Prompt: The Daily Topic: What are you cooking up in your head? Write a personal recipe for happiness or some other pleasant emotion, or write a recipe of your day. List the ingredients, then creatively explain how you'd make the dish."
When one door of happiness closes, another opens but often we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us. ~ Anonymous
Everyone wants to be happy. They tend to look for happiness all over when actually happiness is right within them. Some also tend to feel that it’s either money, expensive things or anything else materialistic which will make them happy. They don’t realize that true happiness lies within their family, their friends, their small successes and achievements. And go hunting for happiness without ever truly finding it. Of course there can be and will be subtractions and additions of happiness in life, but the happiest people just make the most of everything they have rather than complaining all the time for something they don’t. Inner peace is a path to happiness and it always does not have to be a by-product of money.
In my view, a recipe for happiness which serves all:
It should start as soon as you are awake and should never end. Mix 2 cups of smile and patience, a heart of gold showering love, 2 handfuls of a helpful attitude, dashes of laughter, sprinkled with charity and kindness, plenty of trust and understanding, and a touch of care.
After all, Happiness is a journey all through life, not the end of any goal.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Osteoporosis
Common symptoms, diagnosis and cure of Osteoporosis
Anna had been experiencing slight pain in her shoulders and lower back for sometime. Assuming that it was due to fatigue as a part of old age, she overlooked the symptoms. Little did she know that it was osteoporosis, the ‘silent disease’ creeping into her body making her bones fragile.
Very often, the patient having osteoporosis does not feel sick; hence the problem is not diagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage. As osteoporosis progresses, its symptoms start becoming evident in the form of severe back pain, or hampering the daily routine activities which begin to get extremely tiring. Osteoporosis weakens the bones leading to thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density; a common factor being age, found mostly in women over the age of 50. The hip, spine and wrist are especially vulnerable to fractures even from minor injuries.
Common symptoms occurring late in the disease are:
- Back pain slowly leading to a bent back, called a dowager's hump (kyphosis) as the bones of the spine gradually collapse.
- Cramps in the legs
- Shoulder and Neck pain
- Loss of height
- Tooth loss due to a weaker jawbone structure.
- Fatigue
- Knee pain indicating other health problems such as arthritis.
- Pain in the bones or muscles, particularly of the back.
As the symptoms don’t appear early, it is often difficult to get treatment at the right time. However, a few tests are available to detect the stage of osteoporosis in the patient and the corresponding treatment provided.
Diagnosis methods:
- Bone density tests: Specialized tests which measure the bone density in various parts of the body. They measure the rate at which the patient is more susceptible to fractures and the rate at which the bone loss is occurring in the body.
- Blood tests
- Spine X-ray
- Spine CT
The bone mineral density tests deals with a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The results are measured by a T-score. If the T-score is -2.5 or lower, the diagnosis is osteoporosis. If the T-score is between -1.0 and -2.5, the patient is considered to show osteopenia (a reduction in bone mass, not as severe as osteoporosis).
Treatments:
There are a number of treatments available which bring relief to a person dealing with osteoporosis. Initially, the doctor recommends healthy fruits and vegetables especially ones containing Vitamin C. Calcium supplements are also given along with to increase the calcium content in the bones. If osteoporosis is at a very advanced stage, treatments such as physiotherapy or estrogen replacement therapy are given.
Little did Anna realize that she was facing an acute problem. She underwent blood tests and bone density tests. She has been advised to take calcium supplements all her life and regular physiotherapy sessions for at least two months. Though she has regained health, she firmly believes in visiting a doctor before the pain gets excruciating and intolerable. As they say, prevention is the best cure.
Anna had been experiencing slight pain in her shoulders and lower back for sometime. Assuming that it was due to fatigue as a part of old age, she overlooked the symptoms. Little did she know that it was osteoporosis, the ‘silent disease’ creeping into her body making her bones fragile.
Very often, the patient having osteoporosis does not feel sick; hence the problem is not diagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage. As osteoporosis progresses, its symptoms start becoming evident in the form of severe back pain, or hampering the daily routine activities which begin to get extremely tiring. Osteoporosis weakens the bones leading to thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density; a common factor being age, found mostly in women over the age of 50. The hip, spine and wrist are especially vulnerable to fractures even from minor injuries.
Common symptoms occurring late in the disease are:
- Back pain slowly leading to a bent back, called a dowager's hump (kyphosis) as the bones of the spine gradually collapse.
