Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
By Tracy Schruder
“Heart Island holds a special place in my heart – it’s my favourite place I’ve had the pleasure of visiting, and I’ve been lucky enough to go there five times! Each visit is like the first time, and I can’t get enough of the magic of this place.
I absolutely love taking the Gananaque boat tour to get there. The guides are amazing, and hearing the history of the island and Bolt Castle is so captivating. The energy of the place is palpable, and the scenery is just breathtaking. I’ve been with loved ones, including my husband and his parents, and it’s always a wonderful experience.
What I love about Bolt Castle is the history – it’s a story of love and devotion that Alexander Boldt built the castle as a tribute to his wife, Louise. It’s truly romantic and inspiring.
No matter how many times I visit, Heart Island always feels like coming home. I’ll definitely be going back – it’s a place that never fails to leave me feeling enchanted and at peace.”
I often find it difficult to express my gratitude to those who fuel my enthusiasm with their love and support. I never feel I’m giving enough.
The rewards in my life are many, continuously unfolding into the next present moment, ideas anew, downloading from the cosmos, inspired by folks like you.
A simple like on my blog and your supportive comments warm my heart. It’s the tiny things that stir the breeze.
A successful Reiki student or a client in relief, all take place beneath my feathers, so deep. When I see you don my jewelry around your necks and wrists, you carry with you my wish that it can always bring you bliss.
I fly so high above in the sky so icy blue, Because of the soft breeze sent to me, from you.
I can’t tell you how much I love you, Because I love you more than that. I can’t tell how I see you, Because you’re so much more than that. I can’t tell the way I feel for you, Because you deserve more than that. I can’t speak of the pain of missing you, Because you deserve not to know about that.
The depth of my love and adoration transcends words, A feeling that’s hard to put into language, it’s so profound. Just as a gemstone has many facets, love has many layers, What makes it so precious and unique, it’s a treasure to behold.
It’s a feeling that can’t be fully expressed, words don’t go so deep, A mystery that’s hard to capture, yet it’s always on my mind. My love is like the mountains I so adore, Entirely vast and majestic, a wonder to explore.
There’s always more to discover, more to appreciate, In the love I share with those around me, it’s a gift that’s always new. As I find solace and peace in the mountains’ quiet might, I find it in the love that’s always with me, shining bright.
Yes, I am a carnivore. I eat meat. We humans are carnivorous creatures, built to consume meat. It’s the cycle of life in all its gore and glory. However, we are the only creatures who know that we have to kill or take a life to eat – as far as we know anyway.
I’ve watched enough nature shows to see that the prey can somehow sense danger and will often fight for its life. The lion doesn’t think about the details; it just knows it’s hungry and that gazelle is food. Does the gazelle know it’s food? Do the creatures we eat know that they are food?
But as humans, we have a unique relationship with food. We’re not just driven by instinct; we’re also guided by our values and principles. I’ve often wondered, why do we eat meat? Is it just a matter of survival, or is there more to it?
According to the Bible, the story of Adam and the forbidden fruit has a fascinating connection to our relationship with meat. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve disobey God’s command not to eat from the tree of knowledge, and as a result, sin enters the world. Interestingly, it’s not until after this event that God gives humans permission to eat meat (Genesis 9:3).
Some biblical scholars believe that, before the fall, humans were intended to be vegetarian, and that the consumption of meat was a consequence of sin. This idea resonates with me, as it suggests that our desire for meat is, in part, a result of our fallen nature.
But if we do choose to eat meat, how should we approach it? For me, it’s about treating animals with respect and care. The animals we consume should be given a comfortable, loving life, and slaughtered in a ceremonial and humane way. Lovingly rearing animals produces the best meat, and it’s essential to acknowledge the sacrifice that the animal has made for our sustenance. At times these creatures become pets to us and we slaughter them anyway. Several childhood stories have included the ultimate slaughter of the farm animals.
I believe in the importance of approaching meat consumption with reverence and gratitude.
Ultimately, our food choices are a personal reflection of our values and priorities. For me, eating meat is not just about satisfying my hunger; it’s about acknowledging the cycle of life and death, and treating the animals we consume with the respect and care they deserve.
“I’m a grand rising , morning loving kind of girl. I enjoy the start of each day, the whole process of gently awakening from a dream-filled slumber, hanging on to the last fleeting scene, with a tiny replay and a brief questioning, ‘Am I dreaming?’
