Seldom heard are the stories of autistic adults. And rarely reported are the challenges of those who seek companionship. It's believed that autism blocks the ability to intercommunicate and express feelings in a normal way. These difficulties often relegate those diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to solitude, even though they express a deep wish to love another. We may think of our own efforts to build relationships as pertaining to the heart, but for solutions Continue Reading
Environmental cleanup found in harmonious attitudes
From pictures of cows grazing amidst smouldering forests in the Amazon, to surfers cresting a wave of garbage off the shore of Indonesia, the environmental degradation and impurities evidenced on the earth are compounding. A recent World Health Organization news release says that dramatic changes are needed to protect the health and longevity of mankind. As the inhabitants of this globe, we are all being called to action, and a pure environment must be our priority. At odds with purifying the Continue Reading
All I want for Christmas is a good night’s sleep
A proper amount and quality of sleep are considered essential to an active, healthy life. At the holidays, lack of sleep can be a big issue. With the season’s demands, we can be loaded with everything from sending cards, shopping for gifts and special travel, to hours of baking and decorating. Especially now, our rest time needs to be refreshing and satisfying. Despite much advice on bettering one’s sleep, many people still experience varying degrees of sleeplessness that negatively impact their Continue Reading
Comfort, not loneliness, this season
For many, the holidays can bring on a sense of loneliness and isolation. But this need not be so. Many advisors today encourage looking at each moment of each day to find reasons to be grateful. Often, though, it takes a stronger anchor than positive thinking to break through loneliness. An approach that recognizes a divine Love and power always with us can actually heal loneliness and make our holidays rich and joyful. In the Bible’s book of Romans, the apostle Paul defines our Continue Reading
Are green spaces healing spaces?
I relish the day when my friend calls and says “we need to go for a walk.” Her call is “code” for “let’s go hiking, so we can get spiritually above all this stuff that’s going on right now.” Even though we climb low hills and rarely log more than six miles, our conversation climbs up out of our everyday challenges and we encourage each other to look at things from a higher, more spiritual, perspective. Currently there are numerous studies expounding the health benefits of spending more Continue Reading