But why was it called Thanksgiving Day?

Thanksgiving Day, presently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863. It did not become a national federal holiday until 1941. Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks to Almighty God. The pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving out of appreciation to God for helping them survive the brutal winter, and finally reaching the United States. The feast lasted three days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians.

The modern day traditional Thanksgiving menu often features turkey with stuffing, sweet potatoes, corn bread, and pumpkin pie. But on the first Thanksgiving the pilgrims didn’t have these traditional foods back then. They hunted and ate any kind of fowl, duck, geese, venison, fish, lobster, clams, and swan. They ate berries, dried fruit, pumpkin which was boiled because there were no ovens for baking food or bread. There was also squash, and other kinds of vegetables.

The Pilgrims were thanking God

for survival to the United States

So the traditional stuffed turkey dinner today, the stuffing made mostly from bread, accompanied by more bread or corn bread, pumpkin pie, and candied sweet potatoes all very high calorie foods, were not part of the original thanksgiving that the pilgrims celebrated. These poor immigrants were just thankful to God for bringing them alive to the United States and celebrated this by eating a simple meal of meat and vegetables.

As the modern world evolved Americans became more affluent, people now had ovens for baking meat and bread. The face of agriculture changed, and supermarkets were selling more processed foods. So people didn’t have to hunt for food anymore, they could walk into a supermarket and buy any pre-packaged meal or processed food in a can, box or bag.

Their diets changed, and many of the new additions to the Thanksgiving meal were added, and so did the very meaning of the Day, “A Giving of Thanks to God”. How many young Americans and modern immigrants to the United States really remember that this was the real meaning of Thanksgiving? With all the supermarkets selling discounted turkeys, and all the Thanksgiving sales taking place it has become just another Holiday for family reunions, to overeat and for sports fans to watch football. 

But why a stuffed turkey for Thanksgiving?

This was no doubt another start in the modern traditional celebration. There is no record that the early settlers had turkey at their first meal. They certainly didn’t have bread for stuffing. And in our modern times no where does it say that this was the only day to eat stuffed turkey, or any of the other side dishes that comes with the traditional Thanksgiving Day. Turkey is a big bird, and can provide a lot of food for a large crowd especially when stuffed. Probably this was one of the reasons why turkey became the traditional meat instead of other fowls.  As families gather together to eat, they needed a lot of meat to go around to everyone present.

I love turkey, and I eat it all year round. It is such a delicious bird, whether stuffed, plainly baked, ground up or cut up for other recipes, it can be a healthy protein food source any time of the year. And I certainly don’t believe that we should give thanks to God only one day of the year, but everyday for the food we have for each day. This was no doubt the custom of the early settlers, they were accustomed to giving thanks before each meal and just this particular day became special to them because they were also thanking God for their survival and for reaching their final destination, the United States.

For some couples this might be their first Thanksgiving Day together, or some others might have another special reason for celebrating the day. Most people though are simple following the tradition.  But if you are watching your weight and have health problems, you might want to consider what you are stuffing that turkey with. A lot of the prepared package stuffing I see on the supermarkets shelves are made mostly of white dried bread with some artificial seasonings added to them, not very nutritious.

You might be able to find some healthy stuffing mixes at some of the health food stores, but for me I love making my own from scratch. Growing up in the Dutch Caribbean as the oldest girl in a family of eight I learned to cook very young. I never use any pre-packaged or processed foods when cooking, but prepare and cook everything myself, even making up my own recipes according to what I know is healthy and nutritious.

So if you are a new bride or anyone whom may be stuffing that turkey for the first time this year and want to keep watching your diet or health here are one of my own created and tried turkey stuffing. (You can also it to stuff chicken and as a side dish):

 You will need:

1. Eggplant, carrots, green and red bell peppers, mushrooms, scallions, onions, garlic, and celery. A package of wholegrain ziti. First boil the wholegrain ziti until medium soft and set aside.

2. Cut up the eggplant into medium square cubes. Chop the bell peppers, carrots, onions, garlic, scallions, and celery in medium size pieces. Slice the mushrooms.

3. Heat a large frying pan or skillet and pour some olive oil into it. When hot pour all the cut up vegetables into the hot olive oil. Simmer while stirring constantly.

4. Add seasonings: I use  “Goya Adobo All Purpose Seasoning with pimiento”.  But if you can’t find this you can use the same ingredients in that seasoning: which is salt, black pepper, thyme, oregano, turmeric, garlic powder. Add a dash of hot pepper sauce, a large tablespoon of tomato paste, and some ketchup.  Stir into the simmering eggplant and vegetable mixture. Add more seasoning until satisfied with the taste.

5. Add the boiled ziti small portions at a time. By now the eggplant should be soft and you can mash it together with the noodles and other vegetables. If you cook too much ziti just save for another occasion. You don’t want the ziti to overpower the other vegetables, but to only hold them together. Cook until soft and sticking together.

6. When slightly cooled stuff into the cavities of the turkey that you should have seasoned well the night before with the same seasonings you used for the stuffing. Rub the seasonings inside and outside of the bird. 

 7. Mix some of the seasonings with water and tomato paste or ketchup and pour over the bird letting the rest fall into the bottom of the baking pan. The bird will be baking in its own gravy, and you can keep basting it with this gravy to keep it from drying out. Cover with foil paper or special turkey bag and bake in a moderate hot (350) oven for several hours. 

of Cancer fighting Antioxidants

Keep checking and sticking with a fork to feel if the meat is soft. Keep the bottom of the pan well covered with gravy from the droppings of the baked bird and that you made yourself with some of the tomato paste along with the seasonings. After feeling soft remove the foil and let it bake uncovered some more until the outside is brown. When cut the flesh should be well seasoned, soft, juicy and fall easily from the bones. Also the stuffing will be healthy and delicious, not only from its own seasoning but from absorbing the juices from the baking bird. Unlike the customary bread stuffing you will be eating stuffing that is nutritious, fat free, full of cancer fighting antioxidants, high in fiber, and very low in calories.

Did you know eggplant is also a great breast cancer fighter?  With such a healthy alternative to traditional turkey stuffing you may not even need all the extra side dishes. But if you must have sweet potatoes which are also good for you, just don’t use any sugar on them, leave them plain or make the dressing from honey instead. Add some green salads or broccoli and there you have a delicious turkey meal that can be eaten not just for the holidays but anytime of the year. And don’t forget to give Thanks, this will make it truly a real Thanksgiving meal! 

Written and illustrated by: Glenda Brill (C)

Fear of catching the Swine Flu is on the minds of everyone these days. Many Medical Centers offer vaccinations against this strange flu. I heard of some hospitals running out of the Swine Flu shots already and people being put on a waiting list until more comes in. One of the precautions for people whom feel like they are coming down with the Swine Flu is to stay home. This is in order not to be around other people and infect them with the disease. Nobody thought then that if you stay home and have pets around that they to can be infected. Most of the time when we are sick we like curling up in bed with our cat or dog. They become our closest comforting companions at this time since we can’t be around other humans.

Swine Flu spreading to house pets

Now with the swine flu, we can’t let our pets be around us anymore. There are a few reported cases of dogs and a cat, pets in the home catching  the Swine Flu. With the name Swine Flu which is believed first began with a pig and later transmitted to humans, it sounds ironic that just the opposite now is happening, that humans can transmit the flu back to other animals. It is like what comes around  goes around.

