Mind Games: The Art of Loving Thy Enemy

What are mind games? A mind game is when someone deliberately uses his/her mind to indirectly influence or manipulate other peoples thought processes, reaction or behavior while you keep them unaware of what you are thinking while trying to determine what they are thinking. The main components of mind games are your mind, words, silence, observation, proximity to target person(s), listening skills and motive(s).
Why do people play mind games? Don't be naive. Our worst enemy is our own fellow human beings. The actions of man are the single greatest killer of human geings outside of natural causes e.g warfare, murder and genocide. Human beings are the only specie that kills its own for reasons other than for food.
Wild animals in their natural environment will kill namely for two reasons: for food and to eliminate the competition. Wild animals though don't go hunting the competition. In fact, when there's abundant food, wild animals will tend to avoid each other; they instinctively work out a truce of sort. They will also compete and fight for the right to mate. However, the outcomes of most of those fights are determined by the stronger animal prevailing over the weaker. The objective is to win females and the rights to mate. Usually the vanquished is chased away with or without injuries and more often than not, with its life intact. The point is, animals don't play mind games.
Human beings on the other hand are intelligent, loving, productive, generous and creative beings. Huh! If this statement is totally true then why do we have so many prisons? And so much crime? Okay, so here's the reality. Human beings are also devious, disobedient, greedy, vengeful, hateful, dishonest, disloyal, conniving, cantankerous, belligerant, power hungry, jealous and envious, covetous, violent and murderous (to name just a few of our flaws). Such is human nature.
We come in contact with other human beings every day at: home, work, social events, sporting events, church, public transportation, stores, shops, hospitals, schools, libraries, etc. Human beings are social animals. We therefore may (or may not interact) with others on any given day. We interact with family members, friends, relatives, co-workers, acquaintances, team mates, public officials and other members of the public.
Here is where things get interesting. Some human beings you may come in contact with may take a dislike (obvious or not so obvious) to you for disclosed or undisclosed reasons. If someone (anyone) that you are interacting with, you perceive, chooses to dislike (envy?) you for undisclosed reasons(s), then the seeds are sewn for mind games. Welcome to the club.
Let's examine this phenomenon a little closer. In life, you make natural enemies the same way you make natural friends: by interaction. Your enemy may constantly gnaw at you. They may try, through negative criticisms, to attack your: self-esteem, self-confidence, lifestyle, work, talent(s), support system, ideas, beliefs, just about anything. Their approach can be either subtle or brazen or some combination thereof. The enemy you must interact with on your job or at home for instance, don't just go away in the morning when you awake. They are determined to get (at) you. They may have several (ulterior) motives. It may be jealousy and envy. You may have something they want. You may in the way of them getting a promotion. Reasons and motives may vary depending on circumstances. To become a good mind game player there are some attributes you must have along with a desire to apply them for your benefit and protection.
First of all, you must love and respect yourself and others. Unfortunately, in order to remain true to yourself and your values, it means you may have to love your enemy too. Hatred is destructive and destruction breeds destruction.
How do you love your enemy? For those of you who don't believe you have enemies then I decree that you're being unrealistic and naive. Okay, where was I? Let me clarify that you do not love your enemy the same way you love your family and friends.
You can love your enemy by wishing them good. Get to know your enemy well. Discretely find out everything you can about them. See if there's any good in them. Find out about their strengths, their weaknesses, their support system. Do not let them get to you. Don't allow them to get you angry. Do not let them fill you up with negative and violent thoughts. Do not let them fill you up with hatred. Do not give them too much of your quality time. When you are in their presence, do more of the listening and do not let your emotions betray you. Do not wish them harm because people usually reap what they sew. Don't get into arguments with your enemy. Do not confirm or deny their interjections or accusations. Let them believe what they want to believe and think what they want to think.
Keep the friends of your enemy close. Find out what you can about them from their friends, without appearing too interested. Do not divulge how much you know to their friends in case they are trying to trap you. Smile even when they try to upset you. Whenever possible, avoid them. Choose your words carefully. Keep your enemy guessing. Just when they think that they know you, do the opposite to what they expect. Never let them see you down. Cover your tracks well. Don't discuss them with too many people. Don't give them ammunition to use against you.
