GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

Honoring the Brave in the Land of the Free

By

Memorial Day Image-2

 

Memorial Day is a holiday that usually marks the beginning of summer for most of us in the United States.   Our children are experiencing the joyous last days of school before the long summer break.   Some of us are traveling for the first vacation of the summer and those that remain home are planning the BBQ cookout.

Take a Moment to Remember

However, in all of our celebrating, let us not forget the reason for the holiday.   Let us take a moment to educate the young people in our families about the significance of this holiday.   Let us remind them of the sacrifices that were made by very brave men and women in order for us to have the freedoms that we enjoy in our country.

In my life, I have been blessed to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, VA and I have visited the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, HI.   Viewing the many white crosses on the graves in Arlington Cemetery and standing on the sunken wreckage of the USS Arizona which is the final resting place of war heroes were among the most humbling moments of my life.   It made the cost of freedom very real for me.   I think every American should make a pilgrimage to these memorials as well as others across our country as a way to acknowledge the journey of our heroic warriors.

Find a Way to Honor

This year I have found a new way to honor our fallen heroes.   While watching my local news station, they mentioned an organization “Bugles Across America” (http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org) which is a not-for-profit organization that provides live renditions of Taps by a bugler at the final services of veterans.   This organization was founded 16 years ago and now has over 5,000 volunteer buglers.  It is expected that 500,000 veterans will die every year for the next several years so this volunteer service will be helpful to the grieving families.

I have decided to make an annual donation to this organization as an active method to commemorate Memorial Day.   I ask all of you to consider doing the same.

Happy Memorial Day!

Water – The “Nectar of Life” and Why You Should Drink More of It

By

Get a Grip-small

One of the changes I had to embrace for my adoption of a healthy lifestyle was to increase my daily intake of water.   In the past, I was so negligent that I know there were days where I would only drink 1 glass of water while drinking sodas, teas and coffee to satisfy my thirst.    When I decided to make a change I did a little research on the importance of water which I am sharing here with you.

The Body’s Need for Water

We all know that we cannot live without air to breathe and would not dare to hold our breaths to minimize our intake.    Water is just as important as air.  The human body is made up of about 60% of water and requires it to sustain life.   The brain, muscles, lungs, and blood contain water.    The liver and kidneys cannot function properly without it.   We understand that we cannot live without water yet some of us are not drinking enough of it each day.

Benefits of Drinking Water

There are many benefits to consuming an adequate amount of what I have now deemed the “nectar of life” each day.   Once I mentally internalized these benefits it made it easier for me to make the effort to drink more water.    Here are some of the benefits of drinking more water:

  • It is a natural appetite suppressant.
  • It increases the metabolism
  • It helps the liver and kidney to function at 100%
  • It supports muscle tone and contraction
  • It aids in the digestion process
  • It helps to eliminate bodily waste and alleviates constipation
  • It hydrates the body and lubricates the joints
  • It controls body temperature

 How Much Water is Enough for ME?

We all have heard that we should drink 8 – 8 oz. glasses of water per day which is a total of 64 ounces.    However, since we all are unique individuals with differing body types, activity levels, and health conditions, this “one-size-fits-all” approach did not make sense to me.    I discovered a tip on the internet that suggested starting at the 64 ounces of water and adding 8 ounces for every 25 lbs of excess weight.  This made sense to me so I chose that method   Additionally, I considered my level of “sweat effort” exercise and the fact that I live in humid, hot Houston.   Once I started drinking my determined amount of water I paid more attention to the results of my urination output to determine if the symptoms of insufficient water intake had disappeared.

 Symptoms of Insufficient Water Intake

The best method to determine if you are drinking enough water is check for the symptoms of dehydration.   Here is a list of a few of those symptoms:

  • Decrease in your level of concentration and focus
  • Discoloration of your urine – usually a dark yellow color – with a strong odor
  • Poor bowel functions – constipation
  • Feelings of tiredness and fatigue
  • Joint pain and muscle cramps

 How I Increased My Water Intake

When you are accustomed to drinking everything but water to satisfy your thirst it is difficult to get started on changing that behavior.   These are the steps I implemented to successfully reach my intake quota.

