Fumed

This news story I read recently really isn’t ha-ha funny – people were hurting after all – but I find it rather weird funny. Plus, it fuels my dislike of artificial, specifically in the arena of fragrance, so here we go:

“At least 30 workers in a Texas office building were taken to a local hospital today (Wed, July 29, 2009) after two complained of chest pains and headaches from a strange smell near their cubicles. A hazmat crew feared it was a carbon monoxide leak, but later determined it was only a coworker’s strong perfume! “

[the link leads to the MSNBC story; that I accessed via the fun site of http://news.health.com/category/around-the-web/]

Doorways

"We can think of our inadequacies as terrible defects, if we want, and hate ourselves. But we can also think of them affirmatively, as doorways through which the power of grace can enter our lives."

-- Gerald May

Anti-bacterial?

Having NOT been much of a germophobe, I never got into using many antibacterial products. Plus being a proponent of utilizing the created natural over the synthesized, I’ve favored the use of lavender or other essential oils to fight germs whenever possible. I find this observation interesting:

Allison Aiello, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, headed a group that analyzed several studies comparing people who washed their hands with regular or antibacterial soap. In all but one trial, she tells WebMD, “there was no difference between groups, either in bacteria on the hands or in rates of illness.” In a single study, people who used antibacterial soap did have fewer bacteria on their hands, but only if they washed for 30 seconds, 18 times a day, for five days straight. [From http://www.webmd.com/health-ehome-9/antibacterial-soap-cleaners?ecd=wnl_lbt_060309]

All-in-all

Your truth unchanged has ever stood,
You rescue those who on You call:
to those yet seeking, You are good --
to those who find You, All-in-All.

- Bernard of Clairvaux's 12th century hymn
about Creator God/Jesus Christ

Lovely action

Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.

-James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)

Overhear

I love the reality revealed by this, one of my favorite, quotes:

"A good listener helps us overhear ourselves."

- Yahia Lababidi, author (1973- )

Must share

“To have joy one must share it.” – Lord Byron

If my dad was still alive he’d have turned 76 today. As I fondly recall him one of the first pictures that rushes into memory was during a European trip together when he gave away the hotel room I located in Paris – very near the train station and rather inexpensive – to a couple he met on the train. Being rather self-centered, I was livid. In contrast, he offered the prized room to these strangers-turned-new-friends with joy and abandon. He tipped generously too. I have much to learn from him and his ability to share.

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.– Proverbs 11:25

More of your faults

"If you wish to be loved, show more of your faults than your virtues."
- Edward Bulwer Lytton, author (1803-1873)