- Cramps in the legs
- Shoulder and Neck pain
- Loss of height
- Tooth loss due to a weaker jawbone structure.
- Fatigue
- Knee pain indicating other health problems such as arthritis.
- Pain in the bones or muscles, particularly of the back.
As the symptoms don’t appear early, it is often difficult to get treatment at the right time. However, a few tests are available to detect the stage of osteoporosis in the patient and the corresponding treatment provided.
Diagnosis methods:
- Bone density tests: Specialized tests which measure the bone density in various parts of the body. They measure the rate at which the patient is more susceptible to fractures and the rate at which the bone loss is occurring in the body.
- Blood tests
- Spine X-ray
- Spine CT
The bone mineral density tests deals with a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The results are measured by a T-score. If the T-score is -2.5 or lower, the diagnosis is osteoporosis. If the T-score is between -1.0 and -2.5, the patient is considered to show osteopenia (a reduction in bone mass, not as severe as osteoporosis).
Treatments:
There are a number of treatments available which bring relief to a person dealing with osteoporosis. Initially, the doctor recommends healthy fruits and vegetables especially ones containing Vitamin C. Calcium supplements are also given along with to increase the calcium content in the bones. If osteoporosis is at a very advanced stage, treatments such as physiotherapy or estrogen replacement therapy are given.
Little did Anna realize that she was facing an acute problem. She underwent blood tests and bone density tests. She has been advised to take calcium supplements all her life and regular physiotherapy sessions for at least two months. Though she has regained health, she firmly believes in visiting a doctor before the pain gets excruciating and intolerable. As they say, prevention is the best cure.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Alpha
Prompt: The Daily Topic: "How did it become yours? Write a story about the first pet you remember owning."
My first pet came as a birthday gift from my parents. A cute, small, roly-poly, furry white Pomeranian dog. We named her Alpha. She was the smallest thing I had ever seen or owned. Being in a hostel I got only a few months to be with her. But the attachment grew like no one else. When I left for school, she didn’t eat for days. Slowly she began getting attached to my mother. She was such a friendly and lovable dog. She used to caress my mom’s hair and my mom would go off to sleep. She never used to bother anyone with her barks. Just a small pet with loving eyes and a golden heart. She used to play with the ball or have fun while bathing and splashing water on us. I remember shampooing her hair and she would smell great. I would feel like hugging her even more. I still remember her first photograph taken with a doll: to this day one still feels looking at that photograph that there is a stuff toy sitting near a doll…
We had to let her go to a village where she could have fresh air. We used to live in small flats and Alpha was growing old and needed space to just sit and relax the whole day. The parting was painful, more for my mom than me. She still lives in our hearts and fond memories of hers keep coming back to this day. She had grown so attached to all of us. She had become truly ours…
My first pet came as a birthday gift from my parents. A cute, small, roly-poly, furry white Pomeranian dog. We named her Alpha. She was the smallest thing I had ever seen or owned. Being in a hostel I got only a few months to be with her. But the attachment grew like no one else. When I left for school, she didn’t eat for days. Slowly she began getting attached to my mother. She was such a friendly and lovable dog. She used to caress my mom’s hair and my mom would go off to sleep. She never used to bother anyone with her barks. Just a small pet with loving eyes and a golden heart. She used to play with the ball or have fun while bathing and splashing water on us. I remember shampooing her hair and she would smell great. I would feel like hugging her even more. I still remember her first photograph taken with a doll: to this day one still feels looking at that photograph that there is a stuff toy sitting near a doll…
We had to let her go to a village where she could have fresh air. We used to live in small flats and Alpha was growing old and needed space to just sit and relax the whole day. The parting was painful, more for my mom than me. She still lives in our hearts and fond memories of hers keep coming back to this day. She had grown so attached to all of us. She had become truly ours…
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Boredom
Prompt: The Daily Topic: "What goes on in your head? To not be bored, people often do interesting stuff. Write about a 'game' you play with the world in order to 'kill' boredom."
Boredom is a state of monotony in the mind. Though people tend to blame boredom on circumstances, it is usually themselves they are bored with. It could be due to problems or one is profoundly dissatisfied with his/her life. Prolonged boredom can lead to depression or a drug addiction. Boredom can also be linked to mental fatigue or due to the same tasks being performed everyday. Techniques are available to kill boredom.
I do feel bored and weary like all human beings; due to the same monotonous activities being carried on day after day. Going out with friends or shopping is a great way to kill boredom before it becomes a parasite leading one to depression. I also kill boredom by watching a movie, reading a book or simply playing a game.
