Money Behind Anonymous Comments

More and more, all news media is a major turn off these days.  If it was something that added to the discussion, it would be one thing, but more often than not, it is something that degrades humanity.  If you look at the real reason behind anonymous comments on news sites, you will often find it is all about the money.

Recently in the Orlando Sentinel, one of their columnists wrote an article about anonymous comments.  He was very correct in what he wrote, but unfortunately his employer will not do anything about stopping this practice.  It is not in their best interest to stop them, because it ultimately brings in money.  Of course, it is interesting that his column is drawing a great deal of criticism by the very people that are part of the problem.

News is not news these days.  News it not about informing you.  News is nothing more than a tabloid press designed to draw you in, engaging your ego and adding some fear, to the point where you need more of it.  News is about exciting you and upsetting you so you will come back and pay attention to more of what the crafty creators know will continue this relationship.  Yet many people continue to consume what they think "news" is just because they are mesmerized by the illusion of news.

A Little Good News or Some Toxic Negativity

If you follow the news much these days you will see what a depressing entity it really is. Okay, depressive news is nothing new of course because I can remember many years ago when a song came out by Huey Lewis and The News, titled A Little Good News. Many in those days were sitting here and saying the same thing.

Maybe things have not changed that much overall and all we are looking through is just one tiny little blip in time. Maybe it is all a matter of perspective. In fact, it could be that we as humans tend to navigate toward negative news and actually attract it into our lives. In all honesty before we go blaming the news media, if we as humans didn't soak up the negative news, than the news media outlets would be publishing something different.

If you need evidence of that, just take a look at Oprah's new TV station, the OWN network. It is actually a great place with some uplifting and thought provoking programming. You don't come away from watching her network feeling like you have to take a bath to rid yourself of the toxic negativity. Of course there are some that would not listen to Oprah no matter what, but the shows I have watched on there are very good.

News Focus

I don't get it.  I really don't!  We are supposedly an advanced species living on this planet and yet, we act as if we only have one brain cell to engage.  Yes, this blog post is a rant.  I'm sorry.  I apologize, but I just don't understand humans.

Everything now and for the past year seems to be all oriented to politics.  I don't care what issue about politics it is or who is up and who is down, I'm just sick and tired of seeing politics plastered all over the internet as being the only thing that matters.

Again, this isn't about one political viewpoint over another, so if you think it is - sorry, but that is not what this post is.

I even had the audacity of someone take such a benign statement I made last night that was about pets and turn it into something that was political.  I'm still scratching my head about how that could be related to the subject of politics in any way, shape or form.

I look at the news feed reader on google that I use and it is all politics.  There are no other stories.  I can't help but think that we are so puffed up and egotistical in this country that nothing else matters in the world.  I'd love to read "the news", but I guess it does not exist.

People will sit there and complain about one group or the other right now, one disaster or another or whatever it is that is being shown around the clock on the media.  Yet, they don't know how to turn it off.  In fact, I don't think anyone can turn it off.  They just keep watching it and complaining and getting mad at those who don't agree with them.

Your favorite news channel doesn't enlighten you...

Years ago we dropped cable and it was one of the best things we did.  Now, I don't see all the garbage trash being disguised as news and have no desire to see it.  Watching your favorite news channel doesn't enlighten you or make you informed.  In fact, all you're getting is the beliefs and opinions of that show disguised as news.  It doesn't matter the issue or the cause.  100% of all news sources do it!

On the Newsroom, the premise of the show was that to be informed with facts, not beliefs and opinions was the foundation of a strong country.  Yet, everyone today thinks that as they read the "so-called-news" that they have the facts.  Some even think if you listen to multiple sources, you're more informed.  I sit here completely amused by these things.

I can guarantee you that if people start disconnecting their cable and turning off the news, things will change quickly.  Do you honestly think the media will run programming that no one watches?  They make their money by advertisement dollars and the more people that sit in front of the TV there is, the more they make.  If people don't watch, the advertisers leave.  Yet, for some reason people are glued to their news source.

One good thing is if you turn off the news and quit reading all the slanted news stuff out there, you'll fine your life gets less stressful and your quality of life improves.  I'm so glad we turned the cable off.  Not only did it save us an enormous amount of money, but we got our life back.  We learned what being human was.

So instead of turning everything into one singular focus of politics or the latest news story of the day, try to unplug.  Try to find a way in life to discover what is truly important, not just what others feed you and get you to believe is important.  The entire planet will be much better.


#NewsStoryOfTheDay

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Asleep With The Latest News Of The Day

This was one of the examples I used in the blog post on June 13, 2017, Are You Asleep?  This one is an epidemic in our country and most likely throughout the world, so it is important to bring up for discussion.

In this example, Louise has allowed the fear of needing to be up-to-date with the latest tidbit of news to keep herself asleep.  She doesn't realize she is doing this, but when you can stand back and see the bigger picture, it becomes quickly evident that she is asleep.

The news takes us into a dark hole of fear. It holds us there.  It is enticing because it uses all kinds of bright shiny lights and music that mesmerizes us.  Different people telling us how they think becomes how we think and all of this together drags us into fear that keeps us asleep.

At one time I had people in my life that said they never watched the news and I thought they were crazy.  I didn't tell them that to their face, but I thought it.  Yes, I'm being honest here.  However, several years ago we let cable go and we stopped watching the news as a result.

I could not believe how freeing it felt when we did this.  There was much more stress in watching the news, as each one of the pundits and guests they had on were screaming at each other as to what their opinions were. Being away from that felt lighter.  It felt more normal.

We don't realize just how much this is happening until we step away from it.  When we step back and let it go, it feels like freedom.  You begin to feel like you're getting your life back.

Now when I travel, I'll turn a cable news channel on and I end up with the conclusion, "I'm not missing much" by not having this in our house.  I get bored with it quickly because most of these news shows are not saying anything useful.  Most are repeating the same things over and over.  Few, if any, are even coming close to reporting the news.  It is all opinion.


Now, somehow without watching the news, I still seem to generally know what is going on. However, it is without all the noise.  Through Twitter I can see most things show up in a news feed, and in online news readers, I can see the headlines.  Beyond that, there isn't much that is useful.  I apologize to the media-at-large if this offends you, but it is the truth (and you know it).

