Monthly Archives: May 2023

Thought of the day

Respect, dignity and the Elderly.

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Respecting and appreciating others for who they are and what they mean to us is a valuable lesson for everyone. Many people struggle with feeling invisible or insignificant, which can damage their self-confidence and mental well-being. This is especially true for the young and the old, who often face more challenges and discrimination in life. Whether it’s because of legal restrictions, health issues, or generational gaps, they may feel powerless or unwanted by society.

We are all important and worthy of recognition in this world. We all deserve to be loved, to love, and to live with dignity. Sadly, this world is full of division, injustice, and very unequal distribution of power and wealth. Those who have plenty seem to be blind to the suffering of those who have nothing, fear and greed keep it that way, sadly.

Recently, the government has taken some steps to provide financial assistance to children and reduce child poverty, which is a positive sign of their commitment to improving children’s well-being. However, the elderly population seems to be under constant attack by some in Congress due to their views on Entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

How come the spending cuts always target the programs that are meant to help the most vulnerable and needy members of our society and those who cannot fend for themselves? The older generation is the one that contributed their taxes throughout their careers, elected most of those in office, created the technology we use today, and shaped this great nation we live in. They deserve more respect than they are getting from those in power.

I urge the young to remember that you will one day grow old and need or want some of the benefits that some in Congress want to reduce or eliminate. The elderly are your parents and grandparents too. Not everyone has the same chance to prepare for retirement due to low income and factors beyond their control. The elderly deserve to be honored, appreciated, and respected not only for the work they have done but for the wisdom and knowledge they have to offer to others.

Respecting and caring for the elderly is a common theme in almost every religion, and different religions have their own views on how to do so. Some of these views are as follows:

Christians believe that God commands them to honor their parents and to care for the elderly with gratitude and love. They follow the example of Jesus, who was compassionate to the elderly and gave his mother to his disciple John before he died on the cross.

Muslims respect and honor the elderly for their contributions and sacrifices to society. They have a duty to care for their parents and to show mercy and compassion to the elderly. They look up to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who established Islam at an old age and honored his elderly companions.

Hindus revere the elderly as venerable and worthy of respect. They think that caring for the elderly is a sacred duty and a way of repaying the debt to their ancestors. They also think that the elderly have spiritual knowledge and experience that can guide the younger generations. They follow a four-stage model of life, in which the last stage is renunciation, where one detaches from worldly affairs and devotes oneself to God.

Buddhists value the elderly as teachers and role models of the Buddhist path. They think that caring for the elderly is a way of practicing compassion and generosity, two of the main virtues in Buddhism. They also think that the elderly have insight and wisdom through their life experiences and can help others overcome suffering. They follow a five-precept code of ethics, which includes respecting life, property, speech, sexuality, and mind.

Jews honor the elderly as bearers of tradition and heritage. They think that caring for the elderly is a mitzvah (commandment) and a form of honoring God. They also think that the elderly have a special connection with God and can offer blessings and prayers for others. They follow the Torah (law) as their guide for life, which includes many rules and rituals regarding respect for parents, elders, and teachers.

These are some of the teachings and views of the major religions of the world on caring for the elderly. They show that the elderly have a special status and a right to be treated with respect, dignity, and kindness. They also show that caring for the elderly is a way of expressing one’s faith, values, and gratitude. By learning from these teachings and views, we can appreciate the diversity and richness of the world’s religions and cultures, and we can also improve our own attitudes and behaviors toward the elderly.

Ray Barbier

Health, Thought of the day

Mental Health Problems: A Growing Concern for School-Age Kids

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Mental health and high school-aged children have been a hot topic in the news lately. Some say that mental health issues have risen in recent years, while others think that we are just more aware and attentive to our children’s emotional and mental well-being. Either way, the study reveals that girls are twice as likely as boys to struggle with emotional and mental issues in high school.

When I think back to my teenage years, I remember that girls faced more body shaming than boys, and they had to deal with it from both genders, while boys mostly got it from other boys. This could be one of the reasons why female students have higher rates of emotional and mental health issues.

I also remember that bullying, body shaming, and social exclusion started as early as elementary school. So mental health issues could begin in elementary or middle school. School years can be very hard for some people to get through. If you don’t fit in with a certain look, clothes, personality, or economic status, you can be either rejected or ignored by your peers.

Teenagers face more emotional and mental challenges than ever before, partly because of the social media platforms that enable their peers to bully them in new ways. Some children lack empathy and think bullying is cool or fun, and they inflict a lot of harm on the mental health of the rest of the school-age population. Bullying seems to be a problem that has existed for as long as humans walked this earth. And it is something we need to address, especially in our kids.

Instead of judging a bully harshly, we should try to understand the root causes of their behavior. They might be struggling with mental health problems or a difficult family situation. We should intervene early and offer support to the children who bully others and their families. This way, we can prevent a lot of the harm that bullying causes to everyone involved.

