Out for Lunch...

Eight of the coffee group went out for lunch today to a restaurant that we had never experienced . It was a great light lunch experience and the ambience was super. It was at a bakery /lunch shop on 124 Street. When one walks into the shop the luscious smells from the items having been baked in the shop earlier this morning waft through the store. Aurora immediately described the baking as gourmet, and rightfully so.. Every item was prepared in the shop. They can only handle 16-18 people for lunch at wee tables at one time. It would be a great place to go for tea and a pastry. We all enjoyed a beautiful croissant with wonderful fillings and warmed if requested. After the main part of our lunch it was then time to choose our pastry delight. Many of us chose banana cream pie and one them chose a delicious looking filled pastry and iced with marzipan. Another popular pick was the mini lemon meringue cake. Some of us shared each others choices and that was conveniently handled by the shop staff. The pastries were eloquent. The space was sparkling clean and you actually ate on china plates and regular utensils. We had a fantastic time socializing, also many laughs plus  many new memories were made by all.

What is your self appraisal?

Life is irreversible and replacing it is not an option. Manage your time in an efficient and productive way so that you can make the most out of it. Management of our time is something many of us have to work at, in order to be in control of our own life. "Practice getting to know yourself. "What are your ambitions and motives, approaches and modes of expression? Each of us has the opportunity to make choices. Make your own choices according to what your needs require and what will work for you. Value yourself!
We are all given an important and unique gift to use our very own ability to make choices. It is each person's privilege , through adventure to discover their own light. Live your life to it's entirety!

Do you take enough breaks?

"Hippo" and "Unshelved" were talking about a person taking time off for themselves even if they are volunteering. Hippo was saying that many of us have strong, solid work ethics and do not take breaks. Break time is necessary regularly and frequently. When we work too much, one becomes less effective. Vacations are needed and holiday time helps change our stuck patterned thinking. They allow some space for our energy to flow. Time away gives us opportunities for reflection, so then we can look at our life from the outside in... Our sensitivity and enlightenment  and comprehension increases with detachment. "Unshelved" said that his focus and concentration improved during a break Our ingenuity also becomes less of a chore and more resourceful and then we are able to become stronger. That  creates a balance between doing and being. Health can be in danger also when your life becomes 'all work and no play.' If we don't take time out then 'Stress" will enter the picture. The best time to take time off is when you are too busy to do it.

A cup of "Green tea"

"Hippo" and "Aurora" thought that it would be a good idea to have a green tea party at the home of "Hippo." So invitations were sent out to the rest of the group and the idea was  received very well.Aurora suggested that we also go a little green with our plans. On the invitation said that nobody was to drive a vehicle that required fuel to the party. They were also asked to each bring one tip on how they have gone  green. We will serve freshly homemade items at the tea (no processed foods) and then we discussed the advantages of green tea. Here are some suggestions : It is made of unfermented leaves and lowers amount of plaque (protein) This protein has been linked to memory loss and nerve damage in the brain.
1. Super fat fighter
2. keeps energy stable
3. may halt colorectal cancer
4. tastes good
5. Many Antioxidants
6 Does not stimulate you
Everyone enjoyed themselves and learned something new at the tea.. even "Seahorse"

The forgotten grain-"Barley" a member of the grass family

It's all about barley. Most people will eat a little tiny bit of barley if there is beef barley soup available. Barley when eaten releases glucose into your system. This will produce a chemical named "acetylcholine" That chemical assists the brain cells communicate with each other effectively.
In a canadian study people over 60-82 years of age improved their memory quite dramatically by eating barley regularly. One half of the barley production is used in preparation of animal feed. Another large portion is used for beer and whiskey creation. When buying barley make sure kernels are pearled or polished. This removes the inedible part of the grain. Pearl barley is when kernels are polished and pot barley has bigger kernels. Pearl barley is good for salads and puddings. Pearl barley cooks a little more quickly than pot barley. If you have an allergy to wheat try barley. They sell barley flakes at the store. Add fruit including dates. Try baking with barley flour ,of course with an adjusted recipe for that type of flour. It's worth a try....

Are you happy?

The pursuit of happiness began in China, India and Greece 2500 years ago. Happiness can be a very fuzzy concept and can mean several things to a lot of people. There are various factors that can be correlated with happiness. We are happiest when we have some or one of these items
  1. Pleasure-good tasty food dishes
  2. How much engagement are you putting into it
  3. Social ties
  4. Meaning
  5. Accomplishments
Happiness forms a theme in many religions . The average richer nations tend to be happier than poorer nations. Economic freedom correlates strongly with happiness.
"Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence" by Aristotle

Out for the evening

What a wonderful time my friend and I had this evening. We  attended an Art show"opening" of Contemporary Art. There was a variety of pictures and some sculptures and it was very well attended.
It was held at the Bay Enterprise Building on Jasper Ave. It was top quality and ambience was excellent.
The show will continue until October 16 th. I cannot wait until tomorrow to share my experiences with my buddies at the cafe.

