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What's All The Buzz About Bees?
bees? buzz about what’s all the
When we talk a bout the ear th’s ec osystem and how it needs to be maintained, we often tend to focus on the human footprint and the roles played by other animals and birds. Consequently, we overlook the roles insects play in making the world a livable place. They are, however, quietly— and sometimes not-so-quietly—doing their jobs, and some are making quite the buzz about it. Let’s take a look, for example, at our friend the honey bee:
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Sw eet as honey. Honey has so many uses besides being delicious and healthy. It never spoils and is extremely resistant to bacteria. Ancient Egyptians used honey as a natural bandage to protect cuts and burns from infection. Today, honey is still used as a natural treatment for dandruff, stomach ulcers, sore throat, and cough.
Sp read t he love. Bees are critical to the process of pollination. While some plants can pollinate themselves, others rely on insects, birds, the wind, and animals to spread the pollen.
Lig ht a candle. The other product from bees that has found widespread use is wax. Besides candles, beeswax is also used in a variety of cosmetic products such as cold creams, moisturizers, lotions, lipsticks, and salves.
A delicat e ecosyst em. Bees are doing their job to ensure that the soil remains cultivable, the air breathable, and the food edible. They play a vital role in our very delicate ecosystem. Today, these wonderful insects are at risk of becoming endangered, and it is imperative that we do all we can to prevent their extinction.
w ords matter
Words are magic. They actually change our brain chemistry! As wordsmiths here at LKN W, we are especially fond of words that will resonate with our readers, in hopes they will help guide & inspire you:
be happy in the moment, that’s enough.
Each moment is all we need, not more.”
–M other Teresa
–Amit Ray
–AA M ilne “My favorite day,” “What day is it?” asked Pooh. “It’s today,” squeaked Piglet. said Pooh.”
–Eck hart Tolle
–Louis L’Amour
Mind better me … better you … better world body spirit
By mixing the ingredients of attitude and action, we can change the flavor of our own lives. Learn to nurture your body and soul to lead a more balanced life.
we are re sponsible f or our ow n e xpe rie nce s!
“No dark fate determines the future. We do. Each day and each moment, we are able to create and recreate our lives and the very quality of human life on our planet. This is the power we wield. Lasting happiness cannot be found in pursuit of any goal or achievement. It does not reside in fortune or fame. It resides only in the human mind and heart, and it is here that we hope you will find it.”
–From The Book Of Joy by t he Dal ai Lama and De smond Tut u
Mindfulness and gratitude can be extremely helpful in becoming responsible for our own experiences and thus overall happiness. Mindfulness is defined as “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.” (Merriam-Webster)
Here are some ways to become more mindful and bring on the experiences and joy you seek:
• Be aware of your actions. Speak to people with forethought and intent; be cognizant of not only what you say but how you say it.
• Keep your focus purposeful. If something needs your attention, make a conscious effort to dwell on that and that alone, but only for a specific period of time in solution-based thought. Once you have a plan of resolution, move on.
• Practice letting go of the past. This can be difficult but it only breeds negative energy. The past is over and you cannot change it … let it go!
• Avoid getting caught up in the future. It’s perfectly fine to plan for your future but when those thoughts become allconsuming and turn to worry, you are not being in the present moment.
• Allow yourself to do nothing. Take time each day to just be still—sit outside and listen to nature; try to clear your mind and just breathe.
• Let go of judgments and negative emotions. Once you become present in the moment, you may begin to notice things you hadn’t before, such as others’ circumstances, needs, and nuances. Take this opportunity to really hear the person talking to you and appreciate it for what it is with no judgments, no rebuttal.
• Don’t swim in deep waters too long! It is important to embrace negative feelings as well. We are human after all, and we must recognize and appreciate what is not-so-pleasant at times. But negativity begets negativity, so it’s important to search for the positives in all situations … breathe in, breathe out, move on.