When we see things in video format with facial expressions and music and words, it changes how our brain thinks.  Our brain is no longer awake and thinking for ourselves.  It is mirroring what we see presented to us.  It is being asleep with the latest news of the day.

If you're thinking I'm nuts, that's fine.  I don't take offense to it.  However, I'd challenge you to shut the news off for 30 days and see how it looks after that.  I bet you will see it differently.

 
Our body and our mind don't need this constant barrage of fear hurled at us.  We're only going to make ourselves more and more sick by stretching the nervous system beyond comprehension.  The mind and body need balance, not a constant bombardment of fear.

Knowing what is going on around us is a good thing, but bathing in it every second of the day is keeping us asleep.  It is not enlightening us as much as we may think it is.  May we wake up and treat our mind and our body with the respect that they deserve.

Make sure you check out the next part in this 11 part series

 Part 4 is "Asleep:  You're Wrong, I'm Right"

 

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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We Fixate Upon The News Story Of The Day

If you watch the news regularly, it appears that life is nothing but a few events.  We fixate upon the story of the day and we rarely see the world in the bigger picture.  Our focus is so narrow, that we miss out on so much going on in the world.

Its human nature to fixate upon the news story of the day.  The news media has been very effective at teaching everyone how to do this.  Every day that we turn on the news or read the papers, we contribute to this teaching and ignorance.  We throw our critical thinking ability to the wind, hoping that at some point we will connect with it.

Everyone gets all up in arms about some tragic event or story and for the next week or two, that is the only thing they want to consume.  Search hits and traffic on the subject increase dramatically.  The news organizations do nonstop coverage on this stories and all stories like it.  In fact, before long that news that everyone is hearing about has been filtered by the news story of the day.

Rush To Judgement

These days, there is no such thing as innocent until proven guilty.  In our current form of news dissemination, we all rush to judgement before we know the facts.  It doesn't matter what story is reported, everyone seems to be an armchair quarterback on every news event of the day.  If everyone was as smart as they purported to be about world events and happenings all across our land, I think we would have the mental capacity to solve every problem known to man.  Okay, maybe I'm being a little too over the top by saying "everyone".

Am I cynical about all of this?  Yes, I will be upfront and tell you that I am.  I hear people tell me that they watch different news sources and then make up their own informed opinions.  Unfortunately, no matter what news source you watch, they all have their bias and their point of view.  You aren't watching "facts".  You are watching "opinions and beliefs".

Do You Truly Listen?

It is so easy at times to want to get caught up in the politics and current events of the day. If we consume the news and talking pundits as if there is no tomorrow, than our reality is often shaped by what is fed to us. You'll notice that instead of most news shows being based on fact, they are based on opinion. The facts just provide ground cover for the opinions in the world of news as we know it.

But there is a broader implication here as daily comments on news sites get thrown around as if they are the truth. When in fact, these comments are nothing more than opinion. You don't have to take my word for it either. Just watch and observe and you will see all of this in action.

Unfortunately, we have become a society that doesn't listen to one another. We value the opinions of others in such a degrading manner that we lack respect for one another. We truly show how little we care for others as we focus on making our viewpoint heard. It seems as if all that matters is what we have to tell others. It is as if we hold the truth and the most important thing to say in life.

We try to forcefully push our thoughts out that we don't even recognize we are doing this any longer. We've lost the art of listening and we've lost the respect we should have for one another. by doing this, we are not only making others less human but we are making ourselves less human. We have diminished the value of all persons.

Over a year ago, I quit watching the news and talking pundits each day on TV. I was tired of hearing people scream opposing viewpoints as if somehow this was a beneficial news production. It doesn't matter what side of the argument you are on, the opinions are hurled at the speed of light. News has become an entertainment show rather than something which is useful to our day. All the media knows to do is sensationalize events of the day. While many loathe and lament this practice, they would not tune in if the news outlets failed to do this. People need to be entertained and see a wow factor in order to participate in any media event these days.

One thing I've noticed since I stopped watching daily news, is that I'm not missing anything. I do read occasional headlines on the internet but rarely do I read an entire article. I'm sure the major news outlets like Fox, CNN, and MSNBC would cringe at the thought of this. Most of what is printed as news really doesn't matter to life. The tabloids, full of gossip, have now become fact. The opinions, disguised as fair and balanced reporting, has become truth. And all the while, the audience fails to notice this is taking place right before their eyes.

I find it disturbing that we have become a society which operates in this manner. We've lost the respect for one another and we fail to truly listen to each other. What does that truly say about each one of us as individuals. This is not something for the government or the politicians to fix. These things change from the individual level at the point of our consciousness and awareness.

My challenge goes out to people everywhere. Take a look at your own daily practices of listening. How do you listen to others? Are you waiting to say what is on your mind long before the person finishes their statement? Do you truly hear what the other person says? Only you can evaluate how you listen to others or how you don't.

I believe that one of the greatest gifts we can give to another is to listen to them. There is no other practice that says to another person, you really matter, than listening to them. Listening with 100% of your mind, body and spirit to another person says I value you and I respect you. May we all be cognizant of just how much or how little we listen to each other.

*For more articles, check out the Mind Body Thoughts Blog

Living Life Without Obsessing About Life

A struggle I've been having in life, trying to live in life without being overtaken by it.  I see many obsessing with the news of the day and while that is of importance to my life, I am so burnt out on it.  I can't take it most days.  I can't deal with it most days.

In my mind, I keep asking myself, how do I go on living life without obsessing about life.  To me, there has to be more than just the latest news story of the day.  There has to be!

I no longer watch TV news of any type.  We gave that up years ago and I am so happy that we did.  There is a much greater peace of mind without seeing the screaming pundits talk about one subject after another.  And no - I'm not taking sides here because all sides do this.

Yet, if I log on to twitter or go online, I have the news shoved in my face.  I have obsession with the news shoved in my face.  It is almost like there is nothing else that matters in this world than the latest news story of the day.

It often makes me want to puke.  I scream out in my house, but what does that get me - cats that run and neighbors that probably wonder.  I just can't deal with the news stuff and seeing it at every turn in life, is more than I can take.

