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Gwen Nyhus Stewart Profile and Articles
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1). Listening Skills: Practical Steps To Listening Effectively
The Communication Process
Communication is defined as a process whereby information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behaviours. Human communication is the process of making sense out of the world and sharing that sense with others. The process involves three components: verbal, non-verbal, and symbolic.
2). Time Management: A Non-Renewable Resource
Benjamin Franklin wrote: "If you want to enjoy one of the greatest luxuries in life, the luxury of having enough time, time to rest, time to think things through, time to get things done and know you have done them to the best of your ability, remember, there is only one way. Take enough time to think and plan things in the order of their importance.
3). Gratitude: 10 Practical Steps
Do you get up in the morning determined to have a good day and before you know it, you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, and that you can't wait for the day to be over so you can rest? Do you feel like you are existing from day to day rather than living a life of joy? Do you ever ask yourself, "Is this all there is, and if it is, do I want it?" If so, you are not alone.
4). Forgiveness: A Path to Healing
In our journey to inner peace and healing, both guilt and forgiveness of self and others have a profound effect on this process. Guilt is defined as a feeling of culpability especially for imagined offences or from a sense of inadequacy; a self-reproach; and forgiveness as the act of forgiving or the ceasing of feeling resentment against an offender.
5). Basil: The King of Herbs
One of the most popular herbs is Ocimum basilicum commonly called sweet basil. Often called the ‘king of herbs,’ basil can be grown indoors or out. Sweet basil has inch-long, oval-pointed, dark green leaves and a clove-pepperish odour and taste. Sweet basil makes a handsome, bushy small plant, growing to a foot or more indoors. A purple-leafed variety, ‘Dark Opal’ is decorative, makes a lovely houseplant, and is equally useful in cookery.
6). Back Pain Muscle Spasms. Finding the Culprits
ou have long muscles that run along the spine called the erector spinae muscles. These are often the guilty muscles when you have back pain and muscle spasms. A spasm is an involuntary contraction of the muscle for a sustained period of time.
7). A Place of Sanctuary - Creating Sacred Space
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes health as “the condition of perfect bodily, spiritual, and social well-being and not solely the absence of illness and injury.” As described by the WHO, how many of us feel emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy on a daily basis? We work in structures called ‘sick-buildings;’ we go home to care for families so tired we are almost unable to function; and we increasingly lose our connection with any sense of our place in the universe.
8). Colour in the Garden
Colour affects our emotions, moods, physical, and spiritual well-being. It has a significant effect on everything we eat, drink, and touch and influences our physical environment including our home, office, and garden. Colour reflects our personalities. The colours we prefer for home interiors carried out to the garden, provide continuity between our interior and exterior living spaces.
9). Organic Gardening: 10 Practical Steps
“Organic gardening is not just the avoidance of chemicals, in the larger view, it is organic living using nature’s laws.” I read this quote by an unknown person sometime ago and realized that my parents and others like them were organic gardeners long before the current resurrection of these principles. They didn’t use chemicals on the food they would feed to their children and gardening was a part of daily living to ensure there was sufficient food to preserve for the long winters.
10). Self-appreciation: The Key To Living A Life Of Joy
How do you appreciate yourself? Or do you? Did you learn that being good to yourself was selfish? If you said 'No' were you bad? If you praised yourself or were praised, were people afraid you might get a 'swelled head'? Most of us get the message loud and clear that praising ourselves or others would lead to 'becoming conceited' or 'slacking off.' The tragedy of this belief is that, in fact, the very opposite is true.
11). Feng Shui in the Garden
“The Ancient Art of Placement” called Feng Shui (pronounced phung schway) literally means ‘wind’ and ‘water.’ The Chinese believe this cosmic energy, called Chi or ‘the green dragon’s cosmic breath,’ is the life force energy that pervades human existence. The basic tenet of Feng Shui is to capture this vital energy creating balance and harmony in our environments.
12). Balcony, Patio, and Courtyard Gardening
People choose balcony, patio, and courtyard gardening for many different reasons. Some are moving from a large house to smaller accommodation, some don’t want the hassle of a large property, and some chose to live in rental property to avoid the high-cost of owning a home. Whatever the reason, this doesn’t mean we can’t garden. No space is too small for a small space garden.
13). Garlic: The Stinking Rose
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for centuries for both cooking and medicinal purposes. Known as the ‘stinking rose’ and Russian penicillin, its medicinal purposes have been documented for centuries and have always been a popular remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats. Garlic was used in World War I and World War II to cure many diseases and because it is a potent antiseptic.
14). Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Known as common garden chives, Allium schoenoprasum, can be grown indoors and out. Chives are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and calcium. They are grown for the flavour of their leaves, which is reminiscent of onion, although much milder. Both the stems and light purple flowers are used in cooking and the snipped leaves are an addition to many dishes.