Do not let your enemy know too much about your support system. They may try to undermine you. Keep them away from your inner circle. Steer them away from getting too close to the people who matters most to you. Be subtle. Don't give them any hints that you are engaged in mind games against them.
Secondly, your enemies are real people, in real situations. The stakes can become very high. You can play mind games aginst anyone. It can be your boss for instance, or your spouse, or another family member, or team mate. It is always precarious when it is someone close to you and with whom you may interact with often.
Thirdly, before playing a mind game, make sure you examine yourself thoroughly. Ensure that you are renewing your mind everyday with positive thoughts and energy. Set aside clear objectives why you are playing mind games to begin with. Do not make your enemy "larger than life". Focus on the things in life that you hold sacred. Don't use up too much mental energy on enemy mind games. Don't be consumed by it.
The main objective of mind games must be to neutralize your enemy by peaceful means. If over time your enemy cannot get through to you, then eventually, they may burn out their negative energy and give up. Keep your friends close but keep your enemy closer. The enemy you don't know is more of a threat to the one you know. Do not live in isolation because no man is an island. Once you master these principles, you will have your enemy coming to you. They may not be converted to allies but you may find out what they are thinking. It that way, you can minimize the chances of being caught off your guard. You can be a step ahead of them thereby ensuring your survival.
However, don't let your guards down. There are some people who will go to extreme means to make your life miserable and to cause your demise. They are not to be taken lightly. It might be a co-worker competing for the boss's affection, trying to climb the corporate ladder. In such a situation, you must strive to become proficient not only at your job itself but also at how to play corporate politics. You must understand how corporate relationships work and make the right allies. Working smart means "knowing" the right people too and using them to get ahead. They are the ones that can make you better at what you do.
Your worst enemy can be someone you live with. It can be your fiance, wife, husband, brother, sister, room mate, whom ever. Hey, you just never know. Before jumping to conclusions, make sure and study each situation carefully. In as much as you do not want to be wrong about someone, it is also inadvisable to make the common error of being in denial that someone close to you can be your enemy.
Love everyone but trust no one. Trust has to earned. You don't give it away freely. There is a saying,"..trust is like the soul, once it leaves (it's broken), it never returns". When someone close to you betrays you, it's never the same afterwards. You forgive but you don't forget.
Learn to forgive an enemy who hurts you. It begins healing. Do not rejoice in the demise of your enemy; just learn from it and move on. Be the bigger person. Do not render evil for evil. This will cause you to self-destruct.
Let's put all of this into perspective. You can play as much mind games as you want in a civilized and law abiding environment. However, the rules of engagement can be drastically different in a war torn country for instance. Where social chaos exists also, mind games be not be sufficient to ensure your survival or well being. In those circumstances, mind games (by itself) are not recommended where your personal safety and that of your loved ones can be compromised. Don't make yourself an easy target. Be realistic.
There are situations in life where war is inevitable. Mental wars can be fought through mind games, in civilized, stable and developed societies. In some societies however, there are enemies that will kill you because there is inadequate policing. Remember a cold war was fought (and won) between two nuclear super-foes without a nuclear "punch" being thrown. Do not underestimate the power of mind games. What kind of society do you live in?
Therefore know your environment and study your enemy well before you play mind games. Decide what you want your legacy to be. What kind of human being do you want to be? Do you want to make the earth a better place for all people? Discover your purpose in life. Strive to be a good, if not an outstanding, human being. Remember the examples set by Mahatma Ghandi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Their legacies were based on equality for all men, based on peaceful (non-violent) protest. Their legacies live on today.
Do not expend too much mental energy in mind games. Be wise. Be aware of your enemies but do not be consumed by them. Use your mind productively and positively. Lighten up. Life is short. Live it to the fullest, be the best you can be and enjoy it.