In the case of the cat that became sick, when its owner took it to the veterinarian, and discovered that it had the swine flu, the owner then remembered sneezing on the cat. So for those of us whom have pets, dogs or cats, if you have flu like symptoms, instead of letting that pet curl up with you in the bed, you better keep it out of sight under the bed if you are going around sneezing and coughing. That might be the best cover for the little creature right now, to keep it covered from your flu germs. Unless you have a special little dog or cat house where you can keep it away from you until you get better.

Young children can also give or catch the flu from pets

But what about young children? It would be the same if you have young kids at home. They to can get the infectious disease from you or other children, and again since children love playing with their pet animals can also spread it back to them. So keep them away from each other. Humans and children can be vaccinated, but so far there is no vaccination for animals.

How can you tell if you are coming down with the Swine Flu? In humans some of the symptoms are: coughing and sneezing, with fever sometimes, vomiting, and much the same symptoms like the regular flu. Some people may feel worst than others. It also helps to keep your immune system healthy so that you can resist the flu. And we are constantly warned about washing our hands several times a day. This may be one of the safest ways of protecting ourselves against the virus.

Take advice to wash hands often very seriously

Some people don’t take this serious, but our hands are the easiest way of catching and transmitting germs. Whether we work in a restaurant, office, store, hospital or any other business, we use our hands to handle paper or other documents that came from other people. We use cash to buy lunch or groceries that passes through the hands of thousands of different people each day. I read once that money is one of the biggest transmitters of all kinds of bacteria. We handle money every day, and we just don’t  know who else has been holding those same dollar bills we are now counting.

Also using office restrooms or public restrooms, just touching the door knob can be another way flu viruses get on your hands. Again there is where washing our hands before and after we use the restroom can be helpful advice to follow. Those same hands you use to put your makeup on or touch your face, eyes or your skin, eat your meals, and if your immune system is weak then any transmitted viruses can start growing and make you sick.  Make sure we get the flu shot to keep the Swine Flu virus away.

Keep your pets away from you,

there is no flu shots for them

And if you are worry about your little pet at home, and you happen to come down with the Swine Flu, you may want to follow the advice above or find some other way to keep the little creature away from you. Please don’t sneeze on it. It has been said that a sneeze can travel very far into the air. So somebody in a different location can pick up a virus from another person sneezing out of sight several feet away. And if you must sneeze in the present of your pet or anyone else, don’t sneeze into your hand, as you might use those same hands to touch your pets and this can spread the infection to them.

Sneeze inside your elbow, this stops the sneeze from getting into the air, and prevents anyone else around from picking up the virus. So a rule of thumb should be when we are sick with the flu treat our pets like we would treat anyone else. Stay away from them, certainly don’t let them be in the bed with us, keep them away until we are well again.

Written by: Glenda Brill (C)

I couldn’t believe it! How did these bastards get in here? Completely uninvited and have the nerve to use my kitchen counter for their gratification? I can understand now why she is always giving birth to another baby. They were so into what they were doing that even when I turned the light on, they didn’t move or stopped, or saw me standing there.  I felt anger rising in my body, and before I explained what I did next, I want to tell you a little about the family of Roa and Ches.

 The family of Roa and Ches

This is a family of Scum Bags. And they are international. You can find them in almost every country and city. Some more so than others. They are freeloaders, homeless bums and don’t care where they hang out. Since they are always looking for free food and drink some of them live around sewage systems, and garbage dumps.

It doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor if there is a colony of these nasty beings in the neighborhood, you can expect to somehow cross their paths, or see one or two of them around. They try to find shelter into people’s basements and that is how they manage to get into other people’s home. They have been caught hiding even in Restaurants and food establishments ofcourse because these are places where they can find food. Also in unoccupied apartment buildings, as these provide protection from the cold outside.

They are very fast reproducers of their kind, the females are always pregnant and their small children follow in their parents footsteps. This has resulted in a good thing for our economy inspiring many to become entrepreneurs in developing products and providing services to help curb their reproduction. Today you can find entire supermarket aisles full of products designed specifically for the Roa and Ches family. All kinds of can foods, bottled drinks, and specialty foods to keep these freeloaders out of people’s homes. There has even been special hotels and motels built just for them. 

Some young men make a good living by selling their products and services one on one to different families that had trouble with them. But no matter what has been done some of them continue to remain on the loose, to bypass their own hotels and foods while preferring to remain homeless and sneak around, steal and find ways into people’s homes, eating whatever they can put their dirty hands on. Because they hang out in dirty areas like sewages, and around garbage dumps they are full of diseases and can infect others. Can you imagine these nasty scummy dirty beings nibbling on your food and drink?

I couldn’t help thinking on all the little children whom might be eating goodies on Halloween night that Roa and Ches may have been nibbling on.

As I stood there frozen at the entrance of my kitchen I couldn’t help thinking on all the little children that will be tricker treating around the neighborhood on Halloween night accepting candies and different kinds of goodies from complete strangers.  Many of them not even knowing whether Roa and Ches have been sneaking around in their homes and putting their germy hands on these goodies. This can make those children sick and their parents will never know what caused their illness.

With all these thoughts going through my head, my anger rising, and Roa and Ches disrespectfully continuing to make out on my kitchen counter, I carefully grabbed my big heavy straw broom, and banged them both into their heads, several times until I was sure they were dead. After that I had the horrible task of removing their remains and disposing of them.

I know I had committed murder, but I felt justified and relieved that I had done so. If anyone in the neighborhood and the Police Department finds out, they would all thank me for helping them in removing one more pair of these disgusting scum bags from the neighborhood. After cleaning up my kitchen counter with bleach disinfectant, I drunk a small glass of milk and went to bed.

I felt no shame over what had just happened, as a matter of fact I felt happy instead that I had at least helped some families in the neighborhood and the city of New York in getting rid of another pair of disgusting ROACHES.

Why roaches are bad for us, and you should do everything to get rid of them if you see them around

According to the National Pest Management Association, there are nearly 33 different kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens carried by cockroaches. Cockroaches walk through sewage and decaying matter and transmit bacteria into your home.

Cockroaches have been shown to transport a number of pathogenic bacteria and viruses on their legs and bodies. They carry the pathogens that cause tuberculosis, cholera, leprosy, dysentery, and typhoid, as well as over 40 other bacteria (like salmonella) or viruses that can cause disease.

Cockroaches will eat almost anything: left-over human food, wood, leather, cigarette butts, tooth paste, milk, sugary materials, coffee grinds, glue, so if any of the above is left open and we use them we can get sick from their left over germs.

Tips to help keep Roaches away

 Even though I do all these tips below myself somehow some roaches still manage to get into my apartment. Usually if there is a colony of them in the neighborhood, they can get into even clean apartments. So if you have not seen any in your home yet, it is good to try the below tips if you are not already doing so, to help keep them away.

• Always sweep your floors at night, making sure no crumbs or any food at all is left on the floors. Make sure all garbage is put out at night. Vacuum your carpets if you have such often. Vacuuming sucks up any eggs that roaches lay, and stop their reproduction. 

• Always wash your dishes, never leaving dirty dishes in the sink, and after drying put them away. Leaving them out somehow still attracts roaches, looking for food and water. 

• Never leave any food or drink uncovered, either in your refrigerator, on the stove, or kitchen counter. 

• Find some sort of roach bait, I use the small black baits, and put them around in different areas of your kitchen and under the sink, in corners of cabinets, under the stove, and around any cracks in the walls. Also in the bathroom, remember they are always looking for water, so the kitchen and bathroom are their favorite places.  Don’t eat in your bedroom as this might also attract them into that room. 

• If you have small children, be careful about leaving them on the bare floor, put them on a blanket or something. You never know if roaches were crawling on the floor unknown to you. Children pick up germs faster than adults.   As a general rule always make sure your home is clean and free of clutter. Disinfect often as this kills germs.  

