The Best Life June/July 2016 Issue 3 by Beverly Goodwin

THE

BEST LIFE issue 3

JUNE/JULY 2016

Best Beach Vacations F.I.T

Why Sleep is Important

Rest, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t RESIGN

Robert L. Martin - A Father honored

Our Writers Roberta Brown

Tammy Padilla

Shirley Bryant

LyAvia Goodwin

Stephanie Battle

V. Renee Teel

Beverly Goodwin Katrina Goodwin

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Dear Reader,

EST. Many of us don’t take the time to close our eyes and take a deep, deep breath and exhale. Just taking time for yourself will extend your life time by many years. So why don’t we REST? Why should we REST? You will find many answers from our great writers. As you go through or pages put your feet up, place a pillow behind your back and head, sip on some lemonade or ice water, refresh on a slice of mango or cantaloupe. RELAX RELATE and RELEASE. We have heard this for years and still we don’t allow ourselves time to refresh our mental and physical selves. All of things that God has called you too will get done and on time if you will allow yourself to visit the beach, read a book, meditate on good things and get adequate rest. I too have learned a lot from the writers this month and pledge to get some needed REST. God our Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to give us a permanent REST. Jesus wants us to give him our burdens for he is willing to carry them. So as we go to our several vacation spots this summer take the peace of God with you. Refresh your soul with the word of God.

Beverly Goodwin CEO/Founder Holy Nation of Women The Best Life Magazine Facebook: Holy Nation of Women Twitter: @holynow14 Email: holynow14@gmail.com

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

THE BEST LIFE HOLY NATION OF WOMEN

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Contents

9 11 12

Help Others Experience the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ fathers day seal R.E.S.T. Relaxation, Equilibrium, Serenity, Time for Self

Dear Jesus

14 15 17

A FATHER

Rest, but don’t Resign!

Tis’ Heaven to My Soul

18 20 22

Resting In Quiet Reflection FIT IN THE TEMPLE F.I.T #3 National Men’s Health Week

Best Beach Vacations

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Help Others Experience the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ Tammy Padilla B l e s s e d To u c h L LC

am sure that your day has been interesting! Did you take the opportunity to share Jesus Christ with someone? If your answer is yes, that is great! You are a witness. If you have not, maybe it is because you have not really thought about how you can share Jesus Christ with someone, especially sharing with someone that does not believe or know anything about Him. Well I have had that chance. I was skeptical about whether sharing the love of Christ would be received, but I trusted that God would be with me. After the prayer, once the conversation began it flowed rather smoothly. Of course I prayed earnestly the night before because I desired for the Lord to help me witness and when the conversation was done we could pray the prayer of salvation. I was excited. So there was good dialogue and many questions. You know you always hear about these instances, the

person accepts Jesus, and there is prayer for Jesus to come into their hearts. Well, not this time. The person did not accept Christ during that conversation. Was I disappointed? Yes and No. Yes, disappointed because the person’s soul was still destined for hell if they do not choose. But then I say No because I did my part by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The bible states in the book of Mark Chapter 16 verse 15 (NRSV) that Jesus said to them (his disciples), “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” Remember our job is to spread the Word of God or shall I say plant the Word. Then God will choose how and when the Word will blossom within whom it was planted. I solicit your prayers for the hearts in which we already have and for those that we will share Jesus Christ. That the words spoken will penetrate

their hearts and the individuals will accept Jesus Christ. Share the word of Jesus Christ today with someone so they can experience the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you want to share the good news of Christ, which is His Gift of Salvation check out the Romans Road to Salvation and use it as an aid. http://www. gotquestions.org/Romansroad-salvation.html When you are witnessing about His love; think to yourself where would I be if no one had shared Christ with me.

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My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. Clarence Budington Kelland When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry. William Shakespeare My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me. Jim Valvano Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He’s sufficient for all of our needs. When I accepted this as an absolute truth in my life, I found that my worrying stopped. Charles Stanley Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad, and that’s why I call you dad, because you are so special to me. You taught me the game and you taught me how to play it right. Wade Boggs Being a father has been, without a doubt, my greatest source of achievement, pride and inspiration. Fatherhood has taught me about unconditional love, reinforced the importance of giving back and taught me how to be a better person. Naveen Jain It was my father who taught me to value myself. He told me that I was uncommonly beautiful and that I was the most precious thing in his life. Dawn French One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters. George Herbert I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus Christ

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

R.E.S.T.

