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I'm continuing to experience a mildly pseudo-obession with taking photographs of the moon. My previous effort was mediocre, so here's another picture of the moon. It's actually three shots at three different exposures, and then digitally combined using the incredible (and free!) GIMP software to blend the different contrasts in exposures. One night, I'll capture the perfect shot of the moon. And when I do...I don't know what'll happen. Perhaps I'll develop a craving for taking snapshots of something else. But until then, please feel free to use this picture of the moon in any capacity you'd like. All I ask is that I be given credit for the picture, somewhere in the bylines or underneath the moon pic in a caption or something. Click here to see the full picture.

This half-moon picture was taken on 5/11/08 from my backyard. I'm using a Canon Powershot S5 IS digital camera I recently purchased. It's set on a tripod. My old HP Photosmart 620 couldn't live up to the demands of my obsession with moon pictures. Plus, I needed a new digital camera not only for moon pictures, but for vacations. Click this link for some pictures from my trip to the Caribbean...photos stored courtesy of flickr.com.

And yes, I am very happy with the Canon Powershot S5. I have never had a camera with lots of bells and whistles, and even after a couple of weeks of toying with it, I am still learning how to use it. I'm also learning about photography in general. It's turning out to be an interesting hobby that really puts me in touch with everything around me. Not only am I seeing objects and the world around me differently, I am increasing my appreciation for the wonder of the universe! I thought I had that with my salt water fish tank hobby, but capturing images of the world (and the moon) somehow puts me in even more alignment with the universe. At least it feels that way.

If you're looking for an easy point and shoot camera with the bells and whistles of a professional camera, but don't want to pay big bucks (as in thousands of dollars) for one, check out the Canon S5 IS. I was able to take over 1,000 pictures on my trip with a 2GB memory card, plus take 13 short clip movies...with stereo sound! Now, if only I could capture the sounds on the moon.

        

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"The poor have it so good." Of course that statement is relevant to where you are in this world. But here in the U.S., it seems to me that even the poorest (financially speaking) can have access to amenities that many poor people around the world only dream of.

If you are poor, homeless, and have no health insurance, you will still get treatment in a hospital emergency room here in the U.S. Not so in many third world nations.

If you are poor, homeless, and are hungry, you can find a soup kitchen, a church, or knock on someone's door and beg for food. Better yet, you can become a professional urban out-doorsman and hold up the old and effective "NEED FOOD FOR MY DOG" sign (or some variation of it) and someone will give you money, or even a half-eaten candy bar. Not so in many truly poor parts of the world. Knocking on someone's door in a third world nation looking for food might be futile. Furthermore, there may not even be a door to knock on.

If you are poor, homeless, and need a place to hunker down for the night, you can make your way to a homeless shelter, find a big enough cardboard box, or befriend a really charitable person with extra room in their garage. Truly poor people living in countries run by central planning, dictatorial, and tyrannical governments may not have any option but to sleep, eat, and shit where they sit.

On a recent trip to my local convenience store I noticed an urban out-doorsman loitering in front (he's there often, or so the manager tells me). He had a cell phone in his hand and seemed to be disgruntled, as if his phone wasn't getting a full-strength signal. I didn't ask him if that was the case, but my cell phone usually doesn't get good reception in that spot either.

Nowadays, poor people in the U.S. can have cellphones, mp3 players, video game systems, high-end entertainment systems, computers, brand named shoes and clothing, riding lawn mowers, and even take in a movie on the weekends. How? I don't know how, but it happens. I witnessed it when I use to do in-home counseling with kids and their families. I was told that they were less fortunate and needed my services. The parents told me that they were poor, jobless, and disabled in some form or fashion, yet they had access and opportunities to surround themselves with items that would be considered luxurious by many truly poor people living in truly impoverished places. Their disabilities must have included blindness, although they were not aware of it at the time.

In this country, going a couple of days without food is a tragedy. But in certain parts of the world, many people go without any meaningful sustenance at all, for weeks. Here in the U.S., even a poor person can scrounge up four quarters to buy a hamburger every now and then...especially if they skip on buying a pack of smokes.

Wealth is a state of mind

Being poor is different from thinking poor. There are so many opportunities here in the U.S. available to everyone, in some form or another, that prevent us from living like those in a truly desolate, barren, and poor environment. In our country, poor is a state of mind. Barring significant mental or physical disability, there is no reason for anyone to be poor here in the U.S. It's a choice.

That statement is not going to gel well with many, but the truth is hard to swallow. Take a step back, and look beyond the trees to see the forrest. The so-called poorest people in this country are much more better off than even some of the moderately well-to-do in other countries. We have personal freedom and a variety of options and opportunities to help us move from one socioeconomic status to another. Only politicians would argue with that, and that's because their jobs depend on people living in despair.