• And if you happen to see any in sight like I did, kill them on the spot. Sometimes I see one or two crawling on the bottom of my bathtub. I kill them by turning the hot water faucet on and blasting them to death with hot water.

Yes, if you think about all the little children that could be eating roach infected candy on Halloween night you will also be happy that I killed Roa and Ches on the night before. Who knows if they were planning on going somewhere else to nibble on some goodies and those were later given to these children to eat?

 Written and Illustrated by: Glenda Brill ©   

All  fear disappeared!

When I was brought home, that is when I was faced with the challenge of getting into my building. I could feel fear gripping my heart. There are 6 stairs leading up to the front door.  I broke down and start crying as I was wondering : “how am I going to get up those stairs on one foot using crutches? This is impossible, I can’t do this.”  But I knew I had to get into my apartment, I couldn’t stay out on the sidewalk forever, so it means finding a way to get up those stairs on crutches. With determination I slowly put the crutches on the bottom stair and hopped onto that stair, and then did the same with the other one, and finally reached the top of the stairs to the front door.

I couldn’t believe it, I had actually climbed those stairs on one foot using two crutches. I did the same thing while going down the stairs, placing the crutches on one stair then hopping onto it, and the same until I got all the way down to the street. By the end of the 2 months that my right foot was in a cast I had become an expert at climbing those stairs on one foot using two crutches.

All fear had disappeared. And I thought that I couldn’t do it. But I did. Now when I see other temporary disabled people using crutches to get around, I admire their courage because I know how it feels. And that we can do whatever we need to do in whatever situation we find ourselves in if we just let go of fear. 

Count your blessings, appreciate what you have.

So if you really have a strong heart desire to do something that you really love or to serve other people, and you feel that you can’t do it, just reflect back on these few examples given above. Some people with only half a body accomplishing so much. And watch this video below with your music speakers on.

After seeing this and if you are a full able-bodied man or woman, just count your blessings. Appreciate what you have, and use it to the full. It is amazing to see what these two disabled young people do and accomplish it so well. You will conclude that our bodies whether we are full able-bodied, or disabled are only following something deeper that is the motivating force behind what we can accomplish, which is the heart. (See previous post: Courageously putting your heart into it, your body will follow..).

 So whether you think you are too old, young, fat, thin, tall, ugly or too whatever all these excuses, fears or barriers you put up around your heart, if you replace them with the right attitude and put your heart’s desires up front, it will motivate you to do your best,  and you can successfully accomplish anything that might seem impossible. YES YOU CAN DO IT!

Written by: Glenda Brill(C)

We often hear these phrases concerning the human heart: wholehearted, with all my heart, heart desire, take to heart, or hurt at heart, feeling sickened at heart, cold hearted and so many many other phrases or expressions involving the human heart. But why is the heart used so often in describing so many different situations?  Because our heart is more than just a pump that keeps our blood flowing, but it keeps us warm, and responsible for our very life. 

It is the seat of motivation, of all of our activities and attitudes, joys, loves, feelings, enjoyments, moral character, speech, conduct, all emotions. It is what causes us to express laughter, enthusiasm, courage and everything that we do with our bodies. A whole hearted person is complete, fervent, supportive, has a keen interest in wanting to do something well.

Here is an example to show how our hearts is indeed the seat of our desires and motives.  A couple of years ago I heard about a middle aged woman who needed a heart transplant and was giving the heart of a young 19 year old football player and motor cycle rider. He died in an accident on his way to a football game. But he stopped to eat at a fast food restaurant before going to the game. Unfortunately he died before getting there. His heart was transplanted into this middle aged woman. When she came out of surgery, to the surprise of her doctor and family she asked for french fries and hamburger and started talking about football!

A transplanted heart still keeps its original desires.

This woman had never had any interest in football or cared about fast foods before ever in her life. Understandable her doctor and family were shocked when they realized that her new heart was full of desires different from what she had or even what she was. It was the desires of the dead young man whom heart she now had to live with. His heart was into fast foods and football like most 19 year olds, and it was very interesting that his heart survived with all his desires impact and now operating in another person.

It wouldn’t be surprising either if she later started actually playing football, since this was what the young man’s heart was into, and now operating in her. This would indeed take a lot of courage to go through with these new desires in her new heart. It is funny imagining a middle aged woman playing football. Maybe later on the heart was trained to fully adapt to her own desires if possible. I never heard anything more about what happened later on with this story.  But it really shows how our heart operates. 

 Our heart is the finall decision maker 

The heart makes decisions, either for good or bad. Our eyes take pictures of things around us, sound and information goes through our ears, our mind and brain take all this information, assimilate it and pass all this on to the heart.  It makes the final decision, moving the body to act on whatever direction it gives. So in reality we “see and listen” with our heart, the eyes and ears are only channels to this important decision making organ. That is the reason why a blind man can say: “I see”, or a deaf person can communicate back even in sign language “Yes I hear what you say”. Their hearts see and hear.

Both persons blind or deaf if they were born that way have never seen light, or heard a single sound or whisper.  A blind person can’t see the beauty of things including other people around them, or the deaf hear their voices, or music. Yet some of them become singers, musicians, dancers, communicators, all because their courageous enthusiastic hearts are into what they do. Their bodies just follow what their hearts hear and see and this motivates them to action, performing, serving or giving back to others.

 Learning to love what you do so you can serve others

And this is another key to putting your heart into something you are doing or want to do: Learning to love what you do so that you can serve people or give back to others. Many people go through life half hearted, they hate their jobs, or if in school they hate school and studying. They complain about everything, only going through the motions without enthusiasm, or zeal. Some people go to some jobs just to get a paycheck, can’t wait for the weekend. Their hearts are not into it, there is no real interest in serving and the body can’t follow by expressing joy, enthusiasm, good energy, or a good attitude. Therefore a half hearted person becomes unhappy, and unhealthy.

Even a monotonous job can be enjoyable if your heart is into it. I see this all the time. Every week I go to this Fish Market in my neighborhood to buy fresh fish. They have 3 men standing behind the area where they clean the fish. One of them is always humming, whistling or singing while working cleaning fish. “Who can be happy working in a smelly place like this?” I wondered.  “And what is so interesting about cleaning fish?” I approached the counter one day and asked him: “You look like you really love your job, how long have you been doing this? “It is going to be 15 years this year, and I love it!”, he enthusiastically replied.

Love it? Now this man looks pretty young, maybe in his late thirties. Why couldn’t he have gone to school and studied for something else? And how much money can you make cleaning fish? I stood there wondering to myself as I waited.  He continued talking and said how enjoyable it was for him to meet and serve so many hundreds of people that come to the fish market every week. Just to be able to imagine all they can do in preparing their fish meals and know he had a small part in helping them by giving them cleaned fish to start with. Now that is a great attitude to have. His heart is really into what he does, and his body performs the same service for years from an enthusiastic heart because he loves serving people by cleaning fish, and this makes him happy.

 Not a very glamorous job, but when you think about it don’t we need all kinds of services? Somebody goes fishing and another person cleans the fish. We need them both, otherwise we wouldn’t have fish to eat, which is a contributor to our health. What about other professions whose jobs are much more sophisticated and valuable? A medical surgeon working in a hospital duties may be similar in some ways.  The only difference is that he is cutting people open, and getting paid more money. But still both of them can be equally happy if their hearts are into what they do and realize that they are both doing a job for the preservation of people’s lives, one providing food to eat while the other keeping people alive so they can eat.