Finally, love is the most powerful emotion in the universe. Fill yourself with it and in the end you will triumph over your enemies and life's trials and tribulations. Let love of fellowman be an integral part of your legacy. After all ,behavior breeds behavior.

Personal Recession & Drugs

It is a terrible thing to waste your mind. What ever situation you may find your self in in life, do not turn to illegal drugs (narcotics), and in some cases, prescription drugs. The health of your mind should always be preserved at all times and it is your responsibilty as sensible adult. The only way you can be totally independent of illegal drug use is by not using it at all. I can say with conviction that I have absolutely never used illegal drugs in any form or fashion in my entire life. If you are reading this article and you have never used drugs then I urge you not to start. Abstainenance is the only solution that works. If you have already started or you are an addict then there's not much advice I can offer you because everyone's situation is unique. Drug use is also an expensive habit. Given the tough economic times that we are living in, it can take its toll on an individual's limited resources.
There are those of you I am aware, that was exposed to drugs even in the womb by drug addicted mothers. This is a hopeless, worst case scenario that is mind boggling. Some people are born into addiction. This is a real problem for our society on a whole. There is no simple solution. I therefore expect young computer savvy readers who never used drugs to benefit most from reading this article.
The community I grew up in back in Grenada had many pot smokers. Most of my peers smoked pot. Two of my brothers did it, one of whom I lost as a result. I became aware of pot, the primary local illegal drug at the time, from since I was seven or eight years old. I often questioned my older peers about the benefits they got from its use. No one gave me a convincing answer. Though I had an inquisitive mind, I decided early in life that I would learn as much as I can from other people's experiences and from asking lots of questions. I learned to discern early what's right from what's wrong and good from bad. Once I decided that there was absolutely no benefit in something for me then I left it alone. I also learned a lot by observation. If I saw someone doing something that I perceived as non-beneficial or harmful to self or society, I decided right away that I would not be doing that. There are obvious evils that come to mind as things absolutely not to do: illegal drug use, rape, murder, robbery, armed robbery and  pedofiling are top of the list.
The brain controls all of your functions: thoughts, moods, senses and actions (involuntary and voluntary). Your brain cells develop and perform highly specialized functions. Brain cells communicate by nervous impulses. These impulses are stimulated by natural chemical reactions. Illegal drugs acts as external stimuli that directly influence the workings of your brain. Herein lies the problem.
Your brain controls your mind through a natural chemical process. By consuming illegal drugs, you are substituting the use of natural brain chemicals for those of the drugs. In so doing you either kill your brain cells ot render them ineffective.
For those of you in doubt, here are some basic scientific facts you need to know about your brain. Each human being has a fixed number of brain cells. When a brain cell dies, it is not replaced. The brain controls your mind. Your mind does not control your brain.
Therefore, any thing that controls your brain will inevitably control your mind. A healthy brain can contribute to a healthy mind. Drugs destroy your brain and consequently your mind.
 I once heard a pot smoker say that he can control his high (on pot). He was very misguided. Many pot users believe that pot is not a drug. This belief is false. Apart from being a drug, I also consider it as a stepping stone drug, that is, it can lead to the consumption of more (harsh) drugs. Incidentally, this particular pot user, whom was one of my closest friends, later became a (crack)cocaine addict. He resorted to stealing and subsequently died from ingesting tainted cocaine (allegedly stolen). Such is the sad reality.
There is also a staggering economic reality of using illegal drugs. By and large it is an expensive habit. Many users become dependent on it. The more someone uses it, the more he/she likely becomes dependent and the more money and resources that is consumed. Drug users spend lots of their time indulging in their habit. They may also go to great lengths in search of supplies. Time is a scarce resource. I guarantee you that when you trade your time and money for acquiring and using drugs, you have nothing to show for it. Nothing. Just misery.
What happens to drug users and addicts who lose their source of income, like their jobs, savings or both? Given  the current adverse economic times (recession) that  we live, many people are losing their jobs. Let me clarify that most drug addicts cannot keep a decent job (unless they have a stake in the company or are protected by "higher-ups").