Schools and communities should provide free mental health services. Parents and teachers should be trained to deal with mental health issues and bullying. We should end the stigma around mental health and raise awareness about its significance. This could help prevent future tragedies such as mass shootings and violent crimes caused by mental health problems.

Nothing matters more than our children and their future. We have a duty to do everything in our power to ensure they thrive physically and mentally. They are the future leaders and innovators of the world and we must equip them with the skills and help they need to succeed. We owe them nothing less than a healthy and happy life.

In conclusion, our children are our most valuable asset and we have a moral obligation to ensure their well-being. We cannot afford to ignore the physical and mental health challenges they face in this complex and uncertain world. We must take action and demand better policies and resources from our government to support them. We must also provide them with the love and care they need at home and in the community. Our children are the future and they deserve nothing less than our best efforts. Let’s make it happen.

Ray Barbier

creative commons, Paranormal, Personal, Technology, Thought of the day

Alone or Not? The Cosmic Mystery of UAPs and Alien Wonders

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I have often wondered if we are alone in the universe or if there is life somewhere else. Space is so huge and varied, with many stars and planets that could support life in the right conditions. Maybe there is a civilization out there that is much older and more advanced than ours, or maybe only simple microbes and cells exist beyond our solar system.

My opinion is that we are not the only intelligent beings in the universe. There could be both more and less advanced races than us, depending on how long they have existed. I think the universe would be too empty if only one sentient species were inhabiting it. It makes more sense to have a diversity of species throughout the universe to spread and sustain life.

I don’t rule out the possibility that extraterrestrials have visited Earth and influenced our ancestors, but there is no clear evidence for that yet. I know that traveling across vast distances of space from another star system is beyond our current science and technology, but some older and more advanced races may have discovered ways to fold space, warp space, or use wormholes to shorten the travel time.

The Ancient Alien theory doesn’t resonate with me when it suggests that humans required alien support to build enormous structures and so on. That’s undervaluing human ingenuity and talents. Some ancient constructions are still amazing and challenging to reproduce with today’s technology, but that is not proof that some extraterrestrial species were involved in their creation.

The U.S. Government has recognized the existence of UAPs (previously called UFOs) and some of them have shown abilities beyond our current technology. This has cleared the way for the topic to be explored without stigma. This enables more serious scientific inquiry and open conversation on the phenomenon without the academic and social stigma that used to hinder it.

Many UFO enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists wonder if governments around the world have alien technology or contact and are keeping it secret from the public. If that is the case, I wouldn’t be shocked and I would think that revealing that they have been hiding that from the public would be something difficult for them to do without causing some kind of social turmoil or political fallout.

Sooner or later, the truth always emerges no matter how much they try to conceal it from the public. So they will probably try to find a way to disclose most of the truth but in a way to minimize the political and social repercussions of hiding the truth for so long. But as I said before, this is all speculation and theory when it comes to the possibility of the governments hiding the truth of their possession of alien spacecraft and technology or possible contact with such extraterrestrial beings.

I wish that if there are Extraterrestrial visitations and technology that our governments are hiding, that they will be revealed and found within my lifetime. Far as the religions of the world, I don’t think the discovery that we are not alone in the universe would cause any problems. Instead, I think it would just reinforce their belief and faith.

In conclusion, I have shared my thoughts and opinions on the possibility of life in the universe, the existence of UAPs, and the potential cover-up of alien technology and contact by the governments. I have also expressed my hope and curiosity to learn the truth in my lifetime, and my view on how the religions of the world would react to such a discovery. These are all speculative and theoretical topics, but they are fascinating and intriguing to explore.

Thank you for reading my blog post on the possibility of life in the universe and the mystery of UAPs. I’m curious to know your thoughts and feedback on this topic. Do you share or differ from my opinions? Do you have any queries or tips for me? Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below and share your views. I appreciate your time and interest.

An open mind is a mind that is not frozen in preconceived beliefs.

Ray Barbier

creative commons, Personal, Poems and Writings, Thought of the day

The Journey to Self Improvement.

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I fight the inner demon of despair that haunts me every day. It feeds on the hurtful echoes of past hurts that scarred me deeply. I struggle to apply reason and logic to deal with the messy and twisted memories of the past that torment me. My self-image and self-esteem are often assaulted by self-hatred that comes from the circumstances and judgments of others in my past that made me feel unworthy and inadequate.

I wonder how I allowed such a strong enemy to enter my mind and take over my emotions and self-worth. How did I let it convince me that I am not good enough or deserving of happiness? I have achieved some goals in managing that darker side of myself, but I still have a long and hard journey ahead to find peace with myself and who I am. I still have to overcome many obstacles and challenges that test my resilience and courage.

I have to face it every day and every step until I can finally bury it for good. Each negative thought I have to challenge and scrutinize with courage, bringing out the truth and showing that most of those negative thoughts are false and have no proof to support them. I have to expose the lies and distortions that the inner demon tries to make me believe.

