Julia K Cole

Thought You Might Enjoy This! One day,  Satan was having a sale of his wares. On display, and offered for sale, were the rapier of jealousy, the dagger of fear, and the strangling noose of hatred, each with its own high price. But standing alone on a purple pedestal was a worn and battered wedge. This was the devil's most prized possession, for with it alone he could stay in business. It was not for sale ... it was the wedge of discouragement. Why do you suppose the devil valued so highly, and actually would not sell, the worn and battered wedge of discouragement? Makes you think doesn't it? He prized discouragement because of its enfeebling, demoralizing effect. Hatred, fear or jealousy may lead an immature person to act unwisely, to fight, or to run. But at least they act. Discouragement on the other hand, hurts the person more than any of these. It causes the person to sit down, pity himself or herself and do nothing. Now this doesn't have to happen, but unfort...

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to extreme cold, and a geriatric expert is offering tips on keeping senior citizens safe.  They   produce less body heat, and hypothermia can develop even during sleep . A  good preventive step is  to make sure the elderly use extra blankets and to make sure that the temperature  where they reside is set appropriately .   Cool homes with temperatures from 60 to 65 degrees can trigger hypothermia in older people.  T he thermostat should be kept at a minimum of 70 degrees for the elderly. For the elderly, disabled, and those with special needs, the cold weather means it's harder to get to the pharmacy, shovel snow, or run to the grocery store. Joann Moore, the spokesperson for the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross, says now is the time to be a good neighbor, by getting out and knocking on the doors of your elderly neighbors to make sure they’re coping well.“First of all, I would recommend t...

Dress Warmly and Stay Dry Dress in layers.   Wear a hat. Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton.   Stay dry —wet clothing chills the body rapidly.   Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.   Avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. These materials in contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body.   Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.   Infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room because infants lose body heat more easily than adults. Hypothermia When exposed to cold tempera...

Some of the coldest weather in years will move over much of the eastern half of the nation into the first part of the week. Please take these steps to protect your community cats. * Cold weather can increase a cat's energy and nutritional needs. Don't forget extra water to prevent dehydration. Check it often and place in an area protected from the wind to minimize freezing. * Wet food in insulated containers is ideal for cold-weather feeding-because it takes less energy to digest, that's more energy for keeping warm. Cats need more food for energy in the winter. * Use two storage bins (like Rubbermaid). Line the bins with Styrofoam and cut out a doorway to create an instant shelter. Visit http://alleycatadvocates.org/resources/creating-winter-shelters/ for other ideas. * In a Pinch, a cardboard shelter is better than no shelter. To keep it from getting wet, elevate off the ground, line with newspapers and cover the lid with plastic (a garbage bag will...

Starting next week, I will go down the list and discuss each one of these in detail.    This little exercise was inspired by one of my favorite Radio Personalities...Delilah! Feel free to share this with everyone in your life!   Here's to a Healthier and more Peaceful year!

"...to their credit, they were children—children who were no doubt told by their parents not to so much as look in the direction of the beach. They were children who had no choice but to keep themselves busy while waiting for their parents to take them by the hand and lead them to their next adventure. They did the best they could with what they had without being tempted by what was around them. They were children. But what is my excuse? On more than one occasion I have found myself entirely wrapped up, fighting and frustrated, stomping around barefoot trying to stake my claim on a tiny, insignificant pile of sand—the sand of relationships, the sand of social status or money, the sand of a career… whatever. I have been deeply consumed in games of King of the Mini Mound that leave me oblivious to the beautiful beaches around me. Beaches with unlimited sand, possibility, and happiness. We’ve all been there. Investing our energy in small things while the big ones lay untouched...

I’m so happy and grateful now that … each day is filled with inspiration, joy and new opportunities. I’ve met and exceeded my 2014 goals with calmness, purpose and commitment. Be sure to visit the Proctor and Gallagher Institute at www.proctorgallagherinstitute.com