However what happens to the unprotected addicts that lost their income? What if they don't have any savings or a good (family) support system?  Even worse, they may not get another decent job because it may require that they are "drug free". You are ostracized by friends. Fellow addicts who are just as desperate cannot help you (with a fix). Your supplies are cut off. Then you start experiencing withdrawal syndromes. All of a sudden you are an addict without options.
What does an addict do in this grim situation? Things can go down hill fast. I haven't heard of many addicts that check themselves voluntarily into rehab(ilitation). Many who do suffer relapses.
The problem of drug addiction becomes society's problem when  addicts can no longer legally and independently finance their habit. This problem can adversely affect the lives of any one the addict comes in contact with; directly or indirectly. This includes family, friends, loved ones, acquaintances, passer-bys..anybody. Many addicts who go untreated may become homeless, suffer mental deterioration, pick-up and spread diseases intra-venously, rob, steal and in some extreme cases, even kill.
There are those wealthy addicts though because of their social status may not go down that path simply because they can afford their habit. In some cases they may voluntarily check themselves into rehab bacause they have a stronger support system.
During an economic recession, who do you think will adapt better if they lose their primary income (job)? Someone who does not use drugs or someone who does? This is critical. Your decision to start using drugs may not adversely affect you and society now, but later on; when you face adversity.
On the contrary, should you not take drugs, when you face adversity, your survival instincts which are more intact, on an average, will dictate that you take assertive measures to improve your situation right away. You don't quit. You are driven. Your mind is clearly focused on your goals.
The addict on the other hand, faced with adversity, instead of endeavoring to remediate his/her situation, will look to find, by any means necessary, ways to satisfy his/her cravings (for more) drugs. You are practically, out of your mind. Drugs are in control. Not you.
Consumption of illegal drugs can lead to an irreversible and a vicious cycle of social decay and self-destruction for addicts with limited resources. Some may argue that drug use is an expensive habit of the rich. Others may argue that marijuana is not a drug; that it has medicinal properties; etc, etc.
My questions to you are, having started consistently using drugs, can you stop? If you can , why don't you? What benefits do you get from using drugs? Do you borrow money to buy drugs for your personal consumption? Do you 'borrow' from your rent or mortgage money to buy drugs? Do you use your food money? Or your kids day care or babysitter's money? Your car payment? Your phone bill money? Are you unemployed? Do you spend many hours each day using drugs with friends rather than looking for a job? Or pursuing a career? Are your grades falling at school due to smoking pot or sniffing coke? Have you dropped out of school or college? Are you getting caught up with the wrong crowd? Do you abuse your grand-parents prescription drugs then swap with your peers over at a family friends' house? Have you changed your dress code? Your attitude?  Do you disrespect your parents? Your wife? Your husband? Your kids? Your elders? Have you began having sudden mood swings and experiencing depression while in your teens, twenties, or thirties? Do you sleep late every morning? Have you lost your desire to succeed in life? Do you find it hard to bounce back when you hit adversity?
Obviously, the list can go on and on. You get the picture though. If you don't it's probably too late for you because you are already in too deep to get your life back (from drugs). To those of you who never used drugs in your life, do like I did, don't start. This is the only solution.
To put this all into perspective, most former drug users are either (socially and professionally))dead (or just dead), locked up, terminally ill, rehabilitated (how many?) or rejuvenated (converted to Christianity). Very few drug users walk off, into the sunset, unscathed. Some, unfortunately, never do. Being a drug user, which category would you choose when you become a former user? The fact is, if you let drugs decide, then you will most likely self destruct. To some degree, with the exception of marijuana, your fate is already sealed when you let drugs decide it.
I am not exempting marijuana from being an addictive and dangerous drug. However I have known many of its users that seemingly live to see ripe old ages, living productive and healthy lives. Others I know of made that fateful switch to use "harder" drugs and paid the price (in some cases with their lives). Few walked away. At the end of the day , is the risk worth it? Some users become addicted from their first "draw". My understanding is that you never quite re-capture your first "high'. Besides being an expensive habit, it can be deadly. You keep consuming it and it will eventually consume you.