The subtle urge to expel liquid sends a slight annoyance, causing me to crinkle my nose, nudging my eyes into mobility. I dare not release the seal between my upper and lower eyelids, save for a quick body check.
I mentally visit every section, bathing it in warm white light, coaxing them to vibrate gently to sensibly.
As I slowly come to life, I feel the warmth of my bed from the glowing heat of my snuggled snooze. My skin tingles as I stretch my skeleton out, and with a groan and a yawn, I allow my eyes to break free. I look at this day with love, joy, and glee, feeling refreshed and renewed. A couple more stretches and a smile or two, and I’m up, out of bed, with intentions in brew.
First things first, I give my kitties some love and attention, and get them fed. Then, I’m off to the water cooler for a refreshing glass of water. I start my Kurig – fill up my mug with coffee and I settle into my living room to wake up fully.
After my second cup of beautiful black brew, I’m set for a meditation that I love to do. When my meditation ends, I sit for a moment, feeling my body, and taking a few deep breaths.
I preform a quick ten minute cerebral spinal fluid flush , and I’m ready to do some Qi-gong. Twenty minutes later, I rest for a bit, then I do hand mudras, whatever ones fit for the day ahead.
The morning is mine to enjoy, and I dive into my creative pursuits. I write in my journal, then I blog. I work on my manuscripts, articles, and other writing projects too.
The housework gets started, and meals get planned. I putter around, picking up odds and ends, and some mornings I sneak away to my studio to paint. I select a brand new canvas or attempt to improve a painting I’ve made, losing myself in the creative process.
When the weather permits, I go outside and enjoy grounding between my two favorite trees, feeling the energy and connection to nature.
When I’m all charged up and ready to go, I work on my reiki lessons and teach my skills, emailing students their assignments and marking lessons due. I set up my appointments with clients and map out a plan of care, feeling organized and focused. With still more morning to spare, I feel grateful for this quiet, productive time, and I’m excited to see what the day brings.”
What technology would you be better off without, why?
By Tracy Schruder
I would’ve been better off if I’d never believed processed food was real food. I can live without it now. I learned that the hard way—there was no other choice but to eat healthy.
I spent most of my adult life consuming processed foods, restaurant meals and take‑out. As a kid, my mother rarely served anything processed, except for canned beans, hot dogs, cheese slices and lunch meat. I didn’t know any better, and I didn’t care. Mom was a good‑old‑fashioned “make it from scratch” kind of lady.
But once I moved out, I didn’t cook much. If I did, it was so handy to just open a box or a can and have a meal ready in under an hour. That, mixed with unhealthy eating out for over twenty‑some years, finally caught up with me. I packed on way too much weight. I never felt hungry, but I never felt satisfied. My blood pressure shot up and my doctor threatened medication if I didn’t get it under control.
I didn’t listen at first—until I got physically ill. I got really sick. It got so bad I couldn’t eat anything without having an attack. I tried to eat healthy, but my body rejected it. It was an eight‑month painful period of discomfort and discovery. I was given some medication and it worked.
Now I’m seeing a dietitian and I eat only non‑processed foods. Thank heavens it’s working. I have more energy to exercise and do the things I enjoy.
I reconfirm that the one technology I can live without is poorly processed food. Processing strips good living food of nutrients and vitamins.
We need real, good food to survive and stay healthy through our lifetime.
Everyone looks better when they smile. Our smiles are the perfect accessory for any ensemble. I enjoy smiling. Smiling can boost your mood, here’s some information about smiling:
Facial Feedback Hypothesis:
This theory says that just moving the muscles needed to smile sends a “hey, I’m happy” signal to the brain. Even if you’re not feeling joyful, the brain interprets the facial cue and releases feel‑good neurotransmitters. Studies show that people who hold a pen between their teeth (forcing a smile‑like pose) or mimic a grin feel a bump in happiness.
Neurochemical Boost
When you smile, your brain dumps dopamine (reward), endorphins (natural painkillers), and serotonin (mood stabilizer). These chemicals not only lift your vibe but also lower cortisol, the stress hormone.
Physical Benefits
Smiling can drop heart rate and blood pressure, acting like a quick stress‑buffer. In experiments, folks who smiled during pain had lower heart rates and reported better emotional recovery.
Social Contagion
A smile is contagious—seeing someone grin triggers mirror‑neuron activity, making you smile too. This creates a positive feedback loop that amplifies good feelings for both the smiler and the observer.