Overtaken our lives...

I wonder though if the obsession that most seem to have is a good thing.  It truly feels like to me that it has overtaken our lives and left us reduced down to a single focused entity.  It doesn't feel healthy to me in the least.

I see people screaming all day and I see many not listening.  I see people just telling everyone how they should think and believe, but no one is listening to the other.  Yes, I've written about this subject before, but it just seems to wipe out the enjoyment of life.

Am I saying we should go hide in a closet?  No!  Am I saying we shouldn't engage on issues that we care about?  No!  Am I saying we should just all get along in a peaceful world with no conflict?  Probably not!  That may just be wishful thinking.

Reach out with our hearts...

Yet, I think there is much we can do to help this world along by listening and trying to reach out with our hearts.  I think there is a lot we can impact by not being so obsessed with the latest news story of the day.

Heck, most of these news stories, regardless of the source, are biased and presented as fact, but are the opinion of the news delivery service.  None are better than the other because they ALL do it!

I don't know.  I don't have the answers either.  I just see people being so obsessed with some of the things in life rather than living life.  It is robbing us of joy.  It is robbing us of peace.  Is there a way we can engage without obsessing?  I'm not sure.

The thing I do know is if we are all screaming at the top of our lungs at one another, we're probably not going to get anywhere.  Some things are as they are for whatever reason we may not understand in this moment.  If we let them rule our day, then we've lost our life.  If we don't keep focus and balance, then we will become too weak to stand.

My hope is that we all learn how to use our hearts to listen more and scream less.  My hope is that we begin to see each other (and that means everyone) as human, not as enemies.  We're all on this planet earth and if we don't learn to work together, it may get to a point one day where it will be too late.

#Balance

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Negativity Makes Us Less Than Human

It is sad to watch how the world behaves these days.  It seems that everyone is caught up in the fear, the loathing, the hatred, judgement and criticism of one another.  I can't speak for all countries and nations of the world because I do not live or travel there, but in the US, it is a very toxic place.

All you have to do is take a moment and observe what is going on around you.  If you watch the news or follow it along on the internet, you'll see just how toxic it has become.  We are not doing anyone much good these days and if we don't reverse this, I fear we will completely lose our sense of humanity.

Take for example, the Olympics and Michael Phelps.  The other day when he did not win the gold, I immediately saw a twitter trend of many negative comments towards him.  It was almost like people reveled and took joy in his demise of not winning the race.  One person even tweeted me as if to enlighten me that while Phelps had done great things, he is very douche like.  While I'm not sure exactly what she was referring to, my response was that I try to find the good in all people.  After all, this is a competition and yet, we feel the need to hate and criticize with negativity something that someone does who we barely know or interact with?  It still boggles my mind just how hateful these things were.

Addicted To Fear

We have just witnessed some horrible acts of violence at the hands of a shooter in Colorado.  My heart goes out to the survivors and family who remain behind.  I can only imagine the horror they are facing in the quiet moments.  The depth of their pain is great and unless you've been through this, it is hard to imagine the fullness of it.

One thing I find sad though is how addicted to fear we have become in our country.  As a result of this tragedy, we had the nonstop coverage on the news regarding this story.  Even when the news had nothing to say, they invented things to say.  One reporter thought that the shooter was a member of the tea party when in fact, this "investigative" reporter failed to fully do his job.

In these tragedies, we all expect our news programs to run continuous coverage of these events.  Whether they have anything to say or not, we as a nation are sitting on the edge of our seats just in case they have something new to report.  In my opinion, this is some of the most destructive behavior we can engage in. Yet, we drink the news as if it is our favorite alcoholic beverage.

News Comments That Destroy Humanity

Today as I am writing this, I once again see a news report that brings shame upon the inhabitants of the world.  It isn't so much the story, as it is how we react to the news with our comments and opinions stated as facts.  It is how we disparage one another that is of greater value to me, than what our positions are based upon which side of the view point we fall upon.

We've all read the stories lately of the airplane crash, the George Zimmerman trial, and the supreme court rulings among others.  Unfortunately, if you go and begin reading the comments below these stories or follow the twitter feeds, you see just how much people online show their hatred and disrespect for one another anonymously.  It really is sad if you stop and think about it.

I'm sure we are all passionately concerned about things that happen around us and when we feel helpless, we tend to find a way in life to give ourselves some point of reference.  Often this comes out in how we react to these situations in what we say and do.  Most often, while these things may be a part of our current awareness, they are not always appropriate to display in an anonymous fashion online.

Remember back to the days when message boards first came out.  You had some control type personalities that tried to monitor every word that happened.  In addition, you had those that lurked in the shadows trying to stir up trouble.  Let's not forget about the ones that would see something posted and then react, because after all they weren't screaming or disrespecting another person - it was the screen or the computer or the internet site they were screaming to.  It wasn't perceived as a person, although in many aspects it was.

Some Days You Hear Bad News

Some days you just want to have a do-over.  Some days you hear bad news and its a shocker.  Some days you just want to turn the hands of time back and somehow alter the events of the day.

I remember in the early days of the paralysis that I went through, things were frightening and tough and unknown.  I didn't know what was happening to me and no one could explain it to me.  All I knew was that my body was failing me in ways I could not comprehend or imagine.

I remember that one day of hearing bad news in particular when the doctors breathed the words to me that I had MS (Multiple Sclerosis).  It was a time when there was no internet to search and so information was hard to come by explaining what this was.  However, I knew enough that the news wasn't good.

In those moments after hearing this news, I was in shock and utter disbelief.  Actually, I wasn't even sure how to feel or what to think in these moments that followed.  There is no way for the human mind to comprehend what has been told to you when it is horrible news about your health.  There is no way for the mind to fully understand what lies ahead.

Turn The Divisiveness Off

Written by Don Shetterly

It is too easy for us to engage with behaviors we think are helpful, but not be fully engaged as human beings.  We want to be conscious.  We want to be aware, but more often than not, we participate in life unconsciously.

It is epidemic these days as so many find their sustenance through every news headline, broadcast, and news shows.  They decry that which is said, but they cannot get enough of it.  They thrive on all that is reported as if their life will crumple to the ground without it.  If it is not the news, it is people that are like minded they listen to as if it is the gospel truth.