Stressful times...

I have some friends that are somewhat stressed. Their emotions are overactive thus producing urgency and hyperactivity. On the other hand stress can lead to loss of energy and can lead to anxiety disorders. Initially you can damage yourself physically. This the time to take a good look at what are your priorities and also which ones can be put on the back burner or dispensed with- An attitude adjustment is necessary, and looking after your health is important but you must force yourself to slow down. Cutback some of your activities and commitments. Give yourself time to rest, reflect and heal. Adopt healthier eating habits, exercising and sleeping habits. Simply share your feelings with another person can relieve some of the burden. Stress can produce feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.... slow down... Each day,take time to disconnect... set boundaries. Follow several of these tips and you will get happy again.

Choices...

We have more choice in how we live our lives. One can choose a new experience for themselves. We can choose to pay attention,laugh, do something different, rest, play, love. Re-examine your present situation and choose one of the above. Take charge and choose to enrich your experience. Choosing a new line of thought or activity will enable you to reflect upon your choice.If you decide not to decide,you still have made a choice.(Neil Peart)

Hippo and friends are blooming

We have been practicing letting our minds blossom. Rediscover your minds curiosity by asking questions. Whether you are looking at a sunrise or a rainbow or listening to friends debate and keep track of questions that may arrive. How are all of these gorgeous colours ending up in a Rainbow in the sky, or what are your friends talking about.. There is now so much information available at your fingertips that there is no reason not to understand the phenomena or debate. When you come across a word or question that you do not know -look it up. If you want to increase your vocabulary you could begin learning new words. The library is an awesome resource for  new knowledge  as "Unshelved" will attest to,being a retired librarian.

It's not about you-It's about them...

Hippo has done a lot of thinking today and also had a chat with "Seahorse" who is quite sharp. People who choose to initiate negative  actions reflect their inner state of mind and express it externally.If you are just in front of them at that time, their hope is to take you done with them.
Hippo has decided to make a list of options on how to deal with these situations.
1. forgive
2. Wait it out
3. Don't respond-how bad is that?
4. Does it really matter-what do I gain either way?
5. Stop talking about it
6. Go for a walk or run
7. Pour honey on it
8. Let go

Hippo meets a Manipulator

Through calculating, deceitful and devious methods, the manipulator influences and controls others. Pretending to pursue for the good, they adopt a camoflage that inspires admiration and respect.

Manipulators :

How do they manipulate
How do they think
Pretentiousness and disguise makes them dangerous

Join in tomorrow and see how and if "Hippo" can handle this situation.

Are you working on your creativity?

With creativity comes the following:

• Seeing things in a different light
• Seeing different things
• Breaking the rules
• More thinking and linking
• Awareness increases
• Understanding how you think
• Trying something on for size
• Playing "what ifs"

Do you feel that you are more creative?

Memory is a manifestation of our imagination.

We get stuck in a very fixed pattern of thinking. Connections are fewer and fewer that are formed while we are thinking. We are so accustomed to being ruled by habits . We also form associations and similar responses as we think. One must stimulate their thinking with new challenges, so that they can create new pathways in their brains. Did you know that cognition is more important than knowledge,as knowledge is limited. Imagination or cognition encircles the world. You should explore the world of creative thinking and the process.

"Just as our eyes need some light to see, our minds need ideas in order to conceive."
 by Robert Wieder
Let's spice up our acquired behavioural patterns by learning new things  or ways of doing a particular action. Learn a new language, take a different route home, or maybe take up juggling. Taking actions like these will assist your brain to form new neural pathways.

Mental stimulation discussion

Today was the first day since the week end that we met for coffee. We all have classes or activities going on and we have found even in busy times, it's important to meet at least for a visit and some socialization. This morning we began talking about ways to keep ourselves mentally fit and decrease the cognitive decline which occurs from Age 29-and up..."Seahorse" mentioned that talking to people and learning some different points of view made a tremendous difference in his way of thinking. "Unshelved" added that he belongs to a book club that meets monthly and it is a place where he feels comfortable, discussing the book of the month with his book club friends. "Aurora" says she loves to go the theatre-both movies or live theatre. "Rainbow" and "Alveus both said that they enjoy taking classes and spacing the education a little such starting off very lightly and then working into it. One of our dear friends mentioned learning important information by using a familiar tune to recall about the information that they wanted to remember. Someone in the group said that they get lazy when they meet a person and hear their their name. Hippo interjected and said that "if you really wish to remember the name you will be able to remember by tricks that you develop, such as repeating the name, perhaps elaborating a little". If any of you out there have a different way to remember names, let us know in the comment box at the end of the blog.

