More Awesome Facts About the Human Body- some new stuff- Did you know?

-Scientists say the higher your I.Q. The more you dream.
-The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.
-You use 200 muscles to take one step.
-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.
-Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.
-A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.
-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.
-The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.
-The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.
-It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.
-The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.
-Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.
-At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.
-There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.
-Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.
-The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.
-Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born
-When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.
-Your thumb is the same length of your nose.

Is it Summer Yet?

So- it's January, it's dull and grey, snow sits on the ground getting darker all the time. The sunlight, when it's out is crisp and clean and it reminds me of summer- except for the bitter cold. I would give just about anything to be lying on a hot, white-sand beach right about now. Sun beating down from 7am til past 9 in the evening. Warmth that goes right through you instead of cold that hangs on in your feet and fingers. Lying in the heat, skin turning bronze and sipping drinks for a bit of relief.

How To Assess A Life-

How does one assess their life? Were you successful? Does it matter how many people show up at your funeral or how many friends you have on Facebook? How many lives have you touched? Do you have a legacy that will carry on? - and does that matter so long as you've paid some positive things forward, so that others can do the same?

Well, as a gay man who does not now see himself having shildren of my own, I know that my family name will not carry on except through my brothers and their families. I do think that I would have made a good parent- likely one of those slightly over-protective but very caring parents. I have to say that if there's one thing that I do not understand in this day and age, is how people have kids who do not really seem to be interested in helping their kids become great people and positive citizens of the world. I know that sounds lofty, but today it is a relatively easy thing to do. Open the world up to them and let them know about the endless possibilities are for them.

Who Loves You?

It's a great question- and one that is rather important. Of course, many people throw that word around quite easily. They sign every note or letter, "Love ya, whomever" but of course there are varying degrees of love.

Who loves you - so much that they would drop everything they are doing to be with you? Who loves you enough to sacrifice for you? It doesn't always have to be a grand gesture, sometimes it's just a warm hug out of the blue. It's funny how much people need to touch. To give a hug to someone that needs one is to provide medicine to their soul. But there are people out there who do not get enough! I now understand why people have pets. Often, I think the pets are an outlet to love. I think there are people who have pets for their unconditional love. No matter how bad their day was or how bad they are feeling, they can walk in the door and be greeted by a wagging tail and a big furry hug if they need it.

I forget exactly how much the lack of touch affected the monkeys in that study done ages ago, but I know the effect was profound. It sounds funny, but I don't want to be one of those monkeys who is deprived of physical touch. I know lots of people who wouldn't miss a hand on their shoulder, or can be quite happy without that connection, but being a person who thrives on touch, being without feels a bit like living half a life.

I cannot get a dog. My lifestyle would not be fair to one, but there are times when I wish I could have one here to soften the blow of a long, hard and difficult day.

If I can make a suggestion, hug more today than usual. Think of whose day you might brighten up just by showingthem a little affection. Wrap yourself in a friend's arms and savour the moment. Sometimes they are few and far between.

Feeling Unawares . . .

Well, ever since the New Year I've been a little disoriented. My holidays were wonderful, probably the best in quite a few years. It was more relaxed and I had lots of opportunity to spend time with family, and just like old times we had a great time.

I'm not sure what it is, but I feel like I am that astronaut who was seperated from the spaceship mid-voyage and am now floating in space in no particular direction.

I have just figured out that I will have 5 days off between now and May- because of work. Work itself, I am tiring of. I used to absolutely love my job. I used to look forward to going in. Now there are so many aspects of the job I dislike or that make me unsure of myself, that I think I need a bit change and fast.

I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "You can't please everyone", but I have always tried very hard to do so. And, when I am unable to, it bothers me- really bothers me. The nature of this job is that not everyone will be happy and I am not confident enough right now to feel good about this.

Plus, a good friend of mine came to visit over the holidays and I thought we had an incredible, basic, but good visit. To my surprise, that was not the case. My friend, best friend I would say, came away upset with me- and was unable to tell me that for 4 or 5 days. To this day, I still do not understand what happened and it greatly upsets me. I was thinking our relationship was moving on to an even more mature relationship, but one of importance and now apparently that has changed. I still go to bed every night lately quite upset and unhappy.

I have always loved to have plans to look forward to- whether it be a trip, a new adventure of some kind and I feel I am at a stand still- a fork in the road and I'm not sure what road to take. Actually, I'm not even sure I want to follow a road.

I think I need some big change. What would make me truly happy? I need to stop thinking so much about what I can do for others to help them or make their lives happy and make myself a priority.

I am giving myself a deadline. Since I will have very limited opportunity to talk with my friend and for sure will not be able to see him for at least 6 weeks- likely longer, so I will have a chance to put some things down on paper. I really need to look at where I want to be in 5 years and what makes me genuinely happy. I am not a youngster. I know how I function best. I know what things upset me and what makes me content. I will try and make a plan and then take the steps to make those changes.

Stay tuned if you're at all interested in what develops. I know I'm interested in seeing how this ends. . . .