Be grateful for what you have. Dont' take the little things for granted. Capitalize on your assets. That's really what this post is about.

5 things I'm grateful for

I'm grateful for:

1. My health. Without a strong starting base, it would be hard take action toward self-improvement.
2. My family. Without the free support and guidance, I would feel lonely.
3. The universe. I am a manifestation of the universe's consciousness. I am an expression of the universe.
4. My friends. They help me gage where I am in life, where I've been, and where I want to be.
5. Earthworms. They help keep the soil aerated so that the trees and plants can continue to thrive and provide me with oxygen.

There's obviously much more. But, what are you grateful for?

        

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Ever since I wrote the article on how to relax your muscles, it has become, by far, the most popular article on this site. Search engine visitors, especially from Google and Yahoo, searching for ways to relax tense neck muscles, relax tense arm muscles, relax leg muscles, or searching for a relaxation script outlining a way to apply Jacobson's Progressive Muscle Relaxation muscle technique frequently find their way to this site's most popular article. A close second in terms of article views is the post on deep diaphragmic breathing, which also seems to be a popular search on the web for those looking for natural ways to conquer stress and anxiety.

Since writing those tidbits, I've often thought of other methods that I employ to reduce or manage stress in my life. And other than altering the amount and types of food that I consumed, I really can't think of another safe and effective way that I use to handle stress and anxiety. Actually, over the past several months, I have been reframing my perspectives on existence, going from a narrow microperspective, to a broader, macroperspective that takes into account the whole big bang theory of the creation of the universe. But that's an ongoing process that constantly changes as I reorganize my thoughts. Yet, it's that reorganizing of my thoughts that seems to help reduce the amount of stress that I feel at the moment. Perhaps this process would make an interesting article. What do you think?

Back to stress and anxiety reduction. If you're interested in learning more about how the body works in response to stress and anxiety, I suggest picking up a copy of The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson. When he originally wrote this now classic best-selling book back in the 1970's, it was a ground breaking approach to safe, natural, and effective ways to cope with stress and reduce the amount of tension one perceives in tense situations. It was and has been a staple in the mental and physical health fields, being employed by a wide variety of professionals, business industries (for their employees), and laymen. It's a great way to introduce yourself to the mind-body connection. You'll learn about stress and methods to get relief from it, as well as save yourself, potentially, from thousands of dollars in medical prescriptions.

Pro Healing Tools has The Relaxation Response on sale. Pick up a copy and start heading on a path toward better living.

And to shop for more resources on stress relief, including relaxation CD's, workbooks, and biofeedback devices, visit www.prohealingtools.com.

Search for counseling or mental health continuing education units (CEU) at counselingceus.com.

        

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As a courtesy to Pro Healing Tools, the MRG is happy to share this announcement on their behalf.

Stay up-to-date on the great deals, specials, and coupons at Pro Healing Tools. Take a moment and sign up for the newsletter by "clicking here".

Pro Healing Tools will send news and information about the weekly, monthly, or ongoing sales and specials on our merchandise, including combo packs and mini-libraries like the Galvanic Skin Response and Temperature Meter (the GSR/Temp 2x) and Calmlink Software Combo, which is a great and inexpensive way to add biofeedback to your practice, or the Private Practice Solutions Pack for those wanting to start their own practice. These are serious solutions for serious professional healing. And there's more!

The newsletter will contain graphics and links that will bring you directly to the product where you'll have the opportunity to buy it right on the spot. So, make sure your email viewer has HTML or graphics options turned on.

Please know that Prohealingtools.com will never share, sell, trade, or redistribute your email to third parties. We value your privacy and private information. For more info, see our Privacy Policy.

Looks like things are on the move for the young company that sells professional grade products to help heal the mind, body and spirit.

        

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Drew Carey's been pretty busy. And I'm happy for the guy. I was a fan of the Drew Carey Show when it went into reruns. And I enjoy his hosting of The Price is Right. But what I really like are his presentations of "the other side of the story." These are the things that get little media attention, but should ignite a fire of outrage in amyone who believes in the strength and will of the individual. Check out how hard it is to put kids and their education above politics.

If you can't see the video, click here.

Also worth giving a read are the reports from the Heartland Institute's controversial International Conference on Climate Change. Interesting that the scientists that assert dire consequences of global warming did not attend, despite an open invitation to present their works.

Cold Water on Global Warming
Global Warming is Real
Amazing Climate Predictions Revealed - Climate Models Reviled

Any thoughts? Leave a comment below.

        

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Tension in your muscles can be an indicator of stress in your life. And there are many ways to to decrease muscle tension, whether it be in your neck, back, arms, or legs. Some on-the-spot tension reduction techniques might include progressive relaxation or even deep diaphragmic breathing, as I have suggested in the past. But for a more care-free and truly pampered experience, try a massage.