15). Mustard: The Greatest Among The Herbs
Mustard plants have been used for thousands of years for their pungent flavour in condiments, spicy greens for side dishes and salads, and in traditional folk medicine and Chinese herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments. The name mustard comes from the Latin mustum ardens, or “burning must.” It was so named because as the seeds were pounded with unfermented grape juice, or must, their pungent qualities developed, hence “burning.
16). Preparing The Garden For Winter
Are you like me? Sad to see the summer end but at the same time relieved that there is one less task to tend to. Weeding, watering, pruning, and more weeding is over for this year and with a few more chores the outdoor gardening year draws to a close. Most of what needs to be completed is a matter of cleaning up and covering up. Practical steps to preparing your outdoor garden for winter involve:
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17). Companion Planting
Companion plantings of some kind have been practiced throughout agricultural history. Some of the earliest written documents on gardening discuss these relationships. Early settlers discovered American First Nations people were using an interplanting scheme of corn-bean-squash that balanced the requirements of each crop for light, water, and nutrients.
18). Stress Management: 10 Practical Steps
The World Health Organization calls stress "the health epidemic of the 21st century." Stress resulting in illness is the causative factor underlying more than 70% of all visits to the family doctor, medical doctors suggest. What is stress? We all talk about it but what does 'stress' mean and how does it affect our bodies?
Dr. Hans Selye, who first noted and described the concept of stress, defines stress as "the non-specific response of the body to any demand made upon it.
19). Dill: The Most Important Culinary Herb in Scandinavia
The ancient herb, Anethum graveolens or Fernleaf dill as it is commonly known, was mentioned some 5,000 years ago in early Egyptian writings. It is the most important culinary herb in Scandinavia, as popular as parsley is in other parts of the world. The word ‘dill’ stems from the Old Norse word dilla, meaning “to lull,” and can be grown indoors and out.
20). Plants that Clean the Air
There are many reasons for creating an indoor garden – significant among them is the need to clean the toxins from our homes and offices. As a consequence of the energy crisis in the 1970’s, today’s homes and offices are built to conserve energy and the outcome has been a lack of air exchange, with the resulting increase of indoor air pollution. The World Health Organization has stated, “there’s probably more damage to human health from indoor pollution than from outdoor pollution.
21). Taking it Upside Down with a Back Pain Inversion Table
So many people experience back pain in their life. There are many forms of therapies that have been developed to relieve pain, ease muscle tension and improve the spine.
22). The Garden As Healer
The word for ‘paradise’ comes from the Persian word for a garden and has always meant the same thing in every culture. It is representative of ‘paradise on earth’ and is our opportunity to own a little bit of heaven – here and now. It has a restorative significance as a healer when we understand that gardens provide us with a place of sanctuary and well-being.
23). Tomatoes: Apples Of Love
Native to the Andean region of South American and under cultivation in Peru in the sixteenth century, tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) have been grown for thousands of years. The Spanish introduced them to the European cultures. Europeans were not open to trying tomatoes until the end of the sixteenth century, as tomatoes, being part of the nightshade family, were considered poisonous.
24). Meditation: A Path To Inner Peace
Throughout history, meditation has been an integral part of many cultures. Records indicate that meditation was practiced in ancient Greece and India more than 5,000 years ago. In the Buddhist religion, meditation is an important part of their spiritual practice. Different forms of meditation are practiced in China and Japan, and Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have traditions similar to meditation.
25). Dandelion: Miracle Gift from Mother Earth
The Latin name for dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, translates to “official remedy for disorders.” Dandelion is a native of Europe and the name comes from the French term “dent-de-lion,” meaning lion’s tooth, which refers to the dark-green, sharply toothed leaves characteristic of this plant. A prominent herbalist, Gregory Tilford is quoted as saying, “Dandelion is one of the most complete plant foods on earth.
26). Indoor Gardening With Foliage Plants
Plants grown primarily for their leaf characteristics and utilized for interior decoration or landscape purposes are called foliage plants. As our society becomes more urban, living plants as part of the interior landscape increases. The use of live foliage plants brings individuals closer to an outdoor type of environment, and the large variety of plants gives us the opportunity to select species that will serve as attractive additions to interior decor.
27). Beliefs and The ‘Victim’ Syndrome
Who do you know that takes full responsibility for all their feelings and behaviours? What would your life look like if you quit blaming others for what you feel and what happens to you? What would your life be like if you decided that your life was yours and you could consciously create it any way you wanted to?
Research findings by social scientists and psychologists have demonstrated that the belief systems of individuals have a profound effect on health, the mind, and success.
28). Marjoram: The Herb of Happiness
Called the “herb of happiness,” Origanum majorana, commonly known as sweet marjoram or knotted marjoram, is an herbal symbol of peace and well-being. Marjoram is grown as an annual in the colder parts of the world but is perennial in warmer regions. To keep it growing as a perennial, bring it indoors for the winter. Marjoram may be grown as a houseplant and as it has a tendency to trail when grown indoors, it makes a nice hanging basket.