Relaxation, Equilibrium, Serenity, Time for Self

fter a long hard day of work do you take a breather to REST, even for just 15 minutes? Or do you find yourself working at home, i.e. cleaning, cooking, helping your children with homework, and never getting a break until you finally call it a night and go to sleep? Your body can feel the lack of REST and sooner rather than later it will respond to this void. In addition to a lack of REST many people can become stressed which also plays a significant role on the body, emotionally, physically, and physiologically. There are many health benefits to REST, such as relieves stress, restores energy, improves mood, protects your heart, improves focus and memory, and strengthens the immune system. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s break down the in depth meaning of REST!

Relaxation

Equilibrium

Relaxation is the relief of bodily work both mentally and physically or any method or practice that relieves stress and anxiety, but promotes peace and tranquility. There are many relaxation techniques to help achieve this state of calmness, including deep breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization and imagery (think of laying on the beach on a tropical island), getting a massage, or yoga and tai chi, just to name a few. After work when you arrive home before you do anything, try finding a quiet place and lying down for 15 to 30 minutes. Clear your mind of all worries, relax your muscles, and take deep breaths. Just this simple exercise can calm your body and mind, relieve stress from the day, and prepare you to handle any additional duties at home.

Equilibrium is a state when the body is equally balanced, stable, and at rest. The body can maintain equilibrium even when there are external forces, such as the environment, that try to overcome its stability. For example, normal and optimal body temperature is 98.6 oF, hence the body wants to maintain this temperature at all times. The body has the ability to maintain its temperature in the cold and heat, unless overwhelmed. Well the same thing goes for lack of REST and stress. If the body is overwhelmed by stress, sleep deprived, and an absence of rest it will fail you. Just sleep deprivation alone can have serious consequences over time, including hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and other chronic diseases. In addition, being sleep deprived can cause stress, impair memory and cognition, injury, and decreased performance and alertness. Therefore it is critical that rest, relaxation, and sleep are incorporated into our daily lives.

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Serenity

Time to Self

Serenity is the state of being calm and peaceful. Everyone can achieve serenity by either using the aforementioned relaxation techniques or by discovering something that puts them in a place of tranquility. You do not have to lie down in solitude in an empty, quiet room to achieve serenity. Your serenity can be found through prayer, gardening, volunteering for a good cause, watching a movie, creativity and art, baking, new hobby, etc. Whatever that “something” is that gives you peace and serenity fuse it into your life so there is a balance to the stress and hassles of life.

Everyone deserves time to oneself, especially if you have children, spouse, or significant other who you have to share your time with. Time alone and solitude can be therapeutic, stress relieving, and calming. If you have children, parents take turns and let the other have alone time of their choosing. It could be as simple as taking the children out the house for a few hours while the other parent relaxes at home. If parents want quality time together, take the children to a relative’s home, like their grandparents, for a few hours or even overnight if their felling generous. “Me” time is just as important as family time, take advantage of it when time permits.

R.E.S.T. is not only beneficial to your health it is required!!! Make time to find the peace in your life and RELAX!

LyAvia Goodwin BS/BIOLOGY

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

A FATHER

Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

Praise ye the Lord; for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. Psalm 147:1

n this Father’s Day, my thoughts are on my Father. I miss him so much. He was the kindest man who got along with everybody. He held our family together through hard work, lots of prayers and going without himself. Once, when we were older, I asked him what he wished most in our growing up years. He said, “He would have liked to have had more to eat.” That answer still resonates with me thirty years later. There were so many mouths to feed during those early years and the thought that my Dad did not get enough to eat never occurred to me. It makes me sad to think that while I was trying to fill my belly, he was going without. That’s the kind of man my Dad was. Never once did I ever hear him complain about the shortage of food. Today I still think about that answer and the hard implications attached to it. My Dad had to work several jobs to feed us. He did what he had to do for our survival. To say that he was a hard working man would be an understatement. He would complete his day job and go to work on another job he was doing for someone or the additions he made to the house for his growing family.