Many people say, "That's Not Me!" 

Many will say, "I Don't Do That!" 

Unfortunately, they do.

If as many people did not watch the TV news as said they did, we would see different programming.  If as many people didn't crave everything politicians said or tweeted, we wouldn't see much of this stuff show up.  If we learned to respect those we disagree with, we would be much more human and loving than we are.

The news and various people across the spectrum of our society get people cranked up.  They say and do things that will get a rise out of people and get them to respond.  Even while saying they won't, people seem not to be able to help themselves.

We worry far too much about what is in the news these days. My personal opinion is that there are little substance and value in the news reports.  Our society bases so much of our life upon this while screaming and raving about it.

If you want to bring change to the world, then turn the TV off.  There's very little value in what is purported to be news, and that is from all perspectives.  There is not anything out there worth consuming.  The more people that turn the TV off, the more things will change.

Yes, that is my view and opinion, but I do put my money where my mouth is.  We no longer get regular TV because it just had very little value to it for the money spent.  At first, I thought I could never do this, but I can tell you that I'm so happy we did.  We no longer miss it, and I believe that we've found a little more peace in a day.

The people grandstanding for all to hear in these times, thrives on someone listening to them.  If they are met with silence, it becomes like a clanging gong that no one needs to hear.  The best thing you can do to stop it is to just not listen.  Turn it off.

There is so much more to life, and we are consumed as a society by what is fed to us every day.  Let us find the joy and the peace, not the anxiety and despair.  Let us find love towards one another, not divisiveness and hatred.

The choice is up to each one of us in how we choose to live our daily lives and what we allow in.  We are at a turning point I believe, and I hope that each one of us will choose wisely each and every morning we awaken.

Our body, mind, spirit, and heart will thank us for it.

Clutter In Our Life, Part 1

Clutter #1 - Spending our hours watching TV news
Part 1 of 10

I know, I know, I used to be one of those people. I thought I had to listen to it on the radio, the internet, the TV and read every bit of internet news coming out. To me, it was a badge of honor and being more knowledgeable of what was going on.

However, I found out that most of the news was based upon touching the fears that humans have. It is sensationalized so much to bring out those fears and insecurities so each person will watch it. Then it is repeated over and over, mixed and digested and regurgitated until you have heard the same news every which way that is known to the earth.

The 24 hour a day news channels really do a disservice to this world but yet enough people watch them to keep them on the air. In many ways, each person that watches the news is a willing accomplice. It doesn't matter if it is CNN, MSNBC, Fox or any other network. It is all the same. Each one just spins it differently.

Come back tomorrow for part 2 of this series, Clutter In Our Life. Below are the various parts to this series that you can read as well.

Clutter In Our Life Series
- Introduction
Part 1: Spending our hours watching TV news
Part 2: Keeping Ourselves Constantly Busy
Part 3: Numbing Ourselves
Part 4: Following Blindly
Part 5: Food Choices
Part 6: Health care, Doctors, and Medicine
Part 7: Hydrating Our Bodies
Part 8: Thinking We Have The Answers
Part 9: Exercise Is For Another Day
Part 10: We Fail To Evolve
- The 30 Day Challenge


Blog Post & Images (c) 3/20/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Glued To The News Of A Tragedy

Lately, we are overloaded as a people.  Our nervous systems are designed to handle a great deal and so is our brain.  Yet, when we see events of the past few weeks unfolding every day, we push the limits of all that we can endure.

If we are glued to the news of a tragedy, it can be just as harmful in my view as if we were right there involved in the tragedy.  I say this because I can see it in myself.  When we watch the images that are repeated over and over, its like we are re-traumatizing ourselves.  It imprints into our brain and wires us with emotion to make this a very strong neural pathway.

Even if we hover over every news article and tweet or Facebook posting, we are allowing ourselves to be glued to the news of a tragedy.  It is not healthy for us.  It keeps our body revved up as if the events are happening and continuing to happen.

It keeps fear alive inside of us...

It keeps fear alive inside of us because when we see these things unfold, it connects with that part within our mind and body that says, "it is not safe".  When we connect with the unsafe part, it recalls all those memories where we did not feel safe.  It re-traumatizes us as if not only this current event is happening, but that there is a strong basis for past events to have happened.

When we keep our body and our mind ramped up in fear, we are not taking care of ourselves.  We are not allowing our nervous system to calm down.  We are not feeling in our body, because the last thing that fear does is allow you to feel anything in your body.  The less we feel, the more we set ourselves up for illness and health conditions that will have an environment to grow.

Our nervous systems are overloaded...

Our nervous systems are already overloaded in this world.  We have pushed ourselves far beyond the normal limits of healthy behavior.  Events like we've seen unfold lately only push those limits into the upper ends of the danger zones for our mind and body.

It is up to each one of us to limit how much we take in during these tragedies of life.  Being glued to the news is not something that is helpful.  I'm not telling you to stick your head in the sand, but limit your intake of this harmful and toxic news that is replayed hour upon hour.

The media's goal is to keep you hooked into their programming so they make money.  They are not here for our evolution or awareness or consciousness.  If they limit what they show, you'll turn to those that don't.  If you truly want to take care of yourself, then don't glue yourself to the news of a tragedy.  It will only harm you, not help you.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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How Awake Are We?

How awake are we? This is an important question to ask one's self. I'm not referring to hitting the alarm clock and pulling ourselves out of bed to start our day. I'm not referring to being asleep in the night time or awake as in the day time. This is the basic question of our lives that is philosophical, yet very real.

Through The Media:
If you watch the news and follow the accounts of what is happening in the world according to the different media outlets, there is a good chance that being asleep is normal routine for your life. Most of what is reported in the media is not balanced, not factual and not fair and balanced as some outlets would suggest. There is no more balance in the far left reporting than there is in the far right reporting. CNN, MSNBC, and FOX NEWS all have their biases and their own pools of thought that yield to their agendas. Yet, many millions of Americans take the news to be the authority on what is happening in the world. We even have pundit after pundit now analyzing the way we should look at news.

