Forgive me for being so lax, but it is very hard to write from Kenya , especially when not in the city. So slow or no electricity or no credit or busy or lazy or bummed………………..

Had a rough trip, was pickpocketed and lost everything, passport, credit cards, phone, drivers liscense money etc. What a hassle getting it straightened out. Try getting money with no ID.  The Kenyan police were a pain and American Embassy as bad on the day I got robbed. They were “closed” I had to demand service and then got very little!!

I just loved this and had to pass it on. I do not know the author, if anyone does please let me know so I can thank them and give them credit.

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:
1. He called everyone brother
2. He liked Gospel
3. He didn’t get a fair trial

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Father’s business
2. He lived at home until he was 33
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God

It seems like there have been more then the usual weather related disasters lately. Storms, earthquakes, floods and volcanic ash fallout can all be scary. These events can result in anxiety and even PTSD symptoms for those involved firsthand.  Here is a reminder about PTSD and how to recognize it.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder. It is a longer then usual stress reaction to a traumatic experience such as:
• Any life-threatening event (or event perceived as life threatening)
• Combat
• Natural disasters
• Accidents
• Assault
• Rape
Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individuals may have PTSD if the following symptoms are seen.

I was reading about a suicide of a college student recently and when I read his friends description of his behavior it was clear that he had a major depression. I wondered if his friends did not recognize his depression or simply did not know what to do.

Some of the advice for helping a depressed friend goes something like:

• Listen
• Suggest professional help, facilitate an appointment and offer to go with the person.
• Have the person call a suicide hotline  or helpline

Although this is good advice, often with severely depressed persons these interventions are not enough.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Here are some ideas to help us go green and save money too!

1. Recycle gray water, water gardens plants, flush toilets etc.

2. Use scraps for fertilizer (not meat or dairy) Banana peels are great. Just throw them under your bushes.

3. Save scraps of soap to put in a mesh bag, makes a great skin scrubber.

4. Buy a filter for your tap water, bottled water is expensive and so much plastic.  If you need to you can use chlorine to purify water. (8-16 gtts per gallon)

Valentines Day is one of the worst days of the year if you are wanting a relationship but are without one.

Bah Humbug you think, but thats not what you feel. So what can you do to feel better?

Here are 10 Ideas to Help you get Through the Day.

Stay up the night before and work then you can sleep the following day away.

Go to a movie about bad relationships. (How about fatal attraction).

Spend time with a couple who is always bickering. Go sit in divorce court for the day.

What you say, no one recycles in Kenya, there is garbage in many streets and especially rural villages.

Well yes that is true there is no unified effort to recycle by government, and plastic bags and bottles are everywhere. Well this made me very discouraged until I saw with different eyes.

Nothing is wasted in Kenya, if it can be used again it is. Today I saw empty detergent bottles used as flotation devices by some kids, wow. Empty containers are also used as water carriers, scoops, baskets, and any number of useful items.

Auld Lang Syne was partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’ death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ literally means ‘old long ago,’ or simply, ‘the good old days.’

Here are the lyrics: however, many people seem to remember only the first verse.

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

It’s that time of the year where some of us (fewer I hope) make those New Year Resolutions that we often break leaving us feeling like failures.  Why is that??  I wonder if it is because we often try to make ourselves into something or someone we are not.

I love this quote from Steve Jobs of Apple.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. ”

In thinking about this I realized that as I have gotten older I am more and more sure of and ok with, who I really am.
But knowing who you really are takes thought and time.

Happy Holidays

I was being silly here mostly because I was with a friend who has 5 year old twins.  Kids can always put me in the holiday spirit and make the world seem better.  If you are not feeling so jolly its ok,  you are not alone!

Here are two references that  might help you

The first is a professional article that offers scientific evidence for alternative and complementary treatments for depression.

Below you will find my answer to a question about holiday blues.

Hope you find something helpful here.