ad was a powerful singer. Oh how he loved to sing. I still hear his voice singing “Stand By Me” or “Prayer Changes Things”. How proud I was; that was my Dad. I remember the only record that he and his male singing group, The Rising Sons Gospel Singers, ever recorded. There were other groups, mostly the same men, but a different group name like The Sons of Faith. A love of singing is one of the legacies he left us so realized through my sister, Violet. Dad gave us the best that was in him. Gratitude, love, his legacy to carry on, those are the things we owe him. He was the patriarch of the Martin family until his death. Each of us has our own memories of him and how best to honor his legacy. I am overwhelmed with emotion when I remember my Dad. I like to think that giving me his name has given me a special responsibility: to extend the same love, and generosity to others as he did in life. Dad is in heaven now, but his legacy of love, kindness, and generosity lives on in the lives of all those he touched. And so on this Father’s Day I honor my Dad, Robert Lee Martin, the epitome of a true Dad.

Roberta Martin Brown …proud daughter of Robert Lee Martin

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Rest, but don’t Resign!

hen working in the kingdom of God, it can be a task to balance the demands of life with the call of the ministry. As a parent there is dinner to cook, practices to attend, homework to check, and baths to give; as a spouse there are conversations to have, dates to attend, and attention to give; and as an employee there are reports to submit, meetings to attend, and emails to send. So, when will there be time for the prayer calls, the fellowship sessions, and studying the word of God? And, with all of this we can easily find ourselves overwhelmed and tired. This is why it’s important that we maintain balance in our schedule, because naturally, when we find ourselves getting tired, we look for relief from the situation. That relief is rest; however, if we allow the situation to become too burdensome, not getting rest at the appropriate times, in the appropriate amount, what was once fun becomes frustrating, ministry becomes mundane, and our passion becomes pale; and eventually we go from needing a rest, to throwing our hands up and resigning, or quitting. It is in times like these that we must draw strength and guidance from the word of God. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) says, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. So, to continue in our kingdom work, it’s important that we REST, and to do this, we must:

Remember the purpose of our work When we begin a kingdom work, it is usually inspired from a need, and we lend ourselves to be used as vessels of God to address that need through the plan of Jesus Christ. My W.I.F.E. Prayer ministry, a product of my personal testimony, encourages wives to be vessels of love, being used by God to restore (if challenged) or sustain (if good) their marriage. God has blessed my ministry, but it now requires more of my time. In addition to the ministry, I am a mother, wife, and have a full-time job, and I find myself feeling overwhelmed sometimes; however, I remind myself of the purpose of the ministry, to decrease the divorce rate of Christian marriages through the elevation of the wife, then my passion to continue in the work is refueled.

Also, we need to keep in mind that our purpose in any ministry is to glorify God. When we remind ourselves that it is not about us, but about God, our love for God, and desire to please Him, should propel us to continue our work in the kingdom. Colossian 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Say No

Employ help God has all of the resources that we need to do His work and to do it well. One of the resources is people! One day I was “venting” to my sister friend about all that I had to do, and how I wasn’t going to be able to do a ministry fellowship that I had planned, and after all of “venting”, all she said was, “How can I help?” This simple question caused me to reflect and I realized that God had created some kingdom connections in my life that were designed to assist me in doing the work he called me to do. My circle of friends had changed over the years, but everyone in my circle shared a love for God’s work, as I did, and they were willing to help. God has positioned people to help, we just need to be wise and humble enough to ask for help. Another help that we should employ in doing kingdom work is the Holy Spirit. To employ mean to make use of. What good is it to have the Holy Spirit as a help if we are not making us of Him? Ephesians 3:20, reminds us that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, which is the Holy Spirit. Employ the Holy Spirit by spending time in prayer, reading and meditating on God’s word.