It is not a world that allows us to wake up no matter how much we may think it is. Try turning the news off for a month and only reading some headlines if you feel the need to know what is going on. If you tune out all the extra stuff and just focus on the main thoughts in a headline, you'll be surprised at how your view changes to the news. Try turning off the TV news and you'll begin to breathe much easier and find more enjoyment and peace in life. If you don't believe me - try it and see if you can prove me wrong!

Our Daily Activities
Another major area where we tend to "sleep in life" is that of what we choose to do in our day. Time and time again, I see people who are running to and from all kinds of activities for their children, all kinds of events and various other things as well as all the running in high speed that they do in their jobs. There is never a moments rest. All is about getting to this place and doing this or that, having this day filled up and that weekend booked with things. Granted, some of these things are good things but when they get to the point where you have no down time and no rest in a day or even in a week, they become interference and noise in our lives.

Our bodies need the down time and the rest. We were not meat to multitask forever and ever in our lives. The brain and the body can not rest and repair itself when we're running in high gear. Try taking a look at your schedule for a week and see if you cannot cut in half all the things you do. Give yourself some down time where you might just go for a walk, or sit in a park or maybe read a book, take a bath or some other restful activity. One that does not involve the TV would be very important in these down times. And at the end of the week, see how you feel and see how life seems to you. I'm willing to bet that you'll see a difference in your life and things that you thought were helpful and important may appear differently.

Health Care
Another area where virtually most of us are asleep is in the area of our health. We tune into the media and health care ads to see what it is that we should do to keep our lives healthy. Some of us might consider the route of exercise as being the way we keep our self healthy. While this does help, health is much more than that. Some of us might be looking for a drug that helps some infliction that we face in our life or maybe a term that describes a condition we face. We feel that is healthy. Some of us feel that test after test prescribed by the medical community gives us the edge on preventive measures while in some ways, they are masking the true source of what may be going on.

Yes, some medical procedures are warranted and one should always make informed decisions but so many of us follow the medical establishment blindly because a Doctor makes some statement, or a internet site makes a claim or there is some "research trial" that suggests it is so. Do you know just how much research is done that is not being truthfully and honestly reported? Some of us might think that taking a flu shot is the best way to stay healthy when in fact, it is in all reality introducing the toxin into our system. I'm not advocating that all shots and vaccines are necessarily bad but I am urging people to open their eyes and be 100 times more informed than they are.

If you think I've fallen off my rocker, try to consider this? Listen to all the side effects of the drug commercials and in fact list them on a piece of paper. Now, take some time to ponder what these are. I'm sure you'll begin to see that some of these drugs can be more harmful than good. Realize to that with each drug that helps to alleviate some symptom in your body, it means that some other part of you is being turned off which of course leads to an imbalance in your body that will require further drugs or treatments. That's a mind blowing thought if you think about it.

Spirituality
One other big way people are asleep is through their spirituality. Yes, as spiritual as people want to be to themselves and the world, they are often asleep. Whether it is one church denomination or another or some spiritual self help group or even some new age/spiritualism thought pattern, they are all acquainted with being asleep to some degree. I'm often amazed at how one church feels they have more figured out than the next and they are the ones going to heaven while the others are going to be lost in Hell. I've even seen churches where clapping, instruments and certain activities are ok while it being considered wrong and sinful in others. Oh how I remember one church we went to that the church split up because some people liked to clap in a worship service while others thought it was immoral.

I'm more amazed at just how the new age spiritual movement tries to flee some of the teachings of the mainline churches. In it, they think that they have reached a higher enlightenment because they don't do things like the main denominational churches do. Yet, if they truly looked at what they did, they would quickly notice that their vocabulary and customs mirror that which is in the churches. Yes, there may be differences but if you look at the root of these things, you'll see the same elements in the churches.

Again, I ask you to take a look at yourself and see what is similar and what is different. Don't just follow someone's teachings or some book's teachings and treat it as the entire basis for life. That is being asleep. Question everything that is being taught and realize that much of what is being said, is nothing more than that person's own interpretation of what spirituality is all about. Spirituality is much more then following dogma or church teachings. Most of us limit spirituality though to something that has been regurgitated over and over throughout the ages without giving a thought to what is the true meaning behind our spirituality. I've got a feeling that there are going to be many surprised people one of these days when heaven and hell don't appear in the form they were taught.

All too often, we as humans look to others for our source of inspiration, knowledge and answers. We feel that the answers we seek to the conscious and unconscious questions of life, lie in what others tell us. In fact, the answers we all seek to life are within ourselves. This involves the spiritual, the physical and the mental. We all have the power within us to do much more than we realize and to understand much more than we allow ourselves to. Instead, we take the easy road and wait for someone out there to show us the way, to take us out of pain and to make up for our own insecurities. However, in doing so, we have given up the most basic part of our human nature. We have made ourselves powerless when in fact we are powerful.

Stepped On Toes
I realize that I've probably stepped on many toes here and I'm sure to those that read this, many are saying - yeah right - I don't do that or this writer is just not aware of what I know. You can take whatever road you want to take after you read this but at least consider how your life matches up to some of the things I've written about. I'm not asking you to take my word for this. I'm just hoping that you'll think about these things in an honest and truthful way to see if there is something within these words that sparks something in your brain. If you're not able to get to that place, than just hold this in the back of your mind for a future time in life where it will become more valuable to you.

It's In The Body
Many things that I now know in my life came to me many years ago. When I first heard them, I scoffed at them and tried to distance my life from them. I thought, how crazy can someone be to even think about these things. Yet, I have been shown things through very physical ways in my body that I could never understand before. When you see things through your own physical body and not as just some "unknown concept", you can know for sure that there is something to it. Too many follow too many unknowns when in all reality, the answers for most of what we need lies within us. That's all the further we have to go. If you can experience it in your body, than it is real.

Pray Away The STUPID

We pause from our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this breaking news update! Please stand by for an important announcement!

And now, an address from our local news pundits of the day all speaking in unison which is a first for our world.

Researchers have just discovered that you can pray away the stupid. Yes, folks, you heard it here first. One individual that was drugged, tortured and manipulated went from being utterly stupid, to intelligent. It was a remarkable achievement and only took 6 months. The researchers are now writing books based upon these findings and treatment centers are expected to crop up in cities and towns all across our news land.