It takes courage to put your heart into something inspite of difficulties

And it takes courage to persist in putting your heart into something. Courage means to persevere inspite of difficulties, to hold one’s own, or keep up one’s morale, to hold to a good spirit even when faced with failure. I am sure it must be tiring and difficult standing on your feet all day cleaning fish, or being a surgeon performing the same duties each day. And there is always the possibility of failure, not doing something right, making mistakes, but if the courageous heart is into what it does, it keeps the body performing at its best, never letting fear cause it to pull back.

And that is the main reason why some people never put their hearts into anything. Fear. Fear of failure, or being hurt, or of what other people might say or think. Being rejected or fear of so many imagined difficulties. Fear is one of the negative emotions that can cripple or paralyze the heart preventing the body from taking courageous action. Many people are afraid of starting a business for fear of failing, or from some sales jobs because it might involve public speaking. There are so many barriers that we sometimes put up from putting our hearts into what we really love or want to do, preventing our bodies from following.

Most of us have good health, all our senses, our full body, and circumstances, but still letting fear keep us from putting our best heart forward. I already gave some examples of people that were born blind or deaf and are courageously putting their hearts into what they do to serve people. In my next post I will give some more examples of others, some of them with severe disabilities but successful in doing what might seem impossible because they put their hearts into whatever they do.

Written by Glenda Brill (C)

In my last post I mentioned how people affect each other every day, knowingly or unknowingly. (See People are basically all just people).  Just like the flu or some types of diseases are contagious or infectious, our behavior toward other people is the same, we can infect people with something good or bad.  

I experience this myself just recently. I was going uptown to Manhattan in New York City, and like almost everyone in this Big City we take the subway trains everywhere, even the Mayor does. It is the easiest and least expensive way to get around. You will notice that in a lot of my posts I mentioned experiences or things while riding the trains. Because it is the place you can see the most interesting people in New York from all over the world.  No wonder this city is called the melting pot of nationalities and cultures.  

I am very observant by nature, probably like most creative people I love looking at people, admiring what they wear, their hairstyles, everything from head to toe. It inspires me with new ideas for different creative projects. If you don’t understand people you cannot design or even promote products for them. 

Ebony Legs with Hot Bright Pink Stiletto Shoes

A few seats from where I was sitting on the same side of the train, I saw the long very dark legs of a young woman, african american or maybe just african, with long spiky heels neon bright pink shoes stretching out from under her seat. Now ofcourse I knew I started smiling because she just stood out. She had real dark smooth ebony skin, so these neon very bright pink shoes just stood out in the crowd.  

I was watching her and thinking to myself where in the world is she going with such high heels bright shoes at midday? She couldn’t be going on a business or job interview dressed like that.  She sure would make a nice Shoe Poster, or Billboard Ad. 

Or maybe she is planning on going to a night club after dark and just in case she gets lost or killed her shoes will help the police find her in the dark. Ofcourse my wild creative imagination started designing posters and newspaper scenes in my head about these ebony legs with the bright pink stiletto shoes.  That’s how my mind works when I see something that gets my creative juices flowing.

Again the more people I came across and looked at were smiling. Now I was convinced that I must look funny or something was wrong with me. Did I button my blouse up wrong, maybe missing a spot? Or was my blouse opened in the wrong place? Was there something stuck on my face, or did my upsweep hairdo bun came loosed and looked funny hanging out of place? 

Keep smiling Sweetheart, you have made my day! 

I saw a McDonald Restaurant in the near distance, and just as I was about to rush in so that I could use the restroom and check in the mirror to see if there was something wrong with me, an older businessman with a briefcase walking toward me, looked at me and smilingly said:  “Keep smiling sweetheart, you have made my day.”   “Thank you”, I replied puzzled and surprised. 

Huh? Was that it? Was everybody smiling because I was smiling?  Just to be sure that was the reason for everyone’s smiling back at me, I checked myself in the fast food restroom mirror anyway to make sure nothing was out of place, and I looked fine.  So it was true! People were smiling when I looked at them because I was smiling. I was infecting their spirit, they were catching the smile and responding with same.

A warm smile is contagious, it makes others feel safe

A smile is contagious, if we smile it automatically make others smile back because it sends a friendly message and makes them feel safe. I must have been still musing over that girl I saw with the neon bright pink shoes and smiling. It doesn’t take much for me to giggle or smile anyway, that is just me. People often tell me that I was smiling even when I didn’t know I was. 

But a simple smile affected so many people I came across, and made that businessman day. Who knows he could have been going through some financial, or family problems, or even health problems like most of us, but the simple kind act of smiling helped eased his inner or spiritual need for comfort from a complete stranger.     

What we give out, we get back 

It is true that what we give out we get back because the other person is very much like ourselves, so they can respond to whatever act of kindness we are sending out. And small acts of kindness can do so much good for someone else. 

Unknown to her I was affected by the stranger with the ebony legs and bright hot pink stiletto shoes that started me smiling, and in turn I infected others with my smile. It shows how people or even just one person can affect a whole crowd in even small ways, because we are very much alike, needing the same things. (See “People are basically all just people”). 

 I love the words of the song in this Video, “Smile” sung by Michael Jackson. Turn on the music speakers on your computer and listen carefully to these words. It is also funny and I hope it will bring a smile to your face.  

If it means a simple smile can make another person’s day, then do so, and I hope I have also made your day.  

Written by: (C) Glenda Brill 

And the last to put to rest just a few days ago was Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, a legend in the entertainment world of music, song and dance, whom from the tender age of five, has brought such joy to billions around the world.  Don’t think there will ever be another like him.  All of these unique men and woman deserve a tribute for their hard work and for leaving their history behind for the rest of us.  Our sympathy goes out also to all their families for their losses. 

But even though they were all from different family backgrounds, races, ages, gender, their unique contribution toward humanity made them famous and rich they all had the same in common with the rest of us, or all people around the world. They all suffered basically from the same human frailties, pains, sicknesses, family problems, stresses, disappointments, struggles, sadness, and eventually death.  And had the same needs like all humanity, the need for love, kindness, peace, acceptance, good health, happiness, family, and all the deep spiritual needs that we all long for everyday.

If you read the history of all these famous people, the human conditions and sicknesses are very much like that of anyone anywhere around the world, whether they are famous, Black, White, Asian, or from any other Ethnic group or nationality, rich, poor, living in the jungle, or in a mansion or palace, all humans are suffering in one way or the other, and longing for the same basic things. 

All those Kennedy sons were intelligent fine looking American men, fathers, leaders with so much good intentions. But they had their share of tragedies, multiple illnesses, pains, family problems common to all people.  Ted Kennedy struck at the very core of his intelligence, his brain with cancer. Ed McHon, Farah Fawcett also struggled for years with the same debilitating disease, cancer inspite of their fight to live and find a solution. 

And Michael Jackson multi-talented, a good father and humanitarian, also had his share of problems including the most visible of all, vitiligo a painful terrible skin disease that changed his skin from dark to white. But a simple basic human need, the desperate need for sleep which we all need was what eventually caused his death.

All these fine men and woman had it all, money, fame, great looks, fine  homes, but still could not stop themselves from suffering  and dying. Have you ever asked yourself: Why do we have so much in common with other people no matter who they are, or where they live? Inspite of our differences or stations in life, an entire industry has developed around our curiosity into the lives of other people. Newspapers, Celebrity magazines of every kind sell like crazy. We all want to know who has a new baby, whom is getting married, or divorced. What is happening in their personal lives. We feel their joys and sorrows.

