyer, one of my favorite inspirational writers and speakers. Dyer has been featured on Public Television recently talking about inspiration. In his presentations, he shares this remarkable story about how an African tribe handles misconduct within the tribe. Instead of attacking the person and focusing on what they did wrong, the entire tribe lovingly gathers around the accused person. Then for days, or how ever long it takes, each individual in the circle takes turns saying one admirable thing about the person in the middle. This goes on until everyone has said all the sincerely positive words they want to share. Because of this practice, as you can imagine, repeat offenses are rare. Dyer related the story in reference to how he dealt with the drug abuse problem of one of his daughters. At one point the family forced the daughter to listen as other family members reported how much her...

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that can be found in all parts of the body. It does not mix with blood, and it has to be carried in the bloodstream through packages called lipoproteins. There are 2 important types of lipoproteins that affect the risk for heart disease: HDL high-density lipoprotein and LDL low-density lipoprotein . HDL is what we called good cholesterol while LDL is bad cholesterol. HDL carries cholesterol in the blood, and back to the liver for it to be removed from the body. LDL deposits cholesterol and is responsible for its build-up and blockage in the arteries. For years, good cholesterol HDL has been considered as being able to counteract bad cholesterol LDL , or even prevent heart disease. Nonetheless, its goodness has been questioned by some scientists. Two recent studies, one announced in March 2004, and one published one week earlier, found that ultra-low levels of LDL can protect heart patients from heart attacks and deaths. This in turn suggested that HDL matters little. Despite that some heart experts are not ready to change their treatment advice; others have concluded that HDL should...