Just think of what that does for our world. No more stupid people! Everyone is intelligent! No longer do we have to operate to accept stupid people as we all know this can be changed. So rush all your stupid friends and family into these clinics so they can be treated and cured! We no longer have to accept that they live a stupid life! It is after all, a choice!


Of course - don't buy into what I just wrote for one minute! It really isn't true that you can pray away the stupid, although I wish it was at times. I know that many out there use this tag-line to talk about praying away the gay. That is as stupid as what I just wrote and even more stupid in my view. (Blog Post June 12, 2011 - Anti Sissy Therapist).

We all spend our time watching and listening to what the various news channels, newspapers, commentators and pundits say. We've all got our attractions to the various points of view and that's where we go for our information. However, if you took the 30 day challenge, I would almost guarantee that life would begin to look different. (Blog Post April 8, 2011 - Clutter In Our Life, 30 Day Challenge) We are so taken in by the glitz of what is on TV, that inherently, our brains shut down. Yes, we can argue the points of the day based upon what the TV pundits we watch are talking about but does that really make us intelligent?

There is so much more to us as humans. We truly can evolve and become more aware of who we are and the role we are to play in helping advance the universe as a whole. However, we aren't going to find that listening to the current pundits of the day. In many ways, we have almost made the TV and the news that it purports to display, out to be the God we pray to. It has been a subtle shift over the years and the only fix is to take 30 days and stop watching the news on TV. Your life will be forever changed (in a good way).

We apologize for this interruption to your life and now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. Please come back at 11 for the important news of the day.


Further Reading:
1) Anti Sissy Therapist (Blog Post June 12, 2011)
2) Clutter In Our Life, Part 1 (Blog Post March 29. 2011)
3) 30 Day Challenge (Blog Post April 8, 2011)


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http://www.donshetterly.com

If any part of this post is used or shared, a link back to this site is required.
http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/
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Are You Asleep?

Every day I'm reminded of the point of this blog series, and I see it show up online.  However, it happens more than just online in social media.  The question we all need to ask ourselves every day is "are we asleep?"

Sure, I bet everyone will go, "No, I'm not asleep, but boy have you looked at everyone else?" 

We would go on to say, "Have you seen what this person has done or that person.  Have you seen what is going on?"  

Yet, we would claim, "we are enlightened" and "intelligent" and "awake".

Unfortunately that is what our ego leads us to believe.  It disguises what we think reality is while hiding the true view of what being awake really is.  It gets us to believe that what we chase in a day is the best thing for us rather than what actually is.

Here Are Some Examples

1. Joe - Asleep Online

   This is one of the big ones online.  Joe goes browsing through his many social media accounts and only reads a few words.  Rather than reading the whole thing or reading the link behind it, Joe furiously types on his keypad making his point known in response.  Often, the point made has absolutely nothing to do with what the link is about, but "Hey Dude, you're asking a little too much out of me because I can't be bothered with seeing the whole picture.  I'd rather stay asleep."   (Read more: Are You Asleep Online)  posts on 6/14/17
    

2. Louise - Latest News Of The Day

   Louise spends her free time keeping up with the latest news story of the day.  Louise tells herself that she has to keep up on all the latest news.  If she doesn't, she might miss something important.  Yet, she doesn't realize that the news is just sucking her into this dark hole of fear that takes the life from her, leaving her asleep. (Read more: Latest News Of The Day) - posts on 6/15/17.  
    

3. Thomas - You're Wrong, I'm Right

   Thomas thinks that he has to convince everyone just how wrong they are.  It is his duty to show them the error of their ways and not stop until they realize that.  For he knows that his world and everything else in the world depends upon his insight and knowledge.  No one else sees things truly like he does and he believes that all are asleep.  Thomas will not consider for a moment that he is asleep.  (Read more:  You're Wrong, I'm Right) - posts on 6/16/17
    

4. Josephine - Burning The Candle

   Josephine thinks that she can burn the candle at both ends of the stick.  She knows the boss needs something, and the kids have their activities and places to be.  Of course, her husband has expectations for her as well.  She can't let anyone down.  She is the only one that can do the things she does and she often complains how she never has enough help and she's the only one doing everything.  It doesn't dawn on her that she is asleep.  (Read more:  Burning The Candle) - posts 6/20/17
    

5. Mortimer - Pain And Difficulty

   Mortimer thinks that life is just about pain and difficulty.  He goes to his doctor appointments and takes the medications that his doctor prescribes.  He knows that the doctor knows best and so he doesn't question if there is anything different he needs to do in his life.  He just follows the advice without question.  Mortimer thinks he has solved his health issues through medication but what he doesn't realize is he is asleep.  (Read more:  Pain And Difficulty) - posts 6/21/17
    

6. Amy Lou - What We Put In Our Body

   Amy Lou thinks that eating healthy is just something those new age people do.  After all, she knows that every now and then she eats a salad when she goes out to eat.  Yes, she is health conscious because she drinks her diet sodas and consumes the low fat snacks and food as stated on the packaging of the food item.  Water is something she gets when drinking her coffee, but not something that she drinks regularly.  Her body reacts with headaches and fatigue, but she blames this on stress and age, not on being asleep. (Read more:  What We Put In Our Body) - posts 6/22/17
    

7. Frank - Connected To The Job

   Frank thinks that taking time off is a good thing, but he is always too busy for that.  He knows even if he tries to take time off, his email and phone will be buzzing day and night.  Plus when he gets back to the office, he will have twice the work to catch up on, so time off becomes a dream.  Yes, his employer forces him to take at least one week a year away from the office, but he's constantly checking email and working on projects.  He doesn't realize he is asleep. (Read more:  Constantly Connected To The Job) - posts on 6/23/17
    

8. Sally - Asleep By Smart Phone

   Sally loves her brand new smart phone that she got for Christmas.  It makes it so easy to keep up with her friends and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Every free moment she gets, Sally is on the phone.  She feels so good.  It keeps her company.  When she is bored or just needs an escape, out comes the phone.  It helps her while sitting there waiting in a restaurant or when friends are chatting.  She can just go to her happy and safe place with her phone.  Yes, it is disconnecting from everyone, but hey she is still there present with them, although asleep. (Read more:  Asleep By Smartphone) - posts on 6/27/17
   