29). Internal Peace: Finding Peace Of Mind
What does internal peace mean for you? Does it mean a place of sanctuary where you can come home from stressful situations and find that place of safety away from the ‘cares of the world’? Does it mean a place where you can be yourself without the facade many of us wear throughout the day so that people won’t know how we really feel? Or is this place.
30). Mint: The Herb of Hospitality
The Mentha species or mints as they are commonly called include many varieties that flavour everything from appetizers to desserts. The best-known species in North American are peppermint (M. x piperita) and spearmint (M. spicata), which are highly valued for commercial use. Mint symbolises “hospitality” and can be grown in pots and containers indoors and out.
31). Zucchini: A Power House of Nutrition
Dating back to 7000 B. C., zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) is native to Central and South America. Sometimes called by the nickname “Italian Squash,” zucchini was brought to North America by its southern neighbours. Early European explorers introduced zucchini to Italy and other countries in Europe. Italians initially grew zucchini for their sweet, edible blossoms, later the hearty fruits were experimented with producing the delectable dishes that resulted in zucchini being dubbed Italian squash.
32). Simplicity as a Life-style: 10 Practical Steps
There is a relatively new phenomenon in North America called ‘voluntary simplicity.’ The term ‘voluntary simplicity’ is used to describe a process whereby people opt out of the harried life of modern day living, and chose to live a life of frugality. Frugality in this sense doesn’t mean poverty rather, it means, enjoying the virtue of getting good value for every minute of your life energy and from everything you have the use of.
33). The Importance Of Licensed Massage Therapy
With a range of national massage therapy professional regulations, and states with little to no professional massage therapy requirements, it is easy for consumers to get lost. But quality licensed massage therapy as performed by a true massage professional is essential to getting not only the best results, but the safest as well.
34). What The American Massage Therapy Association Can Do For Clients And Members
The goal of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is to advance the field of massage therapy and to promote and establish it as a viable therapy integral to good health. The AMTA works to set standards for care and ethical practice, support member therapists, to educate the public about massage and its benefits, and to support legislative efforts in favor of it
35). Back Pain Relief...Give Me a Break!
Going on a hunt for back pain relief becomes a critical mission for someone looking for a break from the pain. A lot of back pain issues can actually be handled at home with easy treatments you can learn to do yourself.
36). Chronic Back Pain. No End in Sight
Chronic back pain is pain that generally lasts longer than 3 months. Like any long lasting pain, it can interfere with normal daily functioning and create emotional and psychological, as well as, physical problems.
37). Dealing With Stress Without Medications
Some people think the only effective way to deal with stress and a build up of tension is to turn to a prescription medication. While medications can be effective for those who are dealing with stress, there are other options out there. Some of the best require no medical intervention at all.
38). The Definition Of Stress Can Depend On The Person
The dictionary gives the definition of stress as a force or influence that constrains. While this is a rather short and concise explanation, that is exactly what severe or chronic emotional stress does. It constrains life, the enjoyment of it and even health. For people who suffer from it on a daily or regular basis, the definition of stress can be very personal.
39). Managing Stress Starts With A Conscious Decision
Stress is a part of everyday living. Whenever someone feels even the slightest bit of pressure to perform or a need to react, whether it is good or bad, it is called stress. While it is very true stress in and of itself is not bad, if it becomes chronic or very intense, stress can lead to a host of serious physical conditions.
40). Management Techniques - Stress Reducers That Can Save Lives
Most people understand at the very least that stress is a killjoy. When it piles up and grinds a person day in and day out, the effects can be devastating. From mild to moderate exhaustion and irritation to actual life-threatening heart attacks, stress can have some rather serious implications.
41). Office Stress Management Techniques That Work
The American Institute of Stress acknowledges that no single definition for stress works across the board. Since stress affects almost everyone differently and what stresses one person might not another, nailing down an agreed upon description is often difficult. One thing experts do agree upon, however, is the fact that stress can have some very serious implications.
42). Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that has gained a lot of press since the Vietnam War. Despite the press, however, many people do not realize what this condition is and how many lives it can and does impact.
43). The Causes Of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome
This is a mental illness that can plague almost anyone if the right circumstances take place. This condition results as an extreme reaction to a very extreme situation. Whereas some people might endure trauma with only a few long-term problems, others find themselves facing post traumatic stress syndrome.
44). Post Traumatic Stress In Children
Most people have heard of shell shock, combat stress and battlefield flashbacks. These synonyms for post traumatic stress do not, however, tell the full story. This serious mental condition is not reserved for adults and it does not solely impact veterans. Children, too, are subject to the repetitive terrors post traumatic stress can ditch out.
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