  • For the first 3 weeks, I gave up all other drinks – teas, sodas, and coffee.   Now I only drink herbal teas because they do not contain caffeine which increases dehydration.
  • I divided my intake into 6 daily increments  as follows:
    • 1 increment immediately upon waking
    • 2 increments before noon
    • 2 increments before 6 pm
    • 1 increment 2-3 hours before bedtime.

The first 3 days I “ran” to the restroom continuously but by day 4 it seemed my body adjusted to the new level of my intake and my trips to the restroom decreased.

Other Beneficial Changes

In addition to all symptoms of dehydration disappearing, there have been some other improvements to my health.   The skin on my face looks and feels great.   At one point, I was suffering from an itchy scalp in one spot and that has gone away, too.   All of these good changes in my body help me to remain diligent about my daily water intake.

 

QUESTION(s) :   How is your level of daily water intake?   Do you have symptoms of dehydration?

Show ME the LOVE ! – Passion

By

You meet a man who has that “hot” factor and falls into your “panty dropper” category. Some would call this feeling passion, but it is lust defined as “an intense feeling of sexual desire.” Lust is a normal feeling and acceptable to act on as long as you keep it in perspective. Usually, it is what fuels the early phase of a relationship. If you want a long-term relationship, then look for a mate that wants to progress to a mature one and not remain here in the lust phase. The passing of time will wear on lust.

Passion is a combination of sexual desire, romantic love, sensual pleasure, and self-fulfillment. It comes from a couple knowing and growing with one another. Contented individuals in a relationship bring a positive energy to it. Equality and support in a relationship can improve the emotional connection and enhance the passion. Therefore, it requires a certain level of relational maturity and commitment to get to this state.

Passion is the last relational trait on my list because you truly need to have the others (humility, respect, kindness, thoughtfulness, faithfulness, humor, and adoration) present in your relationship to reach this point. When a couple can communicate their desires and the willingness to fulfill their partner’s desires, then they will eventually reach the passionate state.

QUESTION(s):

Do you believe in passion?

How do you feel about lust? Should one suppress it? Or act on it?

Show ME the LOVE ! – Adoration

By

Adoration is deep love.

When a man is loyal to his woman, she will adore him.

When a woman respects her man, he will adore her.

I think that most of us aspire to have that kind of love that Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell sung about in those duets like “Your Precious Love” and “If This World Were Mine”. We wonder if adoration indeed exists between a man and woman anymore in our society with the escalating divorce rate. It seems internal relational factors (respect, loyalty) are superseded with external societal factors (money, status, agendas).

Adoration is developed over time in a relationship. It is not something that will be present in the initial stages. However, you need to determine that your prospective mate is capable of respect and loyalty. Family background is relevant to this determination. It is important to know the health of the relationship between a man and his mother. Also, it is important to understand the health of the relationship between a woman and her father.

Sharing a deep love is wonderful. I have experienced it in my relational life. What I have discovered is that it is all of the natural, effortless acts of adoration that I appreciate most. Once, my guy and I were at a buffet-style BBQ with some of his friends. He was very attentive to me, so one of his friends commented to me, “He treats you like a queen.” Before I could reply my guy walks up with a plate of food and a drink for me. He overhears the comment and says to his friend, “Elaine isn’t a queen, she’s a goddess.” I smiled.

QUESTION (s):

Do you want to be adored?

What will it take for you to adore your mate?

 

Show ME the LOVE ! – Humor

By

 

One of the most endearing things that you can share with a prospective mate is laughter. There is something to be said about a man who makes you laugh. I think humor is a balm for the soul and a person who can find it in ordinary everyday life has a special gift.

The merriment expressed between lovers can be a loving kind of intimacy and a special aphrodisiac. It is something that you work up to through the other relational traits, but it is worth the wait. However, first, you must find a mate who has a sense of humor and is comfortable with himself in showing it to you. Also, assuming you have a sense of humor, it must be compatible with your prospective mate’s to make that intimate match.

One of the key indicators that a person has a sense of humor is if they can laugh at themselves. Take notice that they are not into negative humor where they are laughing at others instead of laughing with others. Avoid anyone who is into sarcastic humor – this is a sign of a bully.

QUESTION(s): Would you consider laughter an aphrodisiac?