   

9. Donnie - Feeling Pain In The Body

   Donnie thinks everything is going fine.  He goes to the gym, works hard around the yard at home, and pretty much thinks everything is okay.  He sees others struggling with body aches and pains and thinks, "I'm glad I'm not like them."   After all, he doesn't have time to deal with pains in his body.  There is just too much too accomplish.   Yeah, he gets an occasional headache maybe, but for the most part he has absolutely no pain in his body.  His body is 100% pain free.  Unfortunately, that's a good sign of how asleep Donnie is. (Read more:  Feeling Pain In The Body) - posts on 6/28/17
    

10. Mirabel - Asleep By Happy Thoughts

    Mirabel knows that life can be very difficult, but she will not let that ruin her life.  She shows positivity to everyone around her.  Even if she is so sick she can barely stand up, she puts the smile on for everyone she meets.  After all, it is up to her to set a positive example of what being happy is all about and she sure can't let anyone down.  She can't show anyone that her life is anything but happiness.  So she only shows the happy smile and shares happy thoughts online, avoiding anything and everything that is hard for her to deal with in her life.  Unfortunately Mirabel doesn't realize just how asleep she is.  (Read more: Asleep By Happy Thoughts) - posts on 6/29/17
     

These are all examples of being asleep in life, rather than being fully aware and conscious.  We all have our moments where we are asleep, but it should be our endeavor each day to awaken more and more.

Being fully aware and conscious is not just an exercise for the mind.  We may focus on that and we may only know that route, but this requires a connection between the mind and body.  It is where we discover more of who we are, as we let go of the ego.  It is where we become grounded so that we can soar.

Many of the things that concern us in a day really don't matter in the grand scheme of our life as much as we think they do.  We have allowed our ego to tell us that all of this matters, but the ego is feeding us an illusion as if it were reality.

We often tell ourselves that what we believe is true, yet we fail to stop and see that our own paradigms and beliefs are holding us back.  They are locking us into a box, rather than helping us grow and discover how awake we could be.

I'll try to take each one of these examples and expand more upon it them the coming days.  If one of them resonates with you, there's a good chance that there is a reason it does.  Some of these are firsthand examples from my own life that I have had to deal with, so don't feel like you're alone.

Being human is not about being asleep. Instead it is a continual journey of discovering more of who we are and what makes us human.  The more we open our eyes from our sleep, the more the world looks differently.

Make sure you check out the next part in this 11 part series

 Part 2 is "Are You Asleep Online"

 

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Anger In Our World

I'm amazed at just how angry our world is and the level of anger in so many humans. It does not take one very long to see the evidence of that. Turn on the TV to any news cast or news oriented program and watch it objectively. Most likely, it won't take you long to see just how angry some of these people are.

Many of these people are mirroring what is going on in our world and so their anger comes through as "passion and emotion" but in all reality, it is anger in its purest form. If some of these words were just printed in the newspaper, they would not translate as strongly as when you see them on TV. TV gives a power and a force to the words through the vocal inflections and images see through the eyes of those that watch. It is a powerful medium that can be positive or negative.

Beyond TV and the media, you can see the level of anger by the discourse of politics in today's world. Civility and respect that once dominated our political landscape is now something of the good old days. At one time, this country had honest and open debate between people of differing view points. However, today that is all but a dream. It often comes down to one side trying to shout louder than the other side or trying to one-up the people that have opposing viewpoints.

Even in our every day world, there is a discourse where people really don't stop and listen to each other. It happens every day in the job, in families, amongst friends and just about anywhere you go. Everyone is too busy trying to get their point across that they fail to stop and listen to the other person. They fail in seeing the bigger picture and what truly matters in a day and what does not.

In all of these examples though, the way individuals feel about their lot in life has a lot to do with the anger they push out towards others. While many may not feel they spread their anger around or that they are even angry, you can see it in their words, their thought processes and what they fill their days with.

I remember many years ago sitting in a church of all places and the minister would talk about what we put in, is what we get out. If we take in garbage, we're going to spew out garbage. If we take in love and positive affirmations, than we are more than likely going to put out peace, love and hope to others. It is all dependent upon what we fill our lives through our days and minutes. We are what we listen to.

More importantly, we as a society need to stop and consider why the level of anger is so high and why it continues to elevate year after year. I would differ with most that it is not a result of what the government, or your job or someone you know does to you. It more than likely has to do with events that have taken place in your life or with stress that is building up to the point where you really need to deal with all of it.

Of course, many people do go through life oblivious to how the anger within them is affect others. I've seen people scream at the top of their lungs at another person and not even realize just how angry they are. I have seen people report news and been anything but objective because of the anger they harbor within themselves. I've seen people lash out in ways that an outside viewer would deem inappropriate only to not even realize how much anger they hold.

Anger makes us blind. Anger robs us of precious energy that we can use to effect great change in the world and in our own lives. Anger can cause serious harm and hurt to those who are innocent. Anger can destroy lives, nations and cultures if it is left to fester below the surface.

I'm not going to sit here and say that anger is a bad emotion. I know some people that claim that. However, anger is an emotion of fire which is sometimes needed to bring about change in our own lives. Properly given a way to come out, anger can be life transforming and enlightening. On the other hand, toxic anger can harm the very people we love, appreciate and want to be close to.

In my own life, I had to deal hard with anger. It permeated every aspect of my body, soul and mind. It connected with me when I watched the news and listened to the news pundits. It connected to me when I tried to nurture a relationship. It connected to me when I tried to live my daily life and focus on my career. Anger for a long time, had such great control over my life.

Until I began to learn that I could let the anger out in a safe way, my life was pretty miserable. Those around me wanted nothing to do with me and I could drive people away quickly. At one time, I thought there was no hope and then I had the help of a safe individual who walked this treacherous pathway with me. I soon learned that there were safe ways to let the anger out where I didn't endanger myself or harm those that were around me and cared for me.

All emotions are proper and healthy for our lives if they are in balance. Because of life's experiences we sometimes tend to act as if some emotions are unwanted. However, to fully embrace life and understand all that it has for us to experience, we must connect with every emotion we have. We must feel them and nurture them and let them be our motivating force towards understanding and greater awareness.

