Unusual

My friend has an uncanny ability to find unusual objects hitherto unseen, in my photos.

In a old photo of me in a forest she found a small, fairy-like nymph hidden in the foliage.

In a street photo in a country town, she found a reflection of a soldier in a shop window – No soldiers were visible anywhere nearby at the time at which the photo was taken!!

So naturally on a photo of steam rising after a heavy night fog, she saw…..well what do you see?

Is it really so unusual?
Something weird and Unusual to Ponder About.

Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdom

I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader. Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned. Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you think so too.

Departing from the African proverbs, this week we have some wise words from Sweden.

Swedish house

 

The house that is built after every man’s advice seldom gets a roof

– Swedish proverb

and from one of the greatest minds, of all time, a quote :–

“Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.”

– Socrates

 

 

My thoughts on the Proverbs and Quotes –

Many of us give, and indeed, receive advice from all quarters in our lives, yet it isn’t always successful in implementation. When we tell others our problems, do we even want to hear their advice? At times it is most helpful, and yet, is it not better to discover the solution for ourselves? For it is about ourselves, and we know that person far better than anyone else, and in that process of problem-solving, become more accomplished at handling life’s future blindsides?

For contentment is what we all seek, in many and various forms.

Despite the Swedes best efforts, we do need a roof over our heads, and we do also need food in our bellies and fellow companions. But how much more do we realistically need to survive, given we can’t take material possessions with us, when we pass. 

How clever was Socrates to know that if we are not happy with our what we have today, we won’t be happier when what you have is doubled?

Do you agree?

Join in the discussion. I would be glad to hear your thoughts.

Something to Ponder About

Monday Mystery Photo. Last week Wroclaw, Poland

This Week’s Mystery Photograph

Each Monday, I post a mystery photo, or occasionally a mystery object. I invite you to leave a comment if you think you know the location of this week’s photograph. If you guess the correct location, I will link back to your blog when the answer is revealed the following Monday.*

Where is this structure located?

*Please note that I will release comments in the latter part of each week, usually Thursday or Friday and in this way, everyone can have a guess without a spoiler being revealed in the comments.

Last week’s Monday Mystery Photograph

 

Last week we were in Wroclaw, (pronounced more like Vratslav), in Silesia, Poland checking out – “The Anonymous Pedestrians.”

I have to say I found this incredibly powerful piece of street art. Sources state that the statues are representative of all the people working, for so many years, in the Polish underground movements. As Poland has struggled for centuries with self-determination, it has a poignant theme and spans many generations of untold struggle, heroism and resilience. A really significant piece of Polish art, worth seeing, if you ever have the pleasure of visiting Poland.

“The wonderfully lifelike bronze statues descending into the earth are based on Jerzy Kalina’s temporary art installation set up in Warsaw in 1977; the original plaster sculptures, stored in the Wrocław National Museum for 28 years, were re-cast in bronze and unveiled in the middle of the night on the 24th anniversary of the introduction of martial law in Poland.” [Source: inyourpocket,com]

Wroclaw has much more to offer and I personally loved the city. The old town and surrounds are very special. Intrigued? Read more about it here

The following bloggers guessed last week’s photograph location correctly:

Stories from Europe – Well done, Pooja

Where to Next? – Great memory, Peggy

A Mindful Traveller – Excellent guess, Lorelle

Ledrakenoir – I should know your url off by heart now, Drake

Travelling Matters to Us  – Great work, Mel and Suan

 

Very impressive general knowledge!

Something to Ponder About this Monday

Acidosis? Examining our Modern Diet

Scallops and Waldorf salad

Recently I have been wondering about how the modern Western diet can be extremely acidic and what implications this has for our bodies?

Our bodies try to maintain a natural acid and alkaline balance. If it doesn’t, our body would not function. This is true, as I once was called on to resuscitate an elderly citizen who had suffered a heart attack, due to prolonged acidosis.

However, our incredibly complex bodies have a variety of back up plans in order to maintain our pH balance.

Lemons, while acidic can be alkalinising once ingested

In the presence of a lot of acidic foods, the body will:

1. Use up all the available alkaline reserves in the body.
2. he body will attempt to eliminate excess acids from your blood.
3. Acid will be stored in your body’s fat cells.  This then has implications for anyone attempting weight loss. Why? Because the body reacts to avoid the influx of acid that might be released during sudden weight loss. An acidic body holds onto excess weight, making dieting extremely difficult. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?
4. 

   Sweet cakes in a Patisserie in Switzerland

   Your body finds an alkalinising agent, such as calcium. It will try to redress the pH imbalance by leaching calcium from your bones, which can be a contributing factor to osteoporosis.

Common symptoms of Acidosis or high levels of Acid*

NB these symptoms can also indicate another medical condition so always see your Doctor or health professional for further investigation

• fatigue, and chronic fatigue syndrome
• fatigue or weakness after eating meals
• frequent colds, low immunity
• poor circulation (cold hands/feet)
• low blood pressure
• burning sensation during urination
• kidney stones
• headaches
• pallor
• Gastro intestinal issues such as stomach cramps, reflux, diarrhoea, ulcers
• agitation, nervousness anxiety, depression
• lack of joy
• lack of ambition
• dental problems, bleeding or inflamed gums, cavities,cracked lips, loose teeth,
• muscle cramps and spasm,
• tension in neck and shoulders
• joint pain, (arthritis like)
• nail and hair problems
• vaginal discharge (candida)
• tendency to insomnia, restless sleep
• tendency to itchy skin, acne
• tendency to allergies, runny nose, chronic bronchitis

• 

  Minestrone soup – Tomatoes  and mushrooms are higher in acid compared to other similar foods

How Acidic is your diet? Find more info here

This post is not meant as a health guide, just sharing information, and giving us Something to Ponder About

Proverbial Thursday – Global Wisdom

Proverbs and sayings often provide us with wise the world.  Best savoured a little at a time, these sayings are passed down from generation to generation.

Each Thursday, I post a Proverb or Saying and a Quote that I find thought-provoking. 

I hope you think so too.

 

Continuing with our African series we have a proverb from East Africa:

 

The one who is too talkative leaves his mouth empty

 

 

and a poignant quote from the Japanese Zen master: Hakuin Ekaku

 

Nirvana is right here, before our eyes.

Hakuin, 白隠 慧鶴, (1686 – 1768)

Hakuin was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism.  He is credited with sparking a renewed interest in the philosophy with rigorous training methods integrating meditation and koan practice.

 

Is your Nirvana before your eyes?

And what do you make of the East African Proverb? It is not meant in a literal sense,

is it?