Some celebrity names have become household names in some families. People speak about them like they know them. With the introduction of modern technology, TV, Internet, Cell Phones and other means, the world has become closer than ever. We can sit in front of our TV’s or Computers, and see and hear what is going on with complete strangers anywhere in the world. We applaud them if we need to, cry with those whom we feel a connection to.  We pick and vote for our favorite singers and dancers on Singing and Dancing competitions, and even argue and take sides with what we think the judges should say or not. 

We even become friends or fans with those we like even though we never met them or may never meet them. There seems to be a common thread running through all people, we can understand and sympathize with each others sufferings, stresses, and rejoice with complete strangers. We affect each other knowingly or unknowingly anywhere, everyday. Why? Because people are basically all just people.

Even though some people choose to believe in Evolution, the no God theory, or the Ape connection to humans, the similarities among all people point to the historical account in the Bible book of Genesis that all men (and women) came from one original human pair, Adam and Eve. And because of their disobedience to God introduced by a fallen angel, whom became the Opposer to Life, brought sin, suffering and death into the world which has been passed down to all generations of people. 

How else can we understand the commonness among all of us no matter what we attain in life, and death itself? Death is an injustice, cruel, it is not prejudice, has no mercy,  it doesn’t care whom we are or what we have achieved in life, it will take the greatest man or woman down to the dust inspite of what they do to prevent it.

Why? Scientists cannot explain it, neither does Evolution or Apes. And why are we giving the command to love our neighbor as ourselves, if our neighbor was not like ourselves? And why are we always shock or grieve when someone dies? Death is not natural, if it was natural, then it shouldn’t negatively affect us at all.  The Bible calls death, an Enemy. The enemy of God and Life, brought on by the Evil Angel that instigated rebellion against God by the first humans.

The first man and woman were told that only if they disobey God they would die. God is the Source of Life, staying connected to him would have resulted in everlasting life right here on earth. When they disobeyed they cut themselves off from the very Source that would keep them living, became corrupted and died. But they had children before they died, so that sinful corruption within them like a disease was passed down to their children all the way down to us. So death is the opposite of life, was never meant to be a part of life, neither did sickness or disease.  

You know that Scientists discovered that our cells have the capacity to keep renewing themselves for an eternity, which means that we should never have grown old or die. Also our brain is capable of learning and storing information for generations. By the time we reach 70 or 80 years old we have not even quite used up 10% of our fabulous brains. Still they cannot explain why our cells eventually stop renewing themselves, people get sick, old and die.

Those things came as a result after the rebellion against God, and no matter how hard we struggle to overcome them, they will only be removed by God, through Jesus Christ. That is why he died to remove that sentence of suffering and death brought on by that first human pair and passed down to us.  It takes faith to believe this, and some of you may not believe any of this, and rightfully you have the freedom to choose to believe whatever you want. 

You may still be puzzled over your own sufferings, searching for answers, and going through life with no hope for anything better to come. But no matter how hard we try to ignore our own deep spiritual needs, that yearning for love, kindness, acceptance, peace, good health, and for continued life and happiness is within each of us, all races, whether small or great, poor or rich, known or unknown.

Man created in God’s Image has that deep spiritual need put within us by God, which has been corrupted by our first parents disobedience and passed down to all humans.  Therefore we see the same struggles among all peoples with this imperfect image, the desire and fight to be like the Perfect Image which we were supposed to be like, but the constant interruption by the Opposer to God and Life itself, along with our own imperfections that has resulted from sin.

Unless that complete unity with God is restored, and the Opposer is put out of existence we cannot attain complete peace or freedom from sickness and death.  Fame, Money, Good Looks, nothing can remove these. Jesus Christ death (the ransom) eventually will take care of all this, and complete restoration to that Perfect Image will result. Even those whom are already dead will get a chance to live again. That’s what the Bible says! 

Our connection to all peoples no matter where they live, and our desire to know what is happening to others, our similarities are all evidence that we are all the same. The human race, all neighbors needing each other, and needing a Higher Source to relieve us from our problems and death. It is the Opposer to God, our imperfect image, and some humans that have become evil is what cause hatred and wars among us. So the command now to love our neighbor as ourselves, is the same as loving God, the two go hand in hand. It is the first step toward peace and restoration.  

How we treat other people is the same as treating God, because we were all created in His image.  And we come face to face with the reality each day that we need other people.(so we need God). Therefore there is this constant curiosity into the lives of other humans, even strangers. Whatever we wear, listen to, read, live in, eat etc. were all done by people. We affect each other in even small ways knowingly or unknowingly. Because people are all basically just people. 

In my next post I will write about how a simple experience I had made me see the importance of this.

 Written by: (C) Glenda Brill

It was on a Sunday afternoon, a couple weeks ago. I was working on some illustrations for a project at home, and needed to do a lot of copying on large size paper 11 x 14. My copy machine doesn’t fit that amount and size paper, so I decided to go down to the local Copy and Print shop where I usually go when I need this type of work done. It was getting late, about 7 pm, and I know this place closes at 8 pm.

They opened on Sundays which makes it convenient for us whom might need last minute copying done on the weekend. Since it was about a 20 to 25 minutes walk down the Avenue, I decided to leave right away so that I could get there in time before they close. It was a nice sunny warm afternoon, in summer the sun usually sets after 8 pm, so it was nice and light outside after 7 pm. 

I got there about 7.40 pm, and I knew the owner and his staff. So I greeted everyone and said I will be quick, as I knew they were closing in 15 minutes. I was the last customer in as I was doing my copying I didn’t see anyone else entering.  Finally I finished just in time, and the place was practically empty as people were exiting as the clock on the wall said 7.55 pm.

After paying at the cashier, and before I left I thought to myself I better use the restroom real quick as it is another 25 minutes walk home and I needed to go before walking that long distance home. So I rushed to the little restroom just on the side of the copy area. It was a one person restroom, one stall for both men and women. Very small, probably just for real emergencies, and for getting out real fast. 

I don’t believe I was in there for more than a minute, but when I got out I noticed the whole shop was dark, all the lights were out, it was totally quiet, and not a living soul was around. I was stunned, still hoping that somebody might be somewhere in the shop, I started shouting: “Hello, Hello is anybody here?” No answer.  

Then it dawned on me that the owner and staff had left exactly at 8 pm and that I was locked up there all alone. Now what do I do? I tried not to panic. I left the restroom door open so that the light from there could help me see my way around in the dark.  

All I could see really was several rows of copy machines, boxes of paper stacked on each other, and boxes of other office supplies, white-outs, paper clips, and shelves loaded with other computer software and necessities. 

The only thing I could think on at that moment was that I was hungry, I needed to get home to eat, finish my project and get some rest because I had an appointment the next day at 9 am.  And no way was I sleeping on a copy machine or stacked boxes of paper overnight until they opened the next morning. And where would I get food from?  

So from the light shining from the opened restroom door, I carefully walked my way to the front door. It was closed from outside with that heavy metal sliding extra protection door they used on the outside of businesses. But there was a small area at the bottom where the sliding door didn’t come all the way down, and I could see through the heavy glass door outside. 

So I got down on my hands and knees, and stooping down so that I could look through that small area at the bottom of the heavy glass door to see if somebody was outside that I could get their attention and let them know that I was locked inside. I thought that maybe the owner or some of his staff might still be outside. It wasn’t that long, that everybody could have disappeared so quickly.     

The only people I saw was some children playing outside on the sidewalk. It was still light outside, and warm, so no doubt they were allowed to play out that late. So on my hands and knees and with my head cocked to one side trying to see through the bottom of the heavy glass door, I started waving frantically trying to get the children’s attention, and shouting  please go and call your parents and let them know somebody is locked up in the shop and I need help getting out. Somebody’s parents would know the owner as this is a small community of families, I thought. 