For when we hide from our emotions and we hide from truly knowing our emotions, we have taken so much away from who we are as people. To give ourselves life and freedom, requires us to fully embrace all parts of our self, including the parts we would rather not see.

Further Reading:
Trauma Recovery: Stages Of Anger


Blog Post & Images (c) 12/23/10 Don Shetterly - use by permission only

The Truth About Sugar and Heart Disease

Article by Jeff Lemlich

By Jeff Lemlich. There they sit on my living room shelf:   Emmy awards, won during my time as a special projects producer for CBS Miami.  Seeing these statues should be a source of pride -- after all, everyone wants to feel appreciated.

But as I gaze upon two, in particular -- for "Heart Disease:  Beating the Odds" and "Cholesterol Counts" -- the realization hits me that maybe I'm not all that proud.  The realization hits me that we, and our viewing audience, may have been duped.

It wasn't our fault.  After all, it was a quarter of a century ago, and back then the things we reported were things that were accepted as fact.  High cholesterol leads to heart disease!  High fat diets also increase our risk!  Odds are your doctor will still tell you that these things are true.

I am not a doctor and have conducted no research, but I know what has worked for me, and I know the tricks that big business uses to advance their own agendas.  Now we are learning how, and why we have come to accept certain things as fact, when in some cases it's very possible (and likely) that exactly the opposite could be true.

Case in point:  a recent report published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggesting that the sugar industry paid tens of thousands of dollars back in 1967 for a favorable report in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.  That report minimized the link between sugar and heart health, and laid much of the blame on saturated fat.

It came at a time when there were competing studies: one looking at the relationship between high-sugar diets and the heart disease epidemic, and another that pointed to saturated fat and dietary cholesterol.   Guess which theory won out?

According to internal sugar industry documents, a top industry executive cooked up a plan to shift public opinion through "our research and information and legislative programs." (see source #1 below).   The industry then (according to the documents) paid big bucks to be able to hand-pick what was published in that study, which in turn influenced the government's dietary recommendations.

To this day, doctors still warn their patients about saturated fat, while believing that sugar promotes... umm... tooth decay.  (Then again, we still believe that fluoride in our water supply is the answer to tooth decay.   Google "the truth about fluoride" for a real eye opener.)

It was recently revealed that Coca-Cola and Pepsi sponsored 96 national health organizations, pouring lots of money into their coffers while opposing measures such as cigarette-style labels on junk food. (see source #3 below).

According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, soda companies have recently been funding scientific "research" about sugary beverages.   

Is that a conflict of interest?   It sure sounds like one to me.

Studies are now pointing to inflammation -- not cholesterol, not saturated fats -- as the leading cause of heart disease.   As Harvard Medical School's Dr. David Ludwig points out, replacing fat in food products with starch and sugar corresponded with the rise in obesity and diabetes. (see source #2 below).  Ludwig points out how some of the most calorie dense foods -- nuts, olive oil, and dark chocolate, among them -- are associated with less weight gain than processed grains, potato products, and other high carb foods that are part of the government's recommendations.

In other words, we were less obese, and heart healthier, when our diets included whole milk, full-fat salad dressings, and fatty meats.  I'm not saying those things are necessarily good for you, just that they're not necessarily the boogie men we were taught to think they are.

In the '60s we were told that "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down".   We were inundated with songs in which sugar was something great -- the sweetest treat for the sweetest guys and gals.

What we didn't know was how sugar manufacturers were pulling the strings, making us much sicker as the decades wore on.   It's something that everyone needs to hear, if we have any hope of reversing this epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Yes, it  would have been nice to have had this information 25 years ago, when we researched, wrote, and produced our news reports.   We did a good job of telling the story (or what we believed to be the story) and production-wise, we probably earned the awards we received.

The news series helped my own awareness...

To be fair, there was some great information in there that's still relevant, such as how to read nutrition labels, and identifying some of the bad things to avoid (partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup, among them).   Working on those two news series increased my own awareness, and led to a commitment to always read the label before purchasing anything. 

Yet reading a label can only go so far when there's so much confusion about what's good for you, and what's not.  I'm a firm believer in food healing, but the opposite side of the coin is also true.   Replacing highly-processed party treats with whole foods is a good place to begin.

Cholesterol counts?  Maybe... or maybe not.    Heart disease:  beating the odds?   You still can... by keeping an open mind, and not just blindly accepting what special interests want you to believe.

Guest Blogger Note:

Jeff Lemlich is an ex-news producer for Channel 4 (and at one time, Channel 6) in Miami.  He is the music historian for Florida when it comes to Garage Bands of the 1960's.  Jeff is also the author of the book, Savage Lost, and you can learn more about him on his website, SavageLost.com .  Health, well-being, and Mind Body fitness are very important to Jeff Lemlich. This blog post was written by Jeff Lemlich and I'm sharing it exclusively on the Mind Body Thoughts Blog.

Credits:

1. "Heart Disease:  Beating The Odds" aired in 1990 on WCIX-TV in Miami.   Dr. Steve Greenberg and John Roberts (now with Fox) were the reporters.
2. "Cholesterol Counts" aired both as a news series and on an installment of the WCIX public affairs show "Insight" in 1992.  Dr. Steve Greenberg and Ken Matz were the reporters , with Cheryl Stopnick providing valuable assistance.

Sources:

1. How The Sugar Industry Shifted Blame To Fat
   New York Times, September 12, 2016
   http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/well/eat/how-the-sugar-industry-shifted-blame-to-fat.html
2. Doctor:  Low Fat Diets Stuffed With Misconceptions
   CNN, October 13, 2016
   http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/05/opinions/debate-low-fat-diet-ludwig/?iid=ob_homepage_deskrecommended_pool 
3. Big Soda May Be Messing with Our Most Trusted Health Organizations
   Huffington Post, October 2016
   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/soda-companies-fund-health-organizations_us_57fbee6ae4b068ecb5e0e944?

Disclaimer:

This article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice.  Please consult your medical provider for any health decisions regarding this information.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Mind Body Thoughts and Jeff Lemlich

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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