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Our schedule gets clogged with “good” work, which takes resources and energy away from the “God” work that we have been called to do. One of the ways to get the adequate rest that we need is to be bold enough to say No to the things God has not called us to do. In order to know what things to say “No” to, I encourage you to create a priority plan, which identifies all of roles God called you to do - parenting is a call of God, so you know anything dealing with your children you need to do; marriage is a call of God, so anything dealing with your spouse and marriage you need to give attention to; and the specific ministry God has called you to, needs your attention. Everything else need to be reconsidered. So, if it is not in the plan, say NO!

Take time for yourself Lastly, to get adequate REST breaks, we need to actually take time to REST! Schedule time in your priority plan to focus on yourself. You are a priority to God, and you are needed to do the work.

I’ll end with a quote from one of my favorite poems, entitled Don’t Quit, “When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.” So, continue in the work of the Lord, getting the adequate rest you need, so that you won’t resign because the kingdom needs you!

Stephanie M. Battle W.I.F.E. Prayer Ministries

Tis’ Heaven to My Soul By Overseer Shirley Bryant

y soul is so precious to God that He made me in His likeness and image. He has prepared a place for me in Heaven to be nearer unto Him.

There is nothing on earth that could tear me apart from him, cause it is Heaven in my soul. Heaven is Jesus the Prince of Peace that Wonderful Counselor, The Almighty God is he - tis’ Heaven in my soul. Earth has its treasures of gold. Heaven has its treasures, untold. The love of God unfolds in my heart. His beauty I see. Ah, what glamorous glory to behold - tis’ heaven to my soul. In our heavenly Kingdom we have stories to be told - tis’ heaven in my soul. This soul of mine is not mine to darken. It belongs to the King that awakened me out of darkness. Soul, soul of mine rejoice in your living, for Heaven will be your resting place throughout all eternity – tis’ heaven to my soul.

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Resting In Quiet Reflection

est. It’s something we all need on a regular basis. Rest requires that we take our attention off the daily struggles of life and focus on the restful, quiet simple things of life, if only for a brief period of time. But let me invite you to reflect on a different kind of rest. We have all heard the phrase “stop and smell the roses”. There is a deeper meaning to that phrase other than inhaling the sweet fragrance of a rose. It is this deeper meaning that I think is

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

vital in our spiritual walk with the Lord. Every morning when I look out my bathroom window I see the beauty of another day. No matter if it’s raining, snowing or cold; it is a day I can rest my eyes upon and rejoice for the merciful rest God gave me last night. I see the beauty of the trees swaying in the wind. The squirrel racing from limb to limb looking for food. This short prayerful rest gives me a few moments to thank God for another day.

I remember the years long ago when I was a young girl playing in the yard with my sisters and cousins. This simple reflective rest brought a smile to my face. I look back on those days and wonder where did the time go. This memory rest helps to keep me grounded in reality to prevent the ravages of senility. There are so many other things in our day that can trigger a flood of memories: that great report card your child brought home from school; that grandmother who came to visit and always walked us to the store to buy us ice cream; that young man who asked you to be his wife. I rest in the solitude of these enduring restful events of the past. They keep me grounded. Day dreams you say. No, it is more than that, for what is a day dream if not a mental rest from our current reality. When we release our mind to be free for just a few minutes of quiet rest, we can strengthen our relationship with God. You cannot hear God speak to you if you continuously busy yourself with the issues of the day. Some wonder why God does not answer their prayers. Perhaps you are too busy to stop and rest and listen.

Does not the scriptures say that the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness (rest) and confidence (Is 32:17). And did not Jesus instruct His disciples to go into a desert place and rest a while after the beheading of John the Baptist –a sorrowful rest. Our minds and body need a rest if we are to be effective witnesses for Christ. Whether it is after a conflict, when in distress, to quiet a temperament, to hear God’s quiet voice, because of sin, internal conflict, whatever the situation, we need the quietness of rest. It keeps us grounded, thoughtful, and balanced. We will never hear the quiet voice of God or His answer to a prayer if we don’t stop and rest our mind and body. So take some time to enjoy and reflect on a memory rest, a playful rest, a quiet rest, a joyful rest, an enduring rest, a spiritual rest, a prayerful rest, a Godly rest and the sorrowful rest we take when a loved one has gone to his\her rest.