What is Your WISH this Christmas?

Every year parents ask their kids to give them a little help- by writing a Christmas list to Santa. When was the last time YOU put a wish-list together?

Lists like these are helpful any time of year and they always help you put your priorities in order. Of course, Christmas is a special time where hope seems to be in abundance. So, what are you wishing for???

What do you need?

What might be cool?

What will make you more HAPPY?

If you were dreaming really big- what is top of the list?

I wish for continued good health. I wish for enough money to get my dental visits in order. I wish for bi-weekly massages for my mental health. I wish my eyes were better- but will get them checked to see just how bad they are!!

I wish my whole family will be able to spend a leaisurely Christmas season together- just hanging out, going skating or tabogganing, eating great food, and enjoying one anothers' company. Each year passes faster and faster and time together seems few and far between.

I wish to get my finances in order to relieve stress and to start towards the process of improving my credit rating and eventually buying a small, quaint house of my own.

I wish for a couple more good friends. Everyone can use more. I would loveto find one or two more people who genuinely like me, want to spend time with me, will accept me including my flaws, my limits and my insecurities. I want someone to go to the movies with, someone to hang out on the beach with, someone to call me and ask how I am, how my day went and what I'm dreaming of.

I want a boyfriend too. Someone who is smart, witty, who likes to cuddle and be physical- not just in a sexual way, but in a genuine loving way. Someone to just hold hands with, someone to dance with, someone to lean my head on when we watch tv at home. I want someone to LOVE me- for me. I want a lot I guess.

I wish time would slow down just a bit- not time while I'm at work- but time when I'm away from work. Work is fine- don't get me wrong, but time away is real life. I want time to bake, time to draw more, time to creat a book of great photos, time to improve my singing voice again, time to travel, well- you get the idea. . .

I will add to this list over the next few days- but think- REALLY THINK about what you would wish for-

NEED- What Children Need . . . and it's not more "things"!

The following is taken from a Kellogg's commercial from 1998. The message here is easy to forget- Parents often don't want their kids to make mistakes, feel any pain, ever fail etc. BUT all of these things are necessary for them to grow up and be responsible, upstanding people who can handle adversity and real life!

We, the children NEED . . . .

encouragement - on the ball field, on the way to school, when we make a mistake . . .

to laugh - at funny things, at ourselves, but not so much at others

inspiration - so we aim high!

to be read to -

self-esteem - but like respect, we need to earn it- false self-esteem is useless

love and security- unconditionally

adventure - learning to manage potential risk is important-

disappointment- then we learn to appreciate good times even more!

friendship- in all its forms and from all generations

to make mistakes - let's just not dwell on them

to ask questions

to win - and be humble when we do- and also congratulate others when they do . . .

to lose/ fail

to be hugged (daily is preferable)

families, friends and even foes

heroes- BIG, BIG heroes, but also everyday heroes

nourishment- for our bodies and our souls!

Some Interesting Facts- On the Human Body

-Scientists say the higher your I.Q. The more you dream.
-The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.
-You use 200 muscles to take one step.
-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.
-Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.
-A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.
-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.
-The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.
-The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.
-It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.
-The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.
-Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.
-At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.
-There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.
-Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.
-The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.
-Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born
-When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.
-Your thumb is the same length of your nose.

Some SMART Philosophies and Rules To Live By- taken from Barbara Colorosso

6 Critical Life Messages:

1. I BELIEVE in You

2. I TRUST in You

3. I KNOW You can handle Life's Situations

4. You are Listened to

5. You are Cared for [Loved!]

6. You are Very Important to Me/Us

2 Basic Philosophical Points:

1. You are Worth It!

2. I will not treat a person in a way that I would not want to be treated.

3 Messages that Help Foster Self-Esteem

1. I LIKE myself

2. I can THINK for myself

3. There is No Problem so great, it can't be solved!

AND, one of the BEST things I have seen written on being ACCOUNTABLE for oneself!!! . . .

"I understand and realize that I am responsible for what I do and believe in and that I am capable of changing my situation IF I so decide"

Possible BIG new CHANGE in the US??

It sounds like there are some interesting things being proposed in the US. Check out the quote below-

104 of the U.S. military's retired generals and admirals have called for repeal of the nation's discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a document released Monday.

Says the document: "We – the undersigned -- respectfully call for the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Those of us endorsing this letter have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of our citizens to believe whatever they wish. Scholarly data shows there are approximately one million gay and lesbian veterans in the United States today as well as 65,000 gays and lesbians currently serving in our armed forces. They have served our nation honorably. We support the recent comments of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General John Shalikashvili, who has concluded that repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy would not harm and would indeed help our armed forces. As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, gender, religion, and sexuality. Such collaboration reflects the strength and the best traditions of our democracy."

What a thought- giving homosexuals the credit that they can play well with others. I am glad to see that there are some Americans who see this is an important issue. Maybe there is hope after all of eventually getting true equlality- it would be a great and long overdue change.