Always wishing for more...

People attempt to live their lives rather backwards. Some folks try to make lots of money in order to do more of what they think they want so that they will  be happier. They also want many more material things, thinking it will make them happier. When I meet people like that I can see how they are living their lives, sadly in reverse. You must be yourself first of all, then do what you love to do , not what you think others like for you. Then you will have what you wish for -try making a list of six things that you  appreciated today. Perhaps you could do that every  end of  your day. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything but they make the best of what they have...
"Who does not thank for little, will not thank for a lot" ..Estonian proverb

Reduction of .........

Fooled you...I am talking about stress reduction.. not what some of you are thinking.
When you begin to reduce your stress, it will increase your focus, and bring you some stability. You are then able to develop a deeper degree of learning, which will have some order and action and release.. The scatter in your life will be reduced. you will find that your thoughts and ideas will be organized. It will coordinate your outer events and your inner thoughts. It's a process of your experiences in a much more appropriate and natural way.
As you are reducing your stress level, healing will begin to appear such as reconstruction of past events, soothes troubled memories and perhaps heal relationships. It will help you feel better about your self and will help heal the past. The healing process will help to empower and balance you. It will reveal your greater potential. Hippo also says that "you will be surprised to see yourself as a larger, whole and connected person."
Hippo's  advice  "Know yourself "

Let's get Physical...

Climb some stairs, or walk your stress off, if you are in a stressful situation. If it is convenient, go on a treadmill..(it works for the lab animals).
The above methods of reducing stress are tried and true, and Hippo certainly agrees that they will produce positive effects. Another hint from Hippo is to slow down and just stop the every day for a short time. Exercise cautiously if you have health issues or you could take a nap. You might want to book a massage
and or listen to some soothing music.
Think of some  of  these quotes: "There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." by William Shakespeare.
"There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease to worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will." by Epictetus.
"For fast acting relief try slowing down." by Lily Tomlin
" Give your stress wings and let it fly away." by Terri Guillemets
Hippo wants to remind you , not  to under estimate the power of your thoughts. It can relieve your stress levels drastically.

It's not always a perfect world...

Hippo works very hard controlling her stress so that she is able to help others when their stress levels become a burden. It is not uncommon to have a difficult time dealing with the stress in your life.
Your heart pounds, and the muscles tighten and chest heaves quickly. so the key to managing your stress is to allow, only a healthy amount of stress in your life. Not everyone responds to stress in the same way so if you try a method to relieve your stress and it does not help you,then try another solution. It's good to look at all ways and choose one method that will work for you. These methods below are some of Hippo's ways that she relieves her own stress.
1. Gain control over your breathing.
2. Remove yourself away from noise.
3. Laugh
4. Cry
5. Use your imagination and visualize yourself in a tranquil situation.

Sometime problems may present new opportunities. during a stressful time one should push away any negative thoughts. Maybe, stop trying to find an answer when there isn't any right answer. Control yourself and forget about controlling others. Don't over generalize and above all just be yourself.

Making Space for New Memories...

Salt Spring Market

Hippo gets very frustrated when she forgets her umbrella or tote bag somewhere during her travels. "Forgetting", scientists say that by forgetting it makes space for new memories. It is necessary for the brain to forget in order to make space for the new memories. The scientists have experimented on the memories of fruit flies.
That 's what we discussed at coffee today as Alveus had forgotten his camera at a pet shop but fortunately got the camera back. After our visit at the cafe, many of my friends and I went off to the market to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables for the next week. There were many people at the market shopping,with big smiles on their faces. just enjoying the surroundings and carrying several bags of goodies. I think that the vendors are wonderful, and extremely interesting people. Most of them actually grow what they are selling or are crafters who are selling their crafts. I find most of them very genuine people. After completion of our purchasing, we met for a very short visit, and then each of us went our separate way.

Hippo Memories...

Cool...ocean

Hippo and Friends...

Hippo and some of her friends just couldn't resist the temptation of the lawn sprinkler at  the home belonging to "Seahorse". He had invited us over to his back yard for the afternoon. He told us to bring a towel and maybe a camera. Most of us met there shortly after lunch and had a wonderful afternoon gingerly walking  through the sprinkler. (just like the early days) and keeping cool on this warm afternoon. His yard was shaded and that also helped to make our day so pleasant. We all told stories of our youth on a warm summer day and the activities that were happening to ease the heat.. "Unshelved" was so pleased that he decided to spring for pizzas of our choice for all of us for dinner. "Rainbow" went quickly to the store and bought a salad in a bag. "Seahorse" thought that it was  wonderful to have friends over to eat at his house,  instead of eating alone. So a great time was had by all. Thank you "Seahorse"