Roberta Martin Brown

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

n my previous articles I spoke of behavior that doesn’t fit in our temple and mindsets that are contrary to God’s best for us. The last article dealt with going to our spiritual physician for a spiritual checkup. This bimonthly’s issue is dealing with rest. How does that fit in the temple? Resting your temple is mandatory. Rest is well suited for and works wonders in and for your temple. For You! Resting is getting in a relaxed state for a period of time in order to get your strength back. In our fast past world, there are so many enemies of our temple. They creep in sometimes unaware. We spend a lot of time performing, working, achieving, studying, keeping up, trying to measure up with selfdemands and the demands of others. All of these can put much stress on our wellbeing. If you don’t rest from the cares of this life, you will experience burn out. Burn out is a psychological stress and malfunction. It causes depression, a loss of enthusiasm, ineffectiveness and a loss of love for people, places or things. Burn out is not a friend to you or I. Your fire and exuberance that once shined bright goes out! This is not a good place to be.

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

F.I.T 3 Are you FIT? (Fit in the Temple) In order to function at our best, we need times of rest. We need periods of refreshing. Do you know that we can be operating in mindsets and habits that are totally contrary to your best you? Some need rest (to totally stop) from jealousies, anger, frustration, lying, envying, sexual perversions and the list can go on and on. In Acts 3:19 the writer was urging his readers to repent and return so that sins could be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

In this sense, if we rest from the mental attitudes and behaviors that war within us and turn to the Lord, we can RECEIVE RESTORATION AND BE REFRESHED FROM THE GIVER OF LIFE! Other Words that describe rest are healthy, well, in good shape, in good condition and fight fit. All of these are where I want to be! I want my temple in good shape. I want to me mentally, physically and emotionally fit. I want to be able to fight the good fight of faith! So, to keep this short so I can get rest, I encourage myself and you too. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take a rest from all our worries, issues and the like. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turn to the Lord and get refreshed, restored and reenergized so we can be temples functioning at our best - that is what and how our Creator would have us to be! Get your flame aglow again---get your REST!

V. Renee Teel, Crowned With Beauty

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

National Men’s Health Week Take action to be healthy and safe and encourage men and boys in your life to make their health a priority. Learn about steps men can take each day to improve health.

Celebrate National Men’s Health Week, June 13-19, 2016. Get Good Sleep Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Also, poor sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents.

Toss out the Tobacco It’s never too late.Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. Also avoid secondhand smoke. Inhaling other people’s smoke causes health problems similar to those that smokers have. Babies and kids are still growing, so the poisons in secondhand smoke hurt them more than adults.

Move More Adults need at least 2½ hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week, and muscle strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms) on two or more days a week. You don’t have to do it all at once. Spread your activity out during the week, and break it into smaller amounts of time during the day.

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Eat Healthy Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Fruits and vegetables have many vitamins and minerals that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol.

Tame Stress Sometimes stress can be good. However, it can be harmful when it is severe enough to make you feel overwhelmed and out of control. Take care of yourself. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Find support. Connect socially. Stay active.

Stay on Top of Your Game See your doctor or nurse for checkups. Certain diseases and conditions may not have symptoms, so checkups help identify issues early or before they can become a problem. Pay attention to signs and symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, excessive thirst, and problems with urination. If you have these or symptoms of any kind, be sure to see your doctor or nurse. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait! Keep track of your numbers for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), or any others you may have. If your numbers are high or low, your doctor or nurse can explain what they mean and suggest how you can get them to a healthier range. Be sure to ask him or her what tests you need and how often you need them. Get vaccinated. Everyone needs immunizations to stay healthy, no matter how old you are. Even if you had vaccines as a child, immunity can fade with time. Vaccine recommendations are based on a variety of factors, including age, overall health, and your medical history.