But the children, just started staring and grinning at me. Before long they called their other friends, and I had a whole group of kids staring and laughing at me while I was frantically waving and shouting for help. They no doubt couldn’t understand what I was saying, and in their innocent minds didn’t realize what had happened.  

 All I got was stares and big grinning faces. What were these kids thinking? That I was giving some kind of puppet show, or playing a hide and seek  game? Probably to them, I looked funny. Like they were looking at a movie of a woman on her hands and knees, trapped in the dark, stooping with head cocked to the side, looking almost upside down, waving frantically while peeping at them through a small area at the bottom of a thick glass door.

Maybe if I was standing outside from where they were, the scene might seem funny, or perhaps I looked like Lucille Ball in the old movies. For me at the time  it was not, I was starving and really beginning to panic.  So I was just about to get up from stooping down and waving at these kids trying to get help, and decided to use the phone and call 911 for help. When suddenly an older man on a cell phone started walking down on the sidewalk. 

I again started wildly waving my hands, knocking on the bottom area of the door, and shouting to get his attention. One of the children stopped him and pointed to me, and then I tried to explain to him through the thick glass door what had happened. Even though he probably couldn’t understand what I was saying he knew I was locked in and he held his hand up as to say wait, I will call for help, and started dialing on his cell phone. He no doubt knew the owner or one of his staff. 

After he finished talking, he held his hand up again and put his mouth close to the door and I could read his lips saying that the owner would be here in twenty minutes. It seemed like an eternity waiting for the owner to come back and let me out. My stomach was growling from hunger.

I mean here I was locked up and waiting in a copy and office supply store and I could be stealing and packing my bag with all kinds of supplies I need, white-outs, paper clips, rubber bands, paper, computer CD’s, everything, and all I was thinking on was “Food”?

Finally the owner showed up also with a big grin on his face. Why does everybody think this is funny?  “I thought you left, and the place was empty when I closed. Where were you?”  he asked still grinning. “I was in the restroom for about half a minute and when I got out everybody was gone. Do you know what I could have done to your place if I was a different person, a criminal?” I asked him irritated.   

“I could have raided your entire shop, stole all your office, and computer supplies, check your cash register and emptied it out if there was any money left in there”. (Unlike larger establishments  that are protected by high tech security systems, these smaller family owned businesses dont have such).

“Next time you better check everything before closing up, knock on the restroom door to make sure nobody is in there”,  I told him still irritated at the whole ordeal and his grinning at me.

“Yeah, you’re right” he agreed. It might not be so funny next time. And I was finally let out and got home safe. Now when I think back on the whole experience, I am the one that is having a good laugh.  

I hope that Shop owner learned a lesson, and so do any of you whom have a small business. Always check everything before closing, never know whom might get locked inside, and it could be a disaster for your business unlike this case.    

And for myself, I learned that some experiences in life either bring out the best or the worst in us, it is always good to have a good conscience and follow it.  And the next time I have to use a company’s restroom I will not wait until the last minute to go. 

So we all learn something from unusual experiences in life. Some of them provide another reason to have a good laugh at ourselves. 

Written by: (C) Glenda Brill 

But we all have fantasies, imaginations or wishful thinking of other things we would like to do, places we want to travel to, or ideas that we may not be able to literally carry out now because of not having the finances, or circumstances.           

Most often this is one of the reasons some people suffer from depression or mental anguish. Unfulfilled desires, or wishful thinking leads to disappointments and mental confusion.  For instance some of us may be used to going on yearly big trips or vacations, and suffering anxiety by our wish or desire to be able to continue doing so.

A longing for a temporary changed environment, a nice place to go for a retreat is a boost to our well being and helps lift our spirits. We might now be unemployed, and having limited finances and feeling down and blue because we can’t afford to go anywhere.

If you still have a home or a place to live, try cheering yourself up by sampling your wishful thinking of being away in a different environment. Try changing some things around your home. Switch tables, chairs, lamps, and decorations around. Add some new cheery color to your walls if you can, and change your window treatments. Change the cushions on your chairs or sofa, or add new ones.  Change your bedroom color scheme, bed covering, pillow colors, and add new ones. 

Cushions or pillows are easy to make, just get some inexpensive fabric and stuff them with old socks, underwear’s or panty hoses, or cut up old clothes and make stuffing for cushions (that is what I use for stuffing, no need to buy any extra stuffing material if you can use old pieces of clothes or fabric at home). Buy some cheap scented candles and place them around. 

Go out for dinner in your own living room, or kitchen if that is where you eat. Prepare a special meal, decorate the table with a bright colored table cloth, put some flowers around and light some candles and have a candlelight dinner.

Put some also in your bathroom if you have the space to do so. If you are a married couple take turns serving each other breakfast in bed.  Okay, I can hear some of you saying this will remain wishful thinking and will only happen in the imagination. But right now you are trying to sample that wish and fulfill your imagined retreat of being away from home, so go ahead and try it.  Who knows this trial sample of a wish might lead to a better relationship if done on a regular basis.  

We could imagine being on an exotic vacation and fulfilling or sample that wish by just exploring a different part of the city or town where we live. We can learn a lot about the culture, food, and people of these exotic countries by reading and researching these places, and examining the foreign communities within our own towns or cities. 

There are so many people living in cities or towns that never take the time to visit or explore the places where they live. Most often there is a lot to see and learn that doesn’t require far travel at all.

 Especially here in New York, there are so many cultural groups of people, and nationalities from all over the world. Some have their own communities like little Italy, China town, Greek, Asian, East and West Indian communities, and so many others.  And just outside of New York, there is Pennsylvania Dutch, where people still live differently.

Sometimes I love just getting off at a different subway stop and discovering a new area of this  Big City. Exploring the cultural atmosphere, tasting the food, browsing the shops, admiring their art and the many different things people make in their own countries.  It is really like being in that part of the world even if not actually there in that country.

Or what about those of you whom are older and can still remember and might long to sample what it was like in the “Good Old Days” as they call them. Get some older friends together and keep an “Old Days Party”. Dress in the old-fashioned way, if you have a lawn, try cooking outdoors on stones. Find a old record player and play those older music hits, and dance to them.

Years ago a group of young friends and myself did this, we kept a “Older Day’s Party”. Everybody was dressed in long old-fashioned dresses, guys in suits and fake top hats, we played older music and danced to it, there were no cell phones around, we used candles for lighting, and we had a blast, so much laughter and fun.

So whatever your wishful thinking, or your imaginations are about this year, a big wedding, traveling to a exotic place, or back in time, being in different surroundings, buying a new house or car, or whatever, but don’t have the money, or the circumstances to do any of those things wished for, you don’t need to be depressed, and feeling sorry for yourself, you can find some inexpensive ways to sample those wishful thoughts, fulfill your imaginations right now by living in the preview of what you desire,  and still enjoy life inspite of whatever your circumstances dictate. 

( Read also: Finding Humor amidst Hard Times).

Written by Glenda Brill (C)

Most people refer to this as having a dream. In reality a dream occurs while we sleep and is often very fleeting and we can’t always remember what the dream was about. But the imagination is at work while awake and is like a movie in our minds which we can play often, and work toward achieving or realizing. It is like a preview of what we expect to come. Most often the imagined thing might be beyond our ability to do or achieve presently because of not having the money, time or circumstances. 

Some of us might imagine having a certain type of car, a fabulous home, or going on big vacations to exotic places each year. We form imaginative images in our minds of actually driving in the desired car, living in that fabulous house or being on that exotic vacation, actually living the life we desire in the imagination but not being in a position financially or having the circumstances presently to fulfill that desire. Inspite of not having all the circumstances and money to achieve all our desired imaginative goals we can find ways to bring them as close to reality as we possible can. Think about a couple whom have a dream wedding in mind. This time of the year is usually called the season for weddings. 

