January 3, 2025
January 21, 2024
L'Chaim for Body and Soul
(AI generated image from Craiyon)
L'Chaim for Body and Soul
June 18, 2023
Looking Beyond the Superficial
We are all much more than our physical manifestations in this world, and looks can definitely be deceiving. The most important thing in dealing with ourselves and others is to look beyond the superficial and see each person for who they really are, and G-d’s holy spirit has an outsized role in realizing the potential of who we can be.
(Credit Photo: Activedia via https://pixabay.com/photos/spiritualism-awakening-meditation-4552237/)
Looking Beyond the Superficial
June 14, 2023
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Will they get you next? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
June 8, 2023
A Fine Spine
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
A Fine Spine
March 21, 2023
October 2, 2022
Can Love Be Blind?
(Source Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-a-lantern-7789180/)
Can Love Be Blind?
August 30, 2022
Madness and The Soul
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Madness and The Soul
August 13, 2021
Shabbat Shalom Flower Painting
So glad for Shabbat tonight.
Rest, relax, refresh, rejuvenate - soul, mind, and body.
It's what we work all week long for! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Shabbat Shalom Flower Painting
May 8, 2021
Shabbat: Time Vs. Space
When we choose to keep the Sabbath, we mark a day of the week in time, where we reject all the worldly pursuits of space and materialism in lieu of recognizing that there is a higher power, G-d Almighty, and that as Ahmari says 'everything else is ephemeral and passes away with time.'
What we do to make things holy in time rules over what we do purely physically in space, that nothing but G-d is timeless, and everything material reverts back to its origins and is gone from time as if it never even was. In the end, we need to live our lives with the forethought that the spirit goes to the everlasting afterlife, but the body goes to the physical grave.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Shabbat: Time Vs. Space
March 27, 2021
Staying Centered
I tried something new in the pool to tread water using the minimum energy.
At first, my body resisted and I started to flail with my arms and legs.
But then, I centered my mind and started to control my breathing.
My deep focused breaths raised my body above the water almost by itself.
My arms and legs relaxed and just was there for support.
It felt so good to be in a better state of self-control and mindfulness.
Always need to try and keep the mind still, centered, and in control of the body.
Focus, focus, focus! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Staying Centered
March 22, 2021
Lips on Display
And under it, is says:
Lip Bar
What's a lip bar?
Uh, Chapstick and lip gloss!
Just give your customers a kiss and don't charge them a copay today. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Lips on Display
October 24, 2020
The Elections: Perfecting Our Imperfections
Clearly, from the President on down to each and every one of us, we can be certain that none of us is perfect. However, G-d put us here, precisely, to have the opportunity to repair our imperfections. In this earthly world, our soul is tested, and we thereby have the opportunity to come out stronger and better because of it. The challenges in this world provide the "purification by fire" that our souls need to elevate themselves from past mistakes or imperfections. In essence, G-d in his ultimate benevolence — of love, kindness, and giving — bestows on us, His children, the chance to learn and grow and to realize our potential!
In short, while our elections leave us a lot to be desired in terms of the candidates for the highest office of this great land, we can see from the presidential candidates on down to the citizens of this country and to those around the world that there is both shortcomings and the potential for becoming the people that G-d knows we can really be.
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
The Elections: Perfecting Our Imperfections
May 1, 2020
Shabbat Shalom and Stay Healthy!
A time for rest and rejuvenation.
Each of us has to take care of and nourish our body, mind, and soul.
Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom!
Shabbat Shalom and Stay Healthy!
January 5, 2020
October 22, 2018
The Value of Pain
1) Pain is a warning of dangerous threats and helps safeguard us.
2) Pain that doesn't kill us makes us stronger!
3) Pain lets you know you ain't dead yet.
Then again, nothing wrong with a little pain relief. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
The Value of Pain
July 14, 2018
When Do You Become Old?
Some people seem to get old before their time.
They go about echting and kretzching--at 40 and 50, they are saying this hurts and I feel crummy about that! Nu, I'm not 18 anymore!
Other people never, literally almost never seem to get old.
One lady I know is going to be 94 this month and she is going strong mentally, emotionally, and physically. It almost seems impossible.
This guy in the photo has a funny shirt on that says:
"I thought growing old would take longer."
Yeah, it does sort of creep up on you, but really, really fast. Like where the heck did that come from!
I know inside for me, I always still feel like a kid.
I have the same funny side, playful side, and curious side; the desire to be productive and accomplish something meaningful with my life and time, and to love and be loved.
Yeah, things hurt a little more than they did years ago--can't believe the things I used to be able to do--Yes, at one time, I use to break cinder blocks with my bare hands, true!
But now, I can do other things like swim and hike and I love to write things that I am passionate about or to be a little creative too!
Maybe we do not get old...maybe we are just like caterpillars that morph into something else like butterflies during this life and into the life beyond.
Age is experience, learning, growth--lots of mistakes--and then recovering and trying again and harder.
Life is wonderment and excitement and appreciation for every amazing beautiful thing.
No, life does not get old.
Suffering and loss gets old quick and wish it never was.
But we are physical bodies with eternal souls, so we go on and on into the wild blue yonder. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
When Do You Become Old?
December 18, 2017
Shower Us With Peace
A peace of mind, spirit, and body.
A peace that permeates every aspect of our being and knows no limits to time and space.
May You grant us a complete saving and healing.
As threats loom large on the horizon, we look to the Heavens to ask for your merciful saving grace.
Enemies rise against us, and only you can reach down and lift us up.
We stand in your presence, naked and humbled.
As the winds blow and clouds gather, only you can protect and save.
While some men look arrogantly at their own strength and smarts, these are nothing to the Master of the Universe.
G-d uproots the wicked and plants his faithful children in their stead.
Peace is the ultimate blessing, and only G-d can grant it. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Shower Us With Peace
August 11, 2017
Like Removing A Nail
Ouch!
So this week when I had a ingrown toenail removed, I said jokingly to the podiatrist:
"Do you do waterboarding also?"
Ok, funny, not-funny. Still got a chuckle!
But in removing the nail, the technique is really so amazing.
They inject the toe with a local anesthetic, but hey even the injections into a sensitive toe could be pretty uncomfortable.
So before the injection, they spray you toe with a freezing spray, so you don't even feel the injections.
When he actually removed the nail and chemically destroyed the nailbed so it wouldn't come back, I didn't feel a thing.
I mean, I literally didn't feel a thing!
It was a wonderful feeling--whatever he did, however much it would've hurt--it didn't.
I thought to myself in a wave of anesthetic and freeze-numbed delight, this is absolutely wonderful.
No pain, not even a pinch.
I could sense everything going on around me, take it in, think about it, even mull it over again and again, and just smile.
In a way, I thought how wonderful life would be to have the ability to think in the head and feel from the heart, but have no pain or suffering in the body.
Yes, there are plenty of damning and painful thoughts, memories, and heartaches, but for the body to be numb (even momentarily) to all the bad stuff that actually felt pretty good.
How would it feel if the mind and heart also felt no pain and only bliss--I smiled even more. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Like Removing A Nail
May 8, 2017
Bad Boyz
When the bad boyz come to hurt the girls.
The bad boyz better watch out.
Feminism is alive and well.
Women are individuals full of rights and fights.
No one will take away what is theirs by G-d given creation of their soul and body.
Whoever tries to is destined to the dustbins of history.
Bad boyz, bad boyz...better recognize that women are people too.
And they are smart, resourceful, powerful, and good.
Sugar and spice and everything naughty and nice.
911, 911, 911...take this bad boyz away. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Bad Boyz