Games tend to be usually indoor games such as computer games which are available 24hrs on the internet. A few of my favourite games are the card games such as FreeCell, hearts and solitaire. Also many game sites are available which can help you get out of boredom.
It is important to get out of boredom, find a focus in life and have something to live for. Be it for family or for oneself, you can’t let your life become meaningless with boredom. A sure cure to boredom according to Ellen Parr:
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.
Boredom is a state of monotony in the mind. Though people tend to blame boredom on circumstances, it is usually themselves they are bored with. It could be due to problems or one is profoundly dissatisfied with his/her life. Prolonged boredom can lead to depression or a drug addiction. Boredom can also be linked to mental fatigue or due to the same tasks being performed everyday. Techniques are available to kill boredom.
I do feel bored and weary like all human beings; due to the same monotonous activities being carried on day after day. Going out with friends or shopping is a great way to kill boredom before it becomes a parasite leading one to depression. I also kill boredom by watching a movie, reading a book or simply playing a game.
Games tend to be usually indoor games such as computer games which are available 24hrs on the internet. A few of my favourite games are the card games such as FreeCell, hearts and solitaire. Also many game sites are available which can help you get out of boredom.
It is important to get out of boredom, find a focus in life and have something to live for. Be it for family or for oneself, you can’t let your life become meaningless with boredom. A sure cure to boredom according to Ellen Parr:
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Kids
Prompt: The Daily Topic: "Why are kids different? List five things kids do that adults usually do not. Then, work as many items from your list into a piece of writing."
5 things which kids do and adults don't:
Kids jump from one place to the next
Make things messy while eating
Make a mess while drawing, painting, spoiling sofas and sheets
Kids scream and screech and fight with each other while playing
Kids are very stubborn - When they want something, they want it right then, cannot wait
My daughter who is two years old firmly believes in colouring and drawing all over the house, especially on the sofa and bed sheets, but leaves the drawing book neat and clean. Though she begins to colour on the drawing book; as soon as I am out of the room, she immediately moves to places she shouldn’t. Our walls and sofas have been cleaned a 1000 times by now. She is also very stubborn. When she wants something, especially something to eat, she wants it right then. If I ask her to wait, she simply doesn’t, making me leave all my present work and attending to her first. But all kids have a similar nature. My daughter’s friends’ too are extremely stubborn. Though they all play together, screaming and fighting is a regular affair. Sometimes it gets difficult to control them.
Adults are usually different. They are not expected to do such tasks. After all, we are the ones who have to show the right path to our kids and set an example.
5 things which kids do and adults don't:
Kids jump from one place to the next
Make things messy while eating
Make a mess while drawing, painting, spoiling sofas and sheets
Kids scream and screech and fight with each other while playing
Kids are very stubborn - When they want something, they want it right then, cannot wait
My daughter who is two years old firmly believes in colouring and drawing all over the house, especially on the sofa and bed sheets, but leaves the drawing book neat and clean. Though she begins to colour on the drawing book; as soon as I am out of the room, she immediately moves to places she shouldn’t. Our walls and sofas have been cleaned a 1000 times by now. She is also very stubborn. When she wants something, especially something to eat, she wants it right then. If I ask her to wait, she simply doesn’t, making me leave all my present work and attending to her first. But all kids have a similar nature. My daughter’s friends’ too are extremely stubborn. Though they all play together, screaming and fighting is a regular affair. Sometimes it gets difficult to control them.
Adults are usually different. They are not expected to do such tasks. After all, we are the ones who have to show the right path to our kids and set an example.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Shades of Green
Prompt: The Daily Topic: "Is it a primary color or a mixed one? Write about the best color to come out of a crayon box...in your opinion."
Additive Primary color – Green
Green Color – A perception of light which has a spectrum with a wavelength of 520-570 nanometres. It is created by the mixing of yellow and blue color.
Connotation to the green color can be made to numerous things, some of them being:
Green Politics – A political ideology which emphasises on environmental goals such as ecology conservation and peace movements. This is achieved through non-violence and social justice through the clique of Green movement.
Green Environment and Green Living– It is all about Living in an earth-friendly environment. With global warming increasing at an alarming rate, it is becoming increasingly important for each individual to contribute in his/her own way to keep the environment green by recycling and reusing products, planting trees, conserving energy and saving money and water.