Reprint from CDC.gov

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DEAR JESUS

ear Jesus, I am writing you this letter for a lot is on my mind. I know you know what’s bothering me and why I am coming to you for guidance. How can we the people come together as one? Killings after killings, death after death! We need to all love each other. We all need to love each as sisters and brother in Christ. Stop hating on one another. Dear Jesus, I am hurting because the world is becoming more and more corrupt. We need your help. There seems to be no compassion anymore. For example, homeless people don’t get shown as

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

much love or get help from your people. What about the sick who may not have anyone to call on. Help us your people, Lord, to come together and be better people. Help us, guide us to build and create oneness with one another. Guide us Lord, so we can strive to get to your Kingdom. Dear Jesus, I just want to say thank you for all you have done for your people. Some people don’t even know it was you who made a way out of no way in their situations. But I know, Jesus, for a fact that you woke us up every morning to start our day.

P.S. I know the day of your coming is soon. The question is, are your people ready for your arrival? Can we say that we will make it into heaven? We need to look deep within ourselves. The kingdom of God awaits those who believe. The goal is to bring souls to you, dear Lord. I love you and even though you gave a biological father who I love to death, at the end of the day you are my true Father God.

Blessed Touch

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Puerto Rico

Photo by Laiza Garcia

Best Beach Vacations 1

Dominican Republic, Caribbean Distinguished by long stretches of glowing white sand and gorgeous blue water, Dominican beaches rank among the best in the world. From Puerto Plata to Punta Cana to Barahona, these beaches cater to bar lovers, sunbathers, jet skiers and scuba divers.

Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Bring your sunglasses and cool clothes to Playa del Carmen, where the hot sun lights up the white-sand beaches. This is heaven

June/July 2016 | The BEST LIFE

for beach-loving kids and those who enjoy swimming or just lounging under the sun. 3

Maui, Hawaii, United States Tropical trade winds cool Mauiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thirty miles of glorious black, white and red sand beaches. With a constellation of splendid sandy spots ranging from secluded secrets to bustling beaches with restaurants and board hire, Maui has a beach to suit beachcombers, surfers, picnickers and swimmers.

Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Cancun calls with its stunning aqua-blue waters and white-sand beaches. Despite its reputation as a spring-break paradise, anyone will find plenty to do here, too. Explore ancient Mayan ruins, the Xel-Ha waterpark and the thrilling Interactive Aquarium, or just enjoy beautiful beaches. 5

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico On the second-largest natural bay on the continent, Puerto Vallarta has miles and miles of world-class beaches. The coastline is dotted with quiet coves and spectacular islands, and the water caters to all sorts of beach activities, from sunbathing to snorkeling to windsurfing.

Miami Beach, Florida, United States At the shore in Miami Beach, visitors can swim, surf and jet ski in the warm and crystal-clear Atlantic waters. You can also nap on the white sands, work on a tan or simply watch the beautiful people, especially at South Beach, a favorite of models and celebrities.

U.S. Virgin Islands, Caribbean Swaths of powdery sand separate green hills from the crystal-clear Caribbean waters surrounding the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beach aficionados should beeline for idyllic St. John, home of windsurfer-friendly Cinnamon Bay, the beachside cafes of Cruz Bay, and lessfrequented Francis Bay beach.

Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico Cabo’s beaches are not just beautiful, they’re also incredibly diverse. On the Pacific Ocean, the waves are delightful to watch, but often too dangerous for swimming. On the Sea of Cortez, the waters are sheltered and calm and the sand is white and warm.

Kauai, Hawaii, United States With about 50 miles of beaches, Kauai has plenty of shoreline to explore. Swimming is great just about anywhere, but most people prefer the beaches on the north and south coasts, where the white sands stretch on and on and surfers refine their craft.

Phuket, Thailand Phuket is Thailand’s most popular island destination, and one reason is that its coastline is divided into bays that form intimate beaches. You can get a soothing massage right on the beach, the scuba diving is spectacular and the locals greet you with smiles.