Non-users, I urge you: Don't start using drugs.

Do White People Adapt To Cold Weather better Than Black?

Do you often see white people walking outdoors or playing outdoor sports during winter with less winter clothes than blacks? Do they adapt to cold weather better than us? I find this idea laughable. This is so untrue. This is a classic case of "what you don't know will hurt you".
First of all, all human beings are created equal. Some of us though may have different talents. During our life time, we may or may not discover, develop and exploit our talents to varying levels. This however depends on several factors; culture, family, religion, ethnic background, income, education, genetics (body type), nationality and (geographic) environment. Let me clarify that no human being has control over the circumstances that they are born into.
Nevertheless, your circumstances can and will influence who or what you turn out to be in life. I term these circumstances as non-controllable. To be successful in life, you must know your non-contollable
cicumstances. If any of your non-controllable circumstances are unfavorable, do not use them as an excuse. Instead, convert them into motivation. How to do that, you may ask? Learn to discover and use your talents early. Your talents are controllable. Your talents are: mental, physical (athletic), emotional, intellectual, creative, musical and spiritual.
Okay, so what does all of this have to do with winter and how we adapt to it? The fact is we cannot control the weather but we can change the way we perceive of and interact with it. My next question is, Do you believe that white people adapt to winter better than blacks do? The answer is, yes and no. Don't be confused. You can argue that they originated from the cold climate; that they are born in countries with winter; and that black people originated from Africa where it is predominantly warm. The fact is if you're born  in a winter country, then you can naturally expect to adapt to the changes in the seasons as you grow up. I believe that this fact should apply equally to blacks as it does to whites. If a black person chooses to believe the contrary, over time, then naturally, they will not adapt well to winter. Therefore, with all things equal, a persons adaptability to winter should not be dependant upon the color of their skin but on their mindset towards the weather.
Here is how it works. The things you don't have control over, do not worry about. However, study every aspect of your surroundings. Get to know extremely well what you don't have control over. Make the non-controllables your ally.
Now, let's focus on the non-controllable, winter and the controllable, the human body. You have control over how you use your body. The more you know about your body, the more things you can do with it. All you have to do is try. However, more often than not, just casually trying is not good enough. You must strive to be the best. Knowledge is power. Therefore in order for blacks to adapt to winter as well as whites do, there are certain things you need to know about your body.
When the human body is exposed to cold temperatures, most of your blood flow concentrates towards your heart and towards your vital organs such as the brain, lungs, etc. The heart will pump less blood to your extremities such as the hands and legs. This results in your hands and feet feeling colder than the rest of your body. Therefore your extremities can feel warmer by increasing the flow of blood to them. How do you do that? you may ask. This can be done by increasing your physical activity involving your hands and feet during winter. Exercise.
Increased physical activity strengthens the heart and increases blood flow throughout the body. Exercising during winter will enhance your body's ability to stay warmer than it's surroundings. Increased efficiency, that is. It follows therefore that an increased heart rate and blood flow can make you warmer. A healthy diet, including anti-oxidants (red wine, acai berry juice, pomagranate, etc), can in fact improve blood circulation.
Most people use specialized apparel to stay warm during winter. That's ok. However the more (physically) active you are (during winter) the less dependant you become on extra winter apparel to keep warm. Don't get me wrong, human beings don't grow insulating fur or feathers as animals do, so we would always need specialized winter apparel to keep us insulated during winter. All I am saying is that you can consciously choose to harmonize your body with winter.
Let's take this discussion a step further. Your brain receives signals from active body parts and organs. It then sends signals to the heart to pump more blood to those active parts and organs. However, during periods of physical inactivity, less blood will be pumped to those inactive areas. Consequently, for those of us that choose to remain physically inactive for prolonged periods (especially during winter), you become sluggish (due to reduced blood flow) and therefore feel colder.
