How to Cure Melancholy

"I once started on a short journey in the winter with a cutter.  After leaving home and driving a few miles, I felt a deep melancholy creeping over my mind, and it increased till I felt an overwhelming weight of woe and wretchedness.  I could trace it to no visible cause, but a morbid state of health, and it was not so much alarming as painful.

I drove on in this moody state of mind till near the middle of the day without finding any relief or seeing any one to speak with.  At leangth I met a stranger who wanted information in regard to the route he should take to reach a certain point.  I began to point out the way, and I no sooner began to talk to him than sympathy and kindly feeling sprang up in my heart toward the stranger, and I felt a great pleasue in taking pains to give him all the information that he needed as a stranger; and in this little act of kindness I at once felt a large share of my melancholy removed.  Not but that I would always give a stranger information~and who would not?

I went on a little further, and I met a generous-hearted Scotchman with oxen and sled.  He said a few kind words, and took a good deal of pains to get out into the deep snow with his oxen and sleigh so that I need not go out with my light conveyance.  A few friendly words passed between us, and I went on entirely relieved of my gloom.  

I have several times since had gloom dispelled in the same way by some act of kindness or a little kindly conversation.  The fact is, when we feel gloomy, we feel unsympathetic, and to arouse our sympathies will at once remove the difficulty."~Western Rural (HR May 1871)

Enjoy the Sunshine

    This morning I read this "ancient" article as part of my devotions.  It was such a good reminder for me and I thought you might like to be reminded too.  

    "It is manifesting great ingratitude toward God to dwell upon the dark side of affairs, and let the shadows of despair shut from our souls the Sun of Righteousness. Sorrow comes and goes; it is the lot of man; we should not seek to magnify it, but rather dwell upon that which is bright and pleasant. When winter spreads its icy covering over the earth, we do not let our gladness freeze up with the flowers and brooks, and continually mourn because of the dismal days, and the chilling winds. On the other hand, we reach forward in imagination to the coming summer, with its warmth, and life, and beauty. Meanwhile we enjoy all the sunshine that comes to us, and find much comfort, in spite of the cold and snow, while we are waiting for nature to put on her fresh, bright garments of rejoicing. 

 

     Just now a cloud has shut from our sight the bright rays of the sun, and we are left in the shadow. Should we fret and repine because of this, and forget everything else that is bright and lovely around us? No; we should forget the cloud, and remember that the sun is not blotted out, but has only veiled its face for a moment, to shine forth again in greater apparent brightness, and to be prized and enjoyed more highly than if it had never been hidden. 

     It is God's will that we should be cheerful. He would have us open our hearts to the sunbeams of heaven; he would have our spirits mellowed by his love and goodness, apparent in our own lives, and in the things of nature surrounding us. Those who are brought in contact with us are affected for good or evil by our words and actions. We are unconsciously diffusing the fragrance of our character upon the moral atmosphere surrounding us, or we are poisoning that atmosphere by thoughts, words, and deeds which have a deleterious influence upon those with whom we associate. 'No man liveth to himself.'

     It is selfish to devote our precious time to mourning over disappointed hopes, indulging a useless grief that clouds the family circle. We should be cheerful, if only for the benefit of those who depend more or less upon us for happiness. We should be careful lest our unconscious influence unbalance others, and turn them from the work which God designed that they should do. 

     It is our duty to make the best of everything, and to cultivate a habit of looking at the bright side of things. Let the cloud that shadows us pass over, while we wait patiently till the clear blue sky again appears, and the blessed sunshine is revealed." {HR, October 1, 1877}

Happy Cookies

Also called Omega-3 Cookies. These cookies have the ingredients to help decrease depression.  Besides that they are YUMMY!

2 1/2 c. ground walnuts

2/3 c. whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp salt

1/3 c ground flax seed (I grind in small coffee grinder)

1/3 to 1 c. dried fruit or carob chips (or combo) opt

1/2 c. + 2 Tbl. maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350*

Mix ingredients in order given.  Drop by spoonfuls (I use small ice cream scoop) onto Pam sprayed cookie sheet. Flatten with a plastic fork (plastic will not stick to dough).  Dough will be sticky.

Bake 10-15 min.  Check often.  Bake until golden brown around the edges.  Eat them up and be happy!

Staying Well

Staying Well

Keeping Well

There are health laws, that if followed, could keep us healthy and free from many diseases. When I get sick, I can review these laws and see if I am in violation of any of these laws.  Then I can pinpoint my reason for being sick. I then correct my error.  I ask myself these "Do I" questions when I get sick:

Nutrition:  Do I get proper nutrition?  Does my diet consist largely of a plant based diet full of fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables?  Check out this link:

http://www.fullplatediet.org/fiber-calculator/  

Exercise:  Do I exercise enough?  Do I walk, walk, walk?  Instead of seeing how close I can park to a store, park father away so you are forced to walk.  In the "olden days" walking was the main mode of transportation.  Today we have to invent ways to exercise.  Plan your weeks exercise routine and then work the plan.  Get a Fitbit.  It's a great walk motivator!

Water:  Do I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day?  If you find that you are not thirsty, once you start drinking adequately your body will crave water.  Your urine ought not to be a dark yellow.  Keep it clear.  Dark urine is an indication that your are not drinking proper amounts of water.  Check out this site for benefits of drinking adequate amounts of water:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Benefits_of_Drinking_Plenty_of_Water

Sunshine: Do I get adequate sunshine?  In the winter if you live in the valley and the clouds are getting to you, take a drive to the foothills where the sun is shinning.  It is amazing how a little bit of sunshine will brighten your day.  If you live in Michigan, you might want to take a trip to Florida and soak up some of the Florida sunshine.

Temperance:  Do I exercise temperance in all things?  "What is temperance?" one might ask. "Temperance is generally defined by control over excess, so that it has many such classes, such as abstinence, chastity, modesty, humility, prudence, self-regulation, and forgiveness and mercy; each of these involves restraining some impulse, such as sexual desire, vanity, or anger." {Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_%28virtue%29

Air:  Do I get enough fresh air into my lungs each day?  Open your windows at night, even in the winter.  You will sleep better in a cooler room and the fresh air will bring its rewards.  Also, if possible, open your windows during the day and get a good air exchange in your house or visit the great outdoors and breath in the fresh invigorating air. 

Rest:  Do I go to bed at a decent hour and sleep adequately?  Check out the 7 Tips to Healthy Sleeping Habits: 

http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/articles-submit/gobala-krishnan/7-sleeping-tips.htm

Trust in Divine Power:  Do I spend time each day with my God in praying,  reading the Bible and allowing Him to speak to my heart? Spending time with Him is the most important health law of all. "He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." Isaiah 40:29  

If I find that I have failed in any one of these health laws, I set myself up for sickness.  These are God's natural way of keeping us healthy.

Check out these sites:  

http://www.newstart.com/newstart/what-is-newstart/

http://www.positivechoices.com/