I am not faultless, but I am not a bad person either. I have to recognize my faults but also celebrate my good qualities. I have to acknowledge my mistakes but also learn from them. I have to remember that I am not alone in facing such things, almost everyone has that darker side trying to pull them down. But I also have a brighter side that shines with hope and kindness.

I embrace the opportunities I have to grow within myself, and I feel hopeful and optimistic because of the love of my friends and the tools I have acquired to handle that part of me. The key is to maintain a positive outlook and to appreciate the people who are with me in my journey of life. I have been overcoming this for a long time, and even though I have faced some difficulties, I have also achieved many successes.

Be Kind to yourself and others, and seek that which heals and creates while avoiding that which destroys.

Ray Barbier

creative commons, Health, Thought of the day

How Chinese Healing Can Transform Your Health and Happiness

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Chinese healing is an old and wonderful way of healing that comes from China. It has been around for a long time and many people still use it today. Chinese healing believes that people are healthy when they have a good balance of two different kinds of energy in their bodies and in the world. One kind of energy is called yin and it is calm and cool. The other kind of energy is called yang and it is active and warm. Chinese healing also believes that people have another kind of energy called qi that moves inside their bodies. When Qi gets stuck or goes the wrong way, people can get sick. Chinese healing wants to stop or fix sickness by making the yin, yang, and qi work well together.

Chinese healing has different ways of helping people. Some of the ways are:

  • Acupuncture: A way of putting thin needles into some parts of the body to make qi move better and make yin and yang more balanced. Acupuncture can help with pain, swelling, blood flow, and other things in the body.
  • Tui Na: A way of rubbing and moving the muscles and bones to make qi and blood move better, make the body relax, and make stress go away. Tui Na can help with problems in the muscles and bones, stomach, lungs, and mind.
  • Nutrition Therapy: A way of eating good food to make the body strong and healthy, fight off sickness, and stop or fix diseases. Nutrition therapy thinks about what kind of person you are, where you live, what time of year it is, and what kind of sickness you have. It also thinks about what kind of food is good for you and what kind is bad for you. Nutrition therapy can help with yin and yang balance, qi and blood circulation, and organ function.
  • Herbal Medicine: A way of using natural things from plants, animals, or rocks to treat different sicknesses. Herbal medicine can be swallowed, put on the skin, or smelled. Herbal medicine can help with the immune system response, infection control, inflammation reduction, detoxification process, and organ function enhancement.

Chinese healing is a whole way of looking at health that cares about the body, mind, heart, and spirit. It is also a way of living well that tells people to do things like exercise practice, meditation techniques, stress management strategy, and environmental awareness cultivation. Chinese healing can be used by itself or with other kinds of medicine to make people feel better and happier.

In conclusion, Chinese healing is an old and wonderful way of healing that can help you with your health and happiness. It has different ways of helping you, such as acupuncture, tui na, nutrition therapy, and herbal medicine. It also cares about your whole self, not just your body. It also tells you how to live well and prevent sickness. Chinese healing can work by itself or with other kinds of medicine. I hope you learned something new and useful from this blog post. If you want to know more about Chinese healing, you can check out these websites:

Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Peace,

Ray Barbier

Poems and Writings, Thought of the day

Don’t Be Cruel to Others, Be Kind and Compassionate

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We all have a choice in how we treat others. We can be kind and compassionate, or we can be cruel and mean. The way we treat others reflects the way we feel about ourselves. If we are happy and confident, we will spread joy and love. If we are unhappy and insecure, we will spread misery and hate.

Some people choose to be cruel to others because they enjoy seeing them suffer. They may laugh at their pain, mock their weakness, or even hurt them on purpose. These people are called sadists, and they have a dark side to their personality. They get pleasure from causing or witnessing harm to others, and they don’t care about the consequences.

Being hateful and hurtful all the time is not normal or healthy. People who are like that have a problem that needs to be addressed. They may be suffering from low self-esteem, addiction, or mental illness. They may have been hurt or abused in the past, and they are trying to cope with their emotions in a destructive way. They need help to heal their wounds and find a better way of living.

Being Hateful and hurtful is not something to be proud of or celebrate. It is something to be ashamed of and avoid. It is immature and mean. It does not make anyone happy or fulfilled. It only creates more pain and suffering in the world.

We should all strive to be kind and compassionate to others, not cruel and mean. We should empathize with their feelings, respect their dignity, and help them when they need it. We should treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. We should remember that we are all human beings, with hopes and dreams, fears and flaws, joys and sorrows.

Kindness and compassion are the signs of maturity and wisdom. They are the sources of happiness and peace. They are the gifts that we can give to ourselves and others. They are the ways that we can make this world a better place for everyone.

Don’t be cruel to others, be kind and compassionate. You will be happier and healthier for it.

Ray Barbier