On the contrary, we may choose to exercise during winter. Our heart will pump more blood throughout our body. We therefore will feel less colder as a result. It is therefore obvious that by exersising (during winter), we can influence our body temperature to a degree where we are less affected by the cold. The way our body responds to cold weather is directly influenced by how much blood the heart pumps to each part of the body. Combined exercise and consistent normal outdoor avtivity make you grow more accustomed to winter to the point where you actually feel comfortable in the cold.
When we cover up our head, hands and feet, for instance, the insulating apparel (e.g hat, gloves, socks, etc.) will keep our extremities warm. However, they become dependant on the protective apparel to stay warm. As long as you keep covering them up, they will not send signals to your brain that they need more blood (from the heart). The problem arises however if you were to suddenly remove your hat or gloves, for instance, after getting accustomed to them during winter. Your extremities suddenly feel cold and you may feel the urge to cover them up again.
In order to defy the cold weather, I do not wear hat or gloves during winter unless it is frigid outside. When my finger tips feel cold, I increase the blood flow through them by shaking or rubbing vigorously together. Besides, I quite often lose one side of glove or occasionally misplace or forget a pair. Has this ever happened to you?
The hairs on your body also act as insulaters. The follicles (roots) of the hair trap heat from leaving the body. Hence the reason why your skin often gets goose bumps when exposed to cold. These goose bumps are actually blood filling the follicles causing them to expand. It's your body natural defence mechanism towards the cold. I believe the hairs on my head are adequate insulaters during winter. By not wearing  a hat, you are actually improving your head's natural defences and efficiency against the cold. Simaltaneously, you lessen your dependance on a hat while you strengthen your head's resistance.
Some people believe that a hat must be worn during winter, the absence of which can prevent head colds. This is not true. I have spent several consecutive winters without wearing hats and I have not caught any head colds. Through shear habit, I have allowed my body's natural defence to kick into high gear. This is adaptation.
We can use our mind to decide that we will keep exercising during winter or we can do the exact opposite; do nothing. We can also consciously choose to adapt to winter by interacting with it more on a day to day basis. For this reason, I play soccer outdoor during winter for as often and as long as I would during summer and I don't get sick. When I play, I wear shorts and I don't wear gloves or hat. Of course all you need to be mindful of are the temperatures that can harm your skin. For example tundra climate temperatures like thirty degrees below zero. In other words, exercise fair judgement based on good common sense.
You are responsible for training your body to adapt to winter. How you adapt has nothing to do with the color of your skin or your country of origin. You can improve your adaptation to winter by changing how you react to the weather. Do not let winter dictate your activity level. After all, while you cannot control winter, you are in control of your body.
Some people fall into the couch potato or hibernation syndrome during winter. They spend more time indoor, feel depressed, exercise less, watch more television and eat more (junk). This can be very bad for your health. In fact some people get fatter during winter. I encourage you to snap out of this behavior and take charge of your (winter) destiny. In some instances, during winter, some people work less or become less productive. This also is not good.
Over time, I am always testing my resistance to the winter by putting my body through different experiences so see how much I can endure. I don't succumb to any set routine during winter. I do normal outdoor activity as usual. Though I was born and raised in a tropical country, I have consciously raised my tolerance towards winter weather.
In fact I embrace winter each year. In my view, it is a time when the earth replenishes itself by cooling down. I believe it cools people off; maybe it keeps the crime rate down too, you never know. I therefore urge you to make winter your friend. Embrace it with open arms as an integral part of mother nature. Think positive towards it and not negative.
During winter I observe white people supporting their teams outdoor in the cold weather. Some male fans even do it without shirts. White soccer moms and dads send their kids outdoor to play and come out to support while some black parents refuse to let their kids play during winter, complaining that it's too cold.
If white people embrace and adapt to winter, then so should we. No excuses. By making winter an excuse, we are letting valuable time go by to become better at what we do while white people are getting ahead.
The time is now to change our mindset towards the weather. History has shown that the (winter) weather has influenced man's destiny. White people have lived in winter for as long as man has been around. Black people however have lived longer in tropical climates. My question is, has winter given white people a greater sense of urgency and creativity due to a desire to stay warm? And have black people become more laid (creatively lazy?) back over time because mother nature provided free warmth? Necessity is the mother of invention. We therefore need to get with the program and stop making  silly "winter excuses".