Mood Foods

Both research and experience are proving that there is a connection between how we eat and how we think and act. The neurotransmitters, the messengers which relay thoughts and actions along the many neural pathways of the brain and it appears logically that food would affect our moods. Each and every one of reacts differently. Carbs calm, foods of low glycemic index such as vegetables, unrefined grains, and fruit are also calming. Milk and yogurt are also calming. Encourage grazing for snacks. Perk up your proteins as they provide the amino acids from which the neural transmitters are made. It all depends on ratio of protein to carbohydrate and ratio of amino acids to tryptophan-seafood will likely jump start the brain. It's all comes down to moderation and  the right balance. Breakfast does set the pattern for eating throughout the rest of the day.
Care and Beware !

Negative thoughts....

Negative thinking is an unhealthy way of thinking. Those kind of people are very quick to come up with excuses of why something won't work or that it will fail. When you have negative thinking your subconscious mind will create a negative life for you, thus you will continue to fail. Sometimes a negative thinker thinks that they're being realistic, but not so... they are accustomed to seeing things in a negative light.... In order to change your thinking and put an end to this process. firstly: keep track of your thoughts throughout the day. Make a notes of what you are thinking. Are your thoughts negative and if they are what do you benefit from thinking this way? If there are no benefits then change your ways. Replace them with some positive thoughts. The mind plays tricks on you so be ready for your subconscious mind may attempt to change your positive thoughts, without being aware to negative thinking,which you have worked so hard to switch to the positive side. Just be persistent and your positive thinking could have a phenomenal impact on your life and also become more of a habit.
Eliminate your negative thinking so that positive thoughts will allow you to succeed.

Picnic in September...

Most of my friends wanted to go on a picnic today, in order to take advantage of the nice weather. So the final decision was made immediately, as soon as we each awakened at our respective homes, the telephones were ringing and plans were made for our adventure to a rustic park that is a good hike from the cafe. The meeting place was the cafe for a coffee, and then on to our planned destination. Some of the men had to stop by "Subway" and pick up a sandwich of sorts, all very healthy, I noticed at the park Most of the ladies had prepared something  at home for the picnic and for everyone to share. We all took water and or juice to drink. We arrived at the park after a wonderful hike and lots of laughter and talk along the way. We were able to locate two picnic tables and began to set it up.  Seahorse had brought a tablecloth along, much to our surprise. We, women forgot one so it was a well desired item. The food was shared and devoured by all. We had a fruit bowl in a papaya shell and nuts and all kinds of sandwiches, plus juices and water and chocolate cookies for dessert, dark chocolate, I might add,  a moderate size square will never hurt a girl or a guy. No wasps or bees. We attempted to get a kite in the air but not sufficient wind.On our way home we stopped at a lemonade stand and of course had a lemonade.. The pleasant and polite children were pleased that they had customers and the funds going to the Humane Society.

The Mysterious Seahorse

Since we have a friend, named after the "Seahorse" I thought you would like to know a some history about  this creature. Seahorses are mysterious, secretive and legendary. They are also relatively calm and mild mannered. It looks like a creature that could only exist in someone's imagination and they are known to influence art, poetry, and writing in some cultures. They can be masters of camouflage. Their instruments of deception have several strategies. Their blotchy skin
patterns coupled with the ability to change colour help them blend into their surroundings. Many times the seahorse is invisible to divers. They are more diurnal than nocturnal.Total number of species have been established at about thirty two. They all belong to the genus "Hippocampus"This comes from the Greek words   "Hippos"meaning "horse" and "Campus" meaning "sea monster," In Greek Mythology, "Hippocampus" refers to a mythical creature on which the sea gods rode.

Talk to you tomorrow.. Don't forget to graze....

Moods and Emotions

Hippo is wondering, if you are aware that colour or light can imprint a message into your brain, enough to influence your mood or emotion? Each colour has a different effect on us. Did you ever notice that some restaurants have red and yellow in their logos. These colours combined produce a "hunger craving."
Colour is a powerful communication tool. Many horror movies often have red and black in their composition.  Also different colours can do wonderful things for our moods or not much at all. Colour therapy can be holistic and non-invasive dating back to 2000 years plus in India, Egypt, and China. Colour is simply light wavelengths and frequencies of varying lengths. If colour therapy is  used the correct way then a particular colour  will have a healing effect. Listed below -a few colours and the effects on the body...... this is where the words "effect" and "affect" can get quite confusing.

Orange -increases your energy level and soothing for the lungs
Blue-soothes and calms
Indigo-alleviates skin problems
red-strengthens the mind
yellow-stimulates the nerves

Sir Issac Newton knew all about it..                 Bye for now