 Summer is the time a lot of weddings takes place, and weddings can be very expensive depending on the desires of the couple. Counting the cost of the wedding dress itself which is several thousands of dollars, the bridal party, the Reception Hall, hiring a Wedding Planner, Catered food, The Cake, hiring a DJ for music, all these expenses can run a couple into thousands of dollars plunging them into dept that will have to be repaid long after the wedding day is over. Not a very wise way to start married life. But in today’s economy most couples may not have the money to have such a big expensive wedding as desired. So they may have to find an alternative way to fulfill their imagination. And some are doing so very surprisingly and successfully. 

Just this past Saturday I went to one of my cousins weddings living here in Queens New York. He mentioned on the invitation that it would have a Hawaiian theme, and that everyone should wear semi formal colorful tropical clothing in keeping with the theme. So of course I went all dressed up in my colorful bright print outfit, full of curiosity as to how they would pull this Hawaiian thing off living in New York.  

Well was I in for a surprise! The wedding reception was in the backyard of his home which is very large, and from the very entry I was greeted in the Hawaiian fashion and a Hawaiian garland or lei of artificial flowers was put around my neck. On entering the reception area everyone was indeed dressed very colorful and semi formal all with their Hawaiian garland of flowers or the lei around their necks.

There were fake Hawaiian palm trees all around the lawn, artificial garland of flowers entwined around the fence. The main tables were decorated with the Hawaiian shredded straw skirts, and burning torches were placed around the lawn for light at night.  The Bride was dressed in a simple long white silk strapless dress, with a rose colored Hawaiian lei around her neck and a flower in her hair. My cousin the groom wore a colorful Hawaiian print shirt with his lei of flowers around his neck and a shredded straw skirt over his black pants.  

It was as if the whole back yard and atmosphere was transformed into a place on a Hawaiian island. I felt like I was in Hawaii, everything reflected that look and feel. The grass on the lawn under my feet, to the fake Hawaiian palm trees, the torches at night, the flowers entwined around the fence, the colorfull attire on everyone and the Hawaiian garlands of flowers chains around everyone’s neck. The food was all cooked and prepared by other family members, and was self served on paper plates, and plastic utensils.    

This was indeed a nice example of a couple whom fulfilled their imaginative wedding. They desired or imagined having their wedding and reception on a Hawaiian island, but couldn’t afford it. So they fulfilled that image or desire by creating a similar one right at home that cost them hardly anything. There weren’t any expensive wedding clothes for both the Bride and Groom, no expensive wedding party putting other people in debt by having to purchase special clothes for the wedding. Those artificial Hawaiian flower garlands were done by using simple colorful plastic paper and stringed together but look like the real flowers used on the Hawaiian Islands. 

None of the invitees had to purchase any special formal wear to go to this wedding, no extra money spent for food and entertainment, since all this was provided by other family members and friends. His mother made the wedding cake, which in itself can cost a couple hundreds of dollars if ordered through a professional wedding cake place. Other family members served as the DJ’s providing great music, which everyone was dancing to right on the grass. And there was enough food and drink for everybody to have second servings if they wanted to, which at most formal reception halls you don’t usually get that opportunity. 

There was also another example of an imaginative wedding I heard about on the news and saw the video on Youtube. The bridal party actually came dancing down the aisle right in the church itself. And the whole bridal party was dressed very inexpensively. The Bride had on a simple white gown, no elaborate wedding dress and veil, just two brides maids and ushers. They were dressed in simple spaghetti strapped dresses with a small flower bouquet in their hands and the ushers had on vest over their shirts, no expensive suits and bow ties. 

 No doubt this is all they could afford, and probably didn’t have another big reception after the wedding, so they provided the entertainment and wedding all together. Or maybe they had a simple reception after the church wedding, that didn’t cost much or involved much entertainment. But it showed that they probably had imagined having this type of non traditional wedding, and so they were fulfilling their imagination the best way they could according to their circumstances. 

These examples are just with regards to fulfilling imaginative weddings, but we all have other desires and images in our minds of other things we would like to have or do.  In my next post I will write more about some of the other ways we can fullfill these imaginations under whatever situation we find ourselves in.

Written by Glenda Brill (C)

 But when I grew up I didn’t pay attention to that anymore, I loved the beach and sea and spend many of my youthful years in the scorching sun and water. Believe me all this news about sunscreens with UVB and UVA protection I had no idea what they were when I was younger growing up in the hot sun, so you can imagine how much damage I was subjecting my bare skin to. Now I have learned and seen the damaging effects the sun can have on our skin. Those harmful UV sun rays are highest between 10am and 4 pm.

Most women in the hot climates use broad hats, parasols or umbrella’s to protect themselves from the hot sun during these hours of the day.  I remember my mother always wearing a gorgeous broad hat to protect her face from the hot sun.

We need a measure of sunlight for Vitamin D in the body which is so vital for our health and disease prevention.  Scientists now say that at least 30 minutes of sunlight is sufficient to get our daily dose of Vitamin D. Also sunlight affects our mood, a nice sunny day can lift our spirits and drive depression away. The best time to get this is early mornings or before noon as I learned from my father and most nutritionist also recommend. During the early part of the day the UV rays from the sun are lower and less damaging to the skin.

 It is good to let the sun hit your back, rather than your face. Sunlight shining on your back is absorbed into the spine and distributes vitamin D throughout the body which aids in bone formation. People whom lack complete sunlight which leads to a Vitamin D deficiency usually suffer from bone loss and other back, muscle and health problems.  But to much sun exposure is not good. But what kind of damage can the sun cause?

 To much UV rays can damage the eyes, the body’s immune system, and causes changes in skin texture and can lead to skin cancer. And it is not true that only caucasians need to worry about sun damage, the sun damages all skin types and colors. I have met one dark skinned African American woman whom was suffering from skin cancer, and read also of other black people in other parts of the tropics that have gotten skin cancer from the sun. Caucasian people or lighter skinned ethnic groups because of their lighter skin show the visible signs of skin damage quicker than those of darker skin. Ofcourse most of them spend time in the sun to get a tan which looks great, but in reality a tan is a sign of damaged skin, which later turns into wrinkles. 

Some of the effects of sun damage are: thickening and thinning of the skin resulting in wrinkles. Dilating of small superficial blood vessels on the skin. Yellow discolorations in lighter skin. Dark blotchy uneven skin discolorations or dry leathery look in dark skin. Pigment changes such as freckles, age or liver spots and white spots on legs and backs of hands and arms. Since the face is the first place to show age, the sun contributes to that old dry weathered look resulting in premature aging. It can also form small crusty bumps or moles and precancerous lesions especially on the face, neck and backs of hands. And the most feared of all is skin cancer, there are 3 different kinds but the most deadly of all is melanoma as this one metastasizes.

 So what is the best way to protect your skin against the sun? Since I am now grown up and know all this info that I didn’t know when I was younger and lived in the sun, I usually use an umbrella if I am going to be out in the sun for several hours. This is one of the ways most people in the tropics or hot climates protect themselves from the sun. But I noticed whenever I walk through the streets in New York with my umbrella,  some people look at me like I am crazy, and I hear remarks especially from children: “Hey, lady, it is not raining, why the umbrella?”. Once I overheard a little boy as I was passing them on the street asked his mother: “Why is she using an umbrella, it is not raining”. Then I looked at him and smilingly answered: “I know, it is my Rain Shade for the sun”. I usually use that expression so that the children can understand that an umbrella is not only for the rain, but also for the sun. 