All I am asking of you is adapt to something that you have no control over, winter, and to take control over something that you can, your own body (and mind). It's that simple. White people have had a 5000 year head start on us (or for however long man has been around) so we have a lot of catching up to do.
I believe that free warmth for black people, over time, has been a blessing from mother nature. However, it has also given black people a sense of false (economic) security. This sense of false security is in fact a mindset adapted by blacks that must be changed if we are to improve our competitiveness in today's world. Making excuses during winter is in fact, just an indicator of a deeper underlying problem. The problem of time wasting and an unwillingness to put the creative power of our minds to work and to apply it to enhance our everyday lives.
Finally, for all the black people out there that are doing their thing even during winter, without time for excuses, I tip my hat to you. After all, I truly believe that we are all equal and that armed with the right knowledge and attitude, we can do great things together.
I urge you to change your mindset towards winter, come on outside, take a deep breath, think positive, be productive, and have fun. Live life to the fullest; even during winter; black or white; rich or poor. And remember, it's all about mind over matter and not the color of your skin.

Keep Your Outer Lips Moist Without Lip Balm (During Winter) - Find Out How..

Do your outer lips get dry and ashy and crack during winter? Even during summer? Are you addicted to lip balm? Don't you find it annoying sometimes? Did you know that you can keep your lips from drying and cracking during winter by natural means? You can end your dependence on lip balm permanently. Here's how.
First of all , never use saliva to moisten drying and cracking lips. Saliva has digestive enzymes which make the cracking worse.
Secondly, every fall/winter as the weather gets cooler, the outer lip skin cells die and fall off. They are replaced by new winter-resistant cells. However, if you apply lip balm at this phase, you will smother the ability of the new outer lip cells to become weather resistant. In fact, by constantly rubbing in lip balm, you damage the new cells thereby reducing their functionality and life span. Therefore, as soon as you stop applying lip balm, you lips begin drying and cracking instantly. They feel uncomfortable and you are urged to apply more and more. You experiment with different brands and different flavors. Before you know it, you are addicted. Are you one of those people that go through that each winter and sometimes even during summer? I used to be but no longer. I haven't used lip balm in over ten winters and my lips don't dry out or crack.
Here's how I do it. I do not use saliva to moisten my lips. Every fall, as the weather cools and my lips dry out, I let the old cells fall off on their own. I moisten my lips with steam from my mouth. I do this by folding my lips firmly inwards, slightly open, then blowing slowly onto them. Do this as often as you deem necessary. It's like blowing steam on a pair of glasses. It's pure water coming from your body which, apart from being moisterizing, is also very gentle on your lips. The new lip cells therefore are allowed to mature naturally and would likely be more weather resistant.
Here are some additional tips for healthy lips. Drink enough water daily; 6-8 glasses. Take sufficient vitamin E (Cod Liver Oil, spinach and cucumbers are all good sources). If your lips feel dry on mornings when you just get up, don't open it at full stretch or too sudden because it may crack easily. Apply a little bit of tap water then begin your daily natural moisterizing routine.
Lastly, have confidence in your body's natural defences and use it. Remember your brain controls all of your bodily functions. Here's how it works. When your outer lip skin cells die and dry out, impulses are sent to your brain to instruct the moisture producing glands in your body to produce and supply more moisture to your lips. However, these impulses are not generated and sent to your brain when you use external moisturizers such as lip balm.
The application of lip balm therefore diminishes your body's natural ability to generate moisture producing cells that serve to protect your outer lips during winter. Besides, by ridding my dependance on lip balm, which can be lost or misplaced easily, I have also gotten over an addiction, (a nuisance) and an unnecessary expense. I therefore urge you to know and trust your body, train it well, eat right and it will not let you down. Just remember though: nothing lasts forever; so act now.

Poweryouths Soccer Program Needs A Home!