Green Tea – Originated in China, Green tea is made solely from the plant Camellia sinensis that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. It is becoming common in Asia, Japan and the Middle East. Green tea’s health benefits have suggested a reduction in heart diseases. Its widespread awareness has led it to replace Black Tea in the West.
Go Green – Unplug appliances when not in use, save on gas by riding or walking, eat vegetarian, use second-hand products, borrowing from libraries and not buying thereby saves money, skipping bottled water and drinking from the tap, again saving money, donate and recycle electronics, make your own cleaning supplies by using baking powder, vinegar, lemon and soap. Source: www.worldwatch.org
With ‘green’ having so many effects, isn’t it natural to be labelled as the best color coming out of the crayon box!
Additive Primary color – Green
Green Color – A perception of light which has a spectrum with a wavelength of 520-570 nanometres. It is created by the mixing of yellow and blue color.
Connotation to the green color can be made to numerous things, some of them being:
Green Politics – A political ideology which emphasises on environmental goals such as ecology conservation and peace movements. This is achieved through non-violence and social justice through the clique of Green movement.
Green Environment and Green Living– It is all about Living in an earth-friendly environment. With global warming increasing at an alarming rate, it is becoming increasingly important for each individual to contribute in his/her own way to keep the environment green by recycling and reusing products, planting trees, conserving energy and saving money and water.
Green Tea – Originated in China, Green tea is made solely from the plant Camellia sinensis that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. It is becoming common in Asia, Japan and the Middle East. Green tea’s health benefits have suggested a reduction in heart diseases. Its widespread awareness has led it to replace Black Tea in the West.
Go Green – Unplug appliances when not in use, save on gas by riding or walking, eat vegetarian, use second-hand products, borrowing from libraries and not buying thereby saves money, skipping bottled water and drinking from the tap, again saving money, donate and recycle electronics, make your own cleaning supplies by using baking powder, vinegar, lemon and soap. Source: www.worldwatch.org
With ‘green’ having so many effects, isn’t it natural to be labelled as the best color coming out of the crayon box!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
October 10
World Mental Health Day
Started by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992, this day is promoted to raise awareness about mental health and illnesses. Knowledge about mental health is raised through discussions, collection of funds, investments in prevention, rehabilitation programs and the treatment services.
Mental health is categorized not only by an absence of mental disorder; but also a state in which an individual is able to carry out his daily activities fruitfully and productively, leading a stress free life and contributing to the society.
Neurological and behavioural disorders are common all over the world; depression being one of the major forms. People suffering from mental problems not only suffer the physical aspect but also immense social isolation, beating, are left hungry and lead a poor quality of life. HIV/AIDS, violence and abuse are some of the behavioural health conditions leading to mental health problems. These are more prevalent in countries with low employment, less income, lack of education, gender bias and social stigma.
In developing and underdeveloped countries, resources for mental health services are extremely short. The governments and non-governmental organizations should be involved in funding programs and promoting awareness on mental health to be able to prevent disorders in childhood and adults. This can be done by a change in attitudes, increasing investments in mental health, policies and laws which improve human rights in mental health facilities, community care programs and professional organizations should come forward to help people with mental disorders.
WHO has initiated the development of human resources for mental health programs and is working with governments to promote mental health as there is no health without mental health.
Started by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992, this day is promoted to raise awareness about mental health and illnesses. Knowledge about mental health is raised through discussions, collection of funds, investments in prevention, rehabilitation programs and the treatment services.
Mental health is categorized not only by an absence of mental disorder; but also a state in which an individual is able to carry out his daily activities fruitfully and productively, leading a stress free life and contributing to the society.
Neurological and behavioural disorders are common all over the world; depression being one of the major forms. People suffering from mental problems not only suffer the physical aspect but also immense social isolation, beating, are left hungry and lead a poor quality of life. HIV/AIDS, violence and abuse are some of the behavioural health conditions leading to mental health problems. These are more prevalent in countries with low employment, less income, lack of education, gender bias and social stigma.
In developing and underdeveloped countries, resources for mental health services are extremely short. The governments and non-governmental organizations should be involved in funding programs and promoting awareness on mental health to be able to prevent disorders in childhood and adults. This can be done by a change in attitudes, increasing investments in mental health, policies and laws which improve human rights in mental health facilities, community care programs and professional organizations should come forward to help people with mental disorders.
WHO has initiated the development of human resources for mental health programs and is working with governments to promote mental health as there is no health without mental health.
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