Massage therapy is probably one of the oldest professions in the world (not the oldest...we all know what that one is!). While historically it may have been utilized by only the very wealthy, today it is quickly becoming accepted as a legitimate treatment for stress, pain, and injury recovery, with many doctors and consumers agreeing on its benefits. Massages can even be purchased inexpensively if you go to a local massage therapy school, where students learning the trade will gladly accept the opportunity to practice their newly acquired skills on you.

Massage for stress

In regards to stress, especially with muscle tension, massages have the benefit of increasing blood flow to those areas deprived of adequate circulation. As the therapist works the muscle, warm, oxygen-rich blood travels to the site to deliver its nutrient rich content, and export "toxins" away from the distressed muscle. Muscle fibers and connective tissues are loosened and relaxed, sending signals to your brain that indicate everything is all right now. The muscle becomes warm and tension is eliminated.

Deep diaphragmic can be used in conjunction during the massage, but it does take some conscious thought and intent, and quiet frankly it's best to just let go and let the massage therapist do all the work.

My first massage was at a day spa called Scarlett's Lace Day Spa and Gift Shoppe, located in St. Cloud Florida. The staff was courteous and friendly and the environment was all about stress reduction, relaxation, and peace. Penny, my masseuse, was gentle but very therapeutic with the massage, as she understood that it was my first time. My nervousness about what to do, how to position myself, and how to react was quickly quelled as she started on the back of my neck and worked her way to the base of my head. I instantly felt my sinuses clearing up as she pulled upward on my neck muscles toward my ears. There was a clearing of my head, not just of physical tension and bogginess, but mentally as well. The soothing background music provided the perfect soundtrack to the images of a warm sandy beach that replaced the hectic pictures of life and work that were weighing heavily on my mind.

After an hour of a whole body deep tissue massage, I got up from the massage table feeling refreshed, relaxed, and at peace. I didn't want it to end, and I probably could've laid there for another hour or two, but I was glad that I got to experience what I have told my clients in the past to go have.

Go get a massage

You don't have to be a rich CEO or a famous celebrity to enjoy a massage. Massages can be purchased by anyone, at many different price levels, for many different types of massages, and for various lengths. It's no longer just about being pampered. Massages are integral parts of whole health treatments and lifestyles, nowadays. Their use in managing pain and injuries as well as for treatment of migraines and other health conditions is becoming widely documented and accepted.

For more information on massage therapy, visit the American Massage Therapy Association.

If you're in the central Florida area, stop by Scarlett's Lace Day Spa for a one hour deep tissue massage. They are located at 1215 Illinois Ave., St. Cloud, Florida, 34769. You can phone them for an appointment at 407-891-1992.

        

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Here's a free moon pic I took this evening. I like the blue aura around it. The air was cool and dry tonight, and I looked up at the sky and saw this wonderful image of the moon. It was was so relaxing that I wanted to capture it and share it with you.

I hope to get a new camera in the future, but I really can't justify the expense right now. If only I took the time to look up more often, maybe I'd have every reason to head down to Target and pick up a new dig-cam.

Feel free to copy and use the moon pic as you like. You may alter the moon pic, as well. All I ask is credit for the pic. "Courtesy of mangroverootgang.com" will do. Thanks.

        

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Do you complain that the rich have too much money? How angry do you get when you sit in a traffic jam? Is your boss too bossy? Do you pay too much for clothing, food, books, or education? Should retail stores charge only what you want to pay them? Are you unhappy with how life treats you? Are you a victim of life's circumstances? Are you a consumer or a creator?

What's the difference between a consumer and a creator? Imagine two people stuck in a deep hole or pit. One does his best to yell at the top of his lungs, alternating between cries for help and demands for someone to throw down a rope or ladder. The other assesses the situation, searches his surroundings, and then uses materials from the environment to build a solution that eventually frees both of them. The first person - the one that cried for help - proceeds to tell his friends and family about his harrowing ordeal and how the second person took so long to get them out. The second person - the one who saved them both - shrugs his shoulders and takes a moment to give thanks and count his blessings. Person one: consumer. Person two: creator.