In the USA the umbrella is only or mostly used for the rain, but I hardly ever see anyone walking in the hot sun using the umbrella here in New York. Maybe most people like those children don’t know that the umbrella was originally designed for protection against the scorching sun. It was called the Parasol. “Para” means “shield” and “sol” means “sun.” So the parasol was a canopy that protects against the precipitation from the hot sun.  The word “umbrella” on the other hand  evolved from the Latin “umbella”  “umbel” is a flat-topped rounded flower. And “umbra,” meaning “shaded.” Later the umbrella was referred to a device more suited to protect from rain. Often the difference is the material from which it was constructed.  

All during history going back to Europe, India, Egypt, and China the original use of the umbrella was for the protection from the sun. You would think that it is only in our modern age that scientists discovered the damaging effects of the UVB and UVA rays from the sun. But even back then they knew how to shield themselves from the skin damaging effects of the sun by using a shade over their heads. Even Kings and high officials had servants or maids holding umbrella’s over their heads when going out in the hot sun. It was only later closer to our century that the fabric of the parasol started to change so that it could be used also for protection from the rain. 

Today there are many types of sunscreen lotions for the protection of the skin. But according to some dermatologists, in order to get complete protection, you have to re-apply the lotion every two hours. Most people forget to do this, or may not be in a place where it will be possible to reapply the lotion that often. And remember again, it doesn’t matter what race or skin color you have, to much sun will damage your skin and contribute to premature aging, can cause skin cancer and damage the eyes and immune system.

Sure as mentioned above, a nice sunny day can make us feel happy and bring a smile to our face. But we want that face to be smooth, youthful, glowing, evenly toned and wrinkled free. Just the opposite of what too much sun will do. If it is not customary to use a parasol or umbrella in your side of the world, or you don’t feel comfortable using it for the sun, you can also use a big broad hat that will cover your face, and upper body part. Or use a sunscreen with a SPF protection of 45 or more. But remember to keep reapplying it every two hours or it will not keep protecting you from the sun. 

 After learning about the history of the umbrella how it was originally used only for protection from the sun, and in some countries it is still being used as such. I will continue to use it for my protection, even though some kids or people think I am an “Odd Ball” with an umbrella when it is not raining. Who knows, I might be starting a new trend in New York. So next time I am walking with my umbrella during the high UV peak in the sun and a little child yells out at me: “Hey lady it is not raining, why the umbrella?” I will just continue to smile and yell back:  “Yea, I know, it is my Rain Shade for the Sun”.

Written by (C) Glenda Brill 

 But it is not only young graduates that are having a hard time finding work. There are millions of other working people that have been laid off and some besides that have lost their homes or apartments. Thousands of homes have gone into foreclosure, which is a legal process that bars a person from redeeming their mortgaged home or estate. Literally the doors to entering their homes are barred shut as if with steel from them ever entering that house again. This is a terrible feeling to be put out of your own home, and besides that to not have a job. What are these people to do now? Some of the suggestions given in the previous post can also be used by older adults. It means doing whatever you can to make some money to get yourself off the streets, or out of a homeless shelter. Eventually to get a home again.

 I look around New York City and see some very creative ways some homeless jobless people are dealing with their situation. Like I wrote before in my first post (Finding humor amidst hard times) having a sense of humor can help anyone deal with any depressing and stressful situation. And this is exactly what some homeless people are doing to cope with their circumstances. Since a lot of them find shelter in the subways they use the trains as their working places. One homeless man rides one of the subway lines constantly and performs as a Comedian, even referring to the subway train as his new home and the passengers as his guests sitting in his living room (the train car). He tells jokes and keeps everybody on the trains cracking up. Then he walks around to each passenger with a Styrofoam cup or paper bag and collects money from his audience.

 Well, shouldn’t people pay him for his work? He gives them a comedy show, makes them laugh, they would have to pay a lot more to see a comedian on Broadway or in a theatre. Then after he finishes with one car, he pushes himself through the steel subway doors into the other car and gives his show all over again. He goes from one train car to the other pushing through the steel doors with his styrofoam cup collecting from each passenger after each performance.   

This is such a smart way to help oneself. He uses his talent as a comedian to perform and collects money in his homeless state, to get out of that situation. With the millions of people traveling each day, he can earn a lot of money to get himself back to living a normal life again. I see this being done by so many others when riding the subway trains in New York City. Some others play music on the trains but also on the platforms where people wait, and then collects their money from the passengers. Just last week a young man came on the train and called for everybody’s attention. Then told his story about losing his job and becoming homeless, even mentioning that he just had a newborn son in May and now they are living in a homeless shelter.

 He was trying to find a way to make a living so that he could get his own place again. Then he belted out in singing in the most beautiful voice ever. He had everybody’s attention, he could really sing. It was like being at a talent show as everybody was intently focused on this young man’s singing. After that he went around with his cup and to my surprise everybody put money in it, not only pennies but also dollar bills. We all enjoyed his singing and wanted to help him get back on his feet and get a real home to live in again especially with a new baby. 

So many use the subway trains and the waiting platforms to entertain and make some money to get out of their homeless state. That is smart. I don’t know if this is illegal or not. If it is then I am not encouraging anything that is against the law, but I see it all the time and think it is so brave and creative for people to find so many ways to help themselves in this recession. It is not begging, begging is asking for something without doing nothing. We should use decernment as to whether some people are just trying to scam us out of money. But I am talking here about those that are sincerely finding ways to work and help themselves. They are entertaining the passengers and asking for a donation which I think they rightfully deserve.  

They are working, even if using a different type of stage to perform, they deserve to be paid. And really, everybody enjoys entertainment, and if all you have to do is to contribute whatever amount you want, then by all means, put something in their cup to help them get a place to live again. It cost a lot more to go to a theatre or movie these days, than putting a few pennies or a dollar in a homeless man or woman Styrofoam cup for their performance. 

I see one homeless woman whom goes around the streets collecting empty cans and bottles from the garbage or off the streets, and putting them in a big garbage bag. She takes these to the supermarket where they have some type of machine that collects and crushes these and then pays her for each one. How much she gets depends on how many she collects a day. But still whatever it is, it is better than nothing, and she is performing a service by picking up tossed cans and bottles and getting some money for them. 

 But what I found to be a very interesting idea was one homeless man that used to sit on the sidewalk next to a Fast Food Restaurant not to far from where I live. But for the last couple of weeks, he had gotten up from sitting down on the sidewalk and was opening the door of the restaurant for each passenger as they enter. Even mothers with baby carriages he patiently opens the door and helps them get the baby carriage in.

He patiently keeps standing and waits until people exit, he opens the door again and holds out his Styrofoam cup to collect some money. Some people just ignore him and walk right pass him. But he doesn’t give up, and eventually some appreciates his service and put money in his cup. ”And why not?” I asked myself. Isn’t he doing the same thing that the highly paid uniformed doormen in the upper class neighborhood apartment buildings in Manhattan do?

He is performing a service for the customers, and he is asking for a tip or donation for his work. Can you imagine if he does this everyday and considering the hundreds of people entering this Fast Food Chain daily, he could make several hundred dollars a week. Eventually he could make enough money to get an apartment again and use this experience to get a real salaried doorman job if he choose to do that.

It is so interesting to observe how so many unfortunate people are using different ways to cope with this recession, to get out of their jobless and homeless state. It shows that many homeless people really want to work and are intelligent enough to find ways to make money to help themselves rather than resigning to begging and handouts.