Poweryouths Soccer Program was founded by myself in March of 2010. Its goal is to provide an affordable and convenient opportunity for our youth (boys and girls, 4-16) to learn to play soccer. Our fee is $40 per month. I learned to play soccer when I was a youth (4 years old!) in Grenada. I didn't have to pay to learn. It was free. Thank goodness. Every youth soccer program I am aware of in Brooklyn costs money. In some cases it can be an arm and a leg.
The problem is that in our Flatbush neighborhood, it is difficult to obtain a permit (for an outdoor field or an indoor gym). School gyms especially are down right expensive and for a low budget program as Poweryouths, it is inaffordable. For example PS139 gym will cost almost $5000 from November 2010 to March 2011. We don't have sponsors and fundraising has been difficult. Our coaches are not being paid. Bless them. Special shout out to Coaches Gary, Messaoud, Desmond, Glen and Richard and to our soccer moms and dads.
We are in dire need of any and every support we can get, albeit, parental, community, city or business or otherwise (so long as its legal of course).
The owner of Best Bites restaurant told us that he will not support Poweryouths fundraiser event held at Plentys Paradise in October 16th, 2010. Plenty's Paradise however was very supportive and generous.
That's what I call, win some, lose some.
Now that the cold weather is forcing us to play indoor, we find that we are quickly running out of options. We can't find a winter home. The Beacon after school program gyms is accompanied by a lengthy detailed application form that parents don't want to be bothered with. However, school rules won't let us play without proper documentation.
During Spring/Summer/Fall, American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) takes over all of the Parade Grounds (and Windgate Park) on Saturdays. They will not share. Period. Permits are given out on a first come, first served basis. However permit holders are given preference over newcomers each year. All they are required to do is renew. Given the size of AYSO, programs like ours will not get a permit (for Parade Grounds) any time soon.
We have also spoken to Councilman Jumaane Williams and staff. They told us that they get a limited budget to help programs like ours in March of each year and applications for assistance become available in February. Simply put they can't help us now. We also submitted a proposal to Senator Kevin Harper's office. To date we haven't gotten any feedback despite numerous follow-up phone calls.
We are looking for a home in the East Flatbush neighborhood. We are open to suggestions, and more importantly, solutions.
To put our situation into proper perspective, Poweryouths program is not just about soccer in itself. It is more about building our community one child at a time. The bigger challenge facing us is what kind of community are we going to build for our youth today in order to shape a better future for them tomorrow?
Do you have the answer? The answer will give us relief.

Miami Heat in Cleveland: We Found Our Leader!

Okay so LeBron James returned to Cleveland as a member of the Miami Heat. It was as expected. He got the welcome of the big bad sports villain returning to finish what he started: Destruction of the Cavaliers. Ha. Don't take this too seriously. Such is the nature of sports. Don't be mad at Cavaliers' fans. It is their right to vent. Especially when you have salt (and pepper!) being rubbed into an open wound. It must burn.
The reality of the situation was all too apparent for the Cavaliers' franchise. It is difficult to build a legitimate champoinship team in a small market city. Apart from the NBA draft, how do they attract and keep championship caliber players? Therefore it is unfair to compare LeBron to any other great champion who was in a big market. Kevin Garnett would have never won a championship in Minnesota. For this reason Cleveland fans (and front office), you should be aware of the real challenges ahead. Therefore LeBron did what was in his best interest. He moved on before it's too late. He may not have done it in the right way, I agree and for this reason, you may just have to forgive him. This will begin the healing of a city in pain.
Okay Erik. I hope you didn't get sidetracked with all the hoopla in Cleveland on Thursday night. The Miami Heat have spoken. Team only meeting and all and barring none, a team must have one leader inorder to be successful. LeBron clearly established that in Cleveland. Coach Spoelstra, in order to make your job easier, please let things be. You are blessed to have some of the most talented superstars on our planet; now you have yo trust them. Relax and be patient and the rest will just fall in place. Keep challenging them to reach higher heights. The best way to do this is act as though you are not too impressed. Take a page from Phil Jackson's book (if you have to ), win, and have fun.