Traits of a consumer

Consumers do just that; they consume the goods and work of other people. They don't make it a habit of contributing to other people's lives. When they do, they expect a reward in return. In other words, they prefer to receive rather than give. These folks are the ones that push and shove others on their way to the check out line or complain that the rich are too rich. They don't respect the rights of others. In fact, they don't even recognize that others have rights. Here a list of some common traits that you'll find in people that are primarily consumers in life:

Consumers

* Expect to get what they want when they want it each and every time
* Complain about life
* Are egocentric
* Are your typical spoiled person
* Don't have stable emotional boundaries
* Feel entitled
* Easily lose their temper
* Worry more often
* Are rigid thinkers
* Have more physical ailments
* Have more troublesome relationships because they have trouble thinking about others
* Become easily jealous
* See the negative and are easily dismayed
* Are very critical of others
* Are afraid to take risks to better themselves
* Depend on other people's decisions before they make a move

Traits of a creator

Creators spend much of their lives thinking about how they can provide value to others. Creators do consume, but not in the vast quantities that consumers do. They consume enough of the work of others to satisfy their basic needs, but then continue on a journey to create the things that others want to consume. Here's a short list of the traits that define creators:

Creators

* Are independent
* Are forward thinkers
* Are goal driven
* Accept life's challenges
* Are undeterred by obstacles
* Do not gripe about their lot in life, but problem solve to move to the next level
* Focus on the here and now
* Are less likely to harp on the past
* Innovate
* Have more satisfying relationships because they see the novelty in their relationships rather than the mundane
* Can see the opportunities and possibilities
* Evaluate risks and consequences and make informed decisions
* Take action
* Want to do their best

What would you add to either list?

        

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There is a coupon for Free Shipping on orders over $25 at prohealingtools.com. This offer is good until The end of December 2007. I've added some great combo packs for stress, pain management, and sleep disorders. So if you're interested in these deals, head on over to the store. Also let your buddies, family, and friends who are in the mental health field know that more great deals are planned for the future. Yes, anyone who you know that is a doctor, psychologist, counselor, hypnotherapist, etc., can order. Ok...even you can order if you want.

Also new is a planned directory for healing practitioners. Pass the word that practitioners can get their private practice listed in the upcoming directory. Anyone who considers themselves a practitioner of the healing arts and has a legit practice can list. Details to come, but you can email me from prohealingtools.com.

I'm planning to add another great selection of books that deal with mindfulness and health. If you know of a good book or product, and are willing to add a short testimonial, shoot me an email.

Thanks,
RY

        

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For the past few months, I have been hard at work starting up a new venture. I realized that the only way for me to learn about the ins and outs of business was to start one up myself. But what kind of business reflected who I was, and where I wanted to go in life?

The answer was simple and difficult. Simple in the fact that I knew I wanted to start something low cost, and something that would challenge me to learn something new. This way, I would keep my interested piqued in a positive way. Difficult in the fact that I had to do some introspection on who I was and what I had to offer to others.

In searching for my self, I realized that I belonged to several categories. For instance, I am a college graduate (3-time grad to be exact), I belong to two healing and helping professions (nursing and psychotherapy), and I am a creative dude.

With those things in mind, I decided to start an online store that reflected who I was and how I wanted to go about doing things. The outcome:

Pro Healing Tools and prohealingtools.com
Professional Healing Tools, By Professional Healers, For Professional Healers

Prohealingtools.com

This is basically an online catalog of professional tools and resources geared toward the professional user. The professional user in this case being any professional of the healing arts: counselors, psychologists, other mental health pros, hypnotherapists, etc. Right now it's mostly books that I think any professional healer would consider having as part of their professional library, as well as hypnosis and relaxation CDs that professionals can use with their clients. I've even got my stress book for sale at the site (hey, it's my store, why not?).

I'm adding more items every day, including some exclusive combo packages that you won't see for sale anywhere else. Prices are competitive with other major online outlets, but in the future my customers will see some special deals that they can't get anywhere else. At least that's the plan.

Lessons in business

Starting your own business, and doing things from scratch is a real learning experience. I've learned how to make cold-calls to distributors to ask for partnerships, opening up business accounts from banks and lenders, and dealt with the bureaucracies of government.

There are lots of things that most people, perhaps, don't think about when starting a business. Everything from getting a business license to choosing your merchandise can be a hassle. But above all, I am learning what I want and what I don't want in life, and that's the best thing about this whole venture, so far.

I'll be focusing on advertising across the web, and then somewhere down the road I hope to put some ads in printed periodicals like some health magazines, but mostly in the trade papers of mental health professionals.

The biggest obstacle, and the most challenging component of starting and running a business has to be the taxes. I'll be organizing my records and receipts and getting with my accountant to make sure everything is kosher.

Geez, of all the things in the world that could hurt a business the most, it has to be taxes. Taxes are by far the biggest hinderance to business. Why does a product cost X amount of dollars? A big reason is taxes. Why are businesses structured in weird ways? Taxes. Ugh!

For now, prohealingtools.com is open for business. Stop on by, pick up a CD or a book, and make this blog author one happy business man! Also, if you know of anyone who would benefit, pass on this info. Or if there is a book that you are looking for but can't find, go to the site and request it.

Thanks.

-RY