Real‑World Evidence
Large‑scale collaborations (19 countries, ~3,900 participants) found that voluntarily posing a smile—either copying a photo or moving facial muscles—did increase self‑reported happiness. However, the pen‑in‑teeth trick (a “covert” smile) showed mixed or weak results, meaning the effect needs authentic muscle activation.
Bottom line: The simple act of smiling engages brain chemistry and social cues that genuinely improve how you feel, even when the grin starts out “fake.”
✍️ SOURCES ✍️
Smiling has been studied extensively. When they tell you that your smile is your best feature, believe them.
Our smile is our best feature. It’s always more comfortable to be greeted with a smile, especially in difficult circumstances. I’ve been told that my smile lights up a room and touches hearts. Maybe I was simply born with a beautiful, friendly smile—I just never realized it. I never put much effort into it; I smiled naturally or for pictures.
I didn’t catch the link between smiling and laughing until I started paying attention. I studied my smile in the mirror, learning to recognize the fake, annoyed, hurt, sarcastic, smitten, empathetic, humorous, and loving versions. If I couldn’t find a mirror, I snapped a picture. I examined my whole face, noting the difference between fake and genuine.
I played with it, even learning to fake a genuine laugh or smile to lift others up, even when my heart wasn’t in it. I noticed how my nose crinkled, my frown lines deepened, and how the genuine smile gathered wrinkles around my eyes.
Thankfully, I don’t have to fake it much these days—life gives me so many reasons to smile. I’ve found that smiling at myself in the mirror, when no one else is there to share a grin, boosts my happiness and confidence.
My smile is my all time favourite thing to wear! If you ever see me, you’ll see me smiling.
My Jewels
I absolutely adore wearing my jewelry. I am fascinated with precious and semiprecious gemstones. I make my own jewelry from gemstones.
I make bracelets, necklaces and earrings—and I’ll craft keychains or dreamcatchers on request. Every piece is set with gemstones. I absolutely love making things with gemstones.
I especially love having a different set of gemstones jewelry for every outfit I wear. I don’t need a special occasion or a night out to don my jewelry—I wear it every single day.
I also feel that energetic charge from certain stones. Sometimes I pick my jewelry based on what the day holds. Need to be razor‑sharp? I’ll wear lapis lazuli. Ditching a bad habit? Amethyst is my go‑to. Need to spread extra love? Rose quartz does the trick. My jewelry is my second favourite thing to wear.
The way we speak is important, but the way we write must lean heavily on perfection. I grew up thinking I knew how to communicate “properly,” only to realize later that my everyday speech was a patchwork of English slang.
English is one of the most complex languages on the planet. It’s extremely difficult to teach a foreign learner the full gamut of words, especially when the same word can have different meanings. Spelling, grammar, punctuation – noun, pronoun, verb – all add layers. It’s hard to explain that a “verb sandwich” isn’t something we eat, but a sandwich is something we eat.
My own linguistic skills have improved as my writing career has expanded. As a kid I was taught to speak in English slang: “git” instead of “get,” “sopping” instead of “soaking,” “pretty” for “really” (e.g., “pretty scared”). I’d say “pernt‑near” instead of “almost” – “I pernt‑near tripled over that log.”
My early school work (grades 2‑4) was atrocious. My language was called “hick” because other kids didn’t talk like me. Friends asked if I had an accent or spoke a different language. “More sophisticated” people said my speaking skills were “less than polished.” I had no idea what that meant. Polished is something we do to silver or fancy cars – make them shiny. My mind was closed; I couldn’t see how to polish my speech.
That changed when I started writing. I quickly realized my writing reflected my talking. We write our stories from our perspective, in the language we know – correct or not. I churned out a few less‑than‑polished works with little success. Rereading them, I couldn’t see the problem until I started to read for real.
I fell in love with reading. I don’t read everything – only what catches my interest. If a book doesn’t serve a purpose or stir something emotionally, I let it go. I don’t waste time feeding my brain alphabet soup just to say I “read that.”
These days I’m hooked on spiritual and self‑improvement books. I’m always amazed at how many different writers find themselves and share their stories. I’ve tried many of their techniques and haven’t found one that didn’t somehow benefit my life.
I deeply enjoy reading. I love to write. I’m swept away by its allure. I haven’t picked a niche yet – I’m still a curious, creative person with a passionate desire to create entertaining, interesting content. I’m learning all I can about writing, but knowledge only takes me so far.
So I’ve decided to put the learning aside and dive into the black waters of the unknown. I believe I’m ready to unleash my own destiny, using the English language as best I can – even if it starts out less than polished.
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