Find the next 40 beach locations https://www.tripadvisor.com/Inspiration-g1-c1-World.html

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RECIPES FROM KAVITA

INGREDIENT S Berries: 1 pint blueberries 1 pint strawberries, hulled and cut into slices 2 pint raspberries 1 lemon, juiced 1/2 cup sugar 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Easy Summer Berry Trifle

Whipped Cream: 1 quart whipping cream 3 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 store bought or frozen pound cake, sliced 1/2-inch thick and cut into cubes

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Place the berries into a large bowl and sprinkle with half of the lemon juice. Lightly toss. 2. Combine the berries, sugar, cornstarch and remaining lemon juice in a saucepan over medium-high heat. 3. Bring to a simmer and cook just until the berries begin to break down and give up their juices, about 3 minutes. 4. Take the berries off the heat and let cool; the mixture should thicken up as is cools. 5. In a clean bowl, whip the cream with the sugar and the vanilla to soft peaks. 6. To assemble the trifle, spoon a layer of the cream into a large glass bowl. Add a layer of pound cake, then spoon the cake with a layer of berries and their juices. Keep going to make 3 or 4 more layers, depending on the size of the bowl, finishing with a layer of cream. Decorate with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Why Is Sleep Important? Sleep plays a vital role in good health

and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. The way you feel while you're awake depends in part on what happens while you're sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development. The damage from sleep deficiency can occur in an instant (such as a car crash), or it can harm you over time. For example, ongoing sleep deficiency can raise your risk for some chronic health problems. It also can affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others. Healthy Brain Function and Emotional Well-Being Sleep helps your brain work properly. While you're sleeping, your brain is preparing for the next day. It's forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information.

Studies show that a good night's sleep improves learning. Whether you're learning math, how to play the piano, how to perfect your golf swing, or how to drive a car, sleep helps enhance your learning and problem-solving skills. Sleep also helps you pay attention, make decisions, and be creative. Studies also show that sleep deficiency alters activity in some parts of the brain. If you're sleep deficient, you may have trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling your emotions and behavior, and coping with change. Sleep deficiency also has been linked to depression, suicide, and risk-taking behavior. Physical Health Sleep plays an important role in your physical health. For example, sleep is involved in healing and repair of your heart and blood vessels. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Sleep deficiency also increases the risk of obesity.

Sleep helps maintain a healthy balance of the hormones that make you feel hungry (ghrelin) or full (leptin). When you don't get enough sleep, your level of ghrelin goes up and your level of leptin goes down. This makes you feel hungrier than when you're well-rested. Sleep also affects how your body reacts to insulin, the hormone that controls your blood glucose (sugar) level. Sleep deficiency results in a higher than normal blood sugar level, which may increase your risk for diabetes. Sleep also supports healthy growth and development. Deep sleep triggers the body to release the hormone that promotes normal growth in children and teens. Your immune system relies on sleep to stay healthy. This system defends your body against foreign or harmful substances. Ongoing sleep deficiency can change the way in which your immune system responds. For example, if you're sleep deficient, you may have trouble fighting common infections. Daytime Performance and Safety Getting enough quality sleep at the right times helps you function well throughout the day. People who are sleep deficient are less productive at work and school. They take longer to finish tasks, have a slower reaction time, and make more mistakes.

You can't control microsleep, and you might not be aware of it. For example, have you ever driven somewhere and then not remembered part of the trip? If so, you may have experienced microsleep. Even if you're not driving, microsleep can affect how you function. If you're listening to a lecture, for example, you might miss some of the information or feel like you don't understand the point. In reality, though, you may have slept through part of the lecture and not been aware of it. For example, drowsy drivers may feel capable of driving. Yet, studies show that sleep deficiency harms your driving ability as much as, or more than, being drunk. It's estimated that driver sleepiness is a factor in about 100,000 car accidents each year, resulting in about 1,500 deaths. Drivers aren't the only ones affected by sleep deficiency. It can affect people in all lines of work, including health care workers, pilots, students, lawyers, mechanics, and assembly line workers. As a result, sleep deficiency is not only harmful on a personal level, but it also can cause large-scale damage.

After several nights of losing sleep— even a loss of just 1–2 hours per night— your ability to function suffers as if you haven't slept at all for a day or two. Lack of sleep also may lead to microsleep. Microsleep refers to brief moments of sleep that occur when you're normally awake.

Reprint from the Mayo Clinic

HAPPY FATHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAY

TO ALL FATHERS In Loving Memory of Major General Alvin Bryant, MD (1937-2010)