Tag Archives: healthy habits

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Gnats. Flies. If you’re like most people, just the mention of those little buggers is annoying. Because that’s what they are. Annoying. And the reason I brought ’em up is because of my eyeglasses.

Not because gnats and flies are hovering around my glasses.

But because I scuffed one of the lenses, recently. And now, there’s an annoying blur in front of everything I read or write. When I tilt my head a little more forward, I can alleviate the aggravation a little. But then I have to deal with a little bit of neck strain. So, gnaturally, I checked the “trusty” internet for scuff solutions.

There’s no shortage of suggestions. And, as it is with so much “advice” these days, you gotta take it with a grain (or shaker) of salt. Because most “hacks” suggest solutions that actually add to the problem. Maybe not short term. But definitely long term.

Keep in mind, I’m a cheapskate when it comes to this kind of thing. I don’t buy into the whole renew-your-eyeglass-prescription-every-year thing. And I prefer a DIY, holistic approach to health in general.

So, I go a little further into research than just a YouTube video. And this isn’t a recommendation to you or anyone else to do this same thing. Because you might/probably have a much better use for your time.

But I’m willing to endure a little discomfort or inconvenience for the sake of learning something I could possibly use over and over. Because, over the course of decades, it could be a HUGE time saver. And, in this age of poor workmanship and even poorer customer service, DIY ability is crucial.

So, I’ll find me an eyeglass scuff solution today.

And, if you’re interested in what it was and how it worked, just ask. I’ll let you know what I found out.

Eyeglasses are vitally important to me. I’ve worn them since I was a teenager. And I never wanted to risk injury to my eyeballs with contact lenses. I know lots of people have no problem with them. But some do. And I don’t want to take the chance that I’d be one of them. Blindness or permanent blurred vision or eye surgeries are options I’d like to skip.

Sort of weird that I’d start out writing about gnats and flies and end up talking about blindness, right?

Yeah, I’ve said it before. The Tony take on life and the world is sometimes a deep dive into odd, but probably divinely inspired, analyses, theories, and wonderment.

So, maybe you get something out of today’s meandering. And maybe you don’t. Either way, I gotta get back to my eyeglass scuff repair research.

Thankfully this partially blurred vision doesn’t extend down into my soul.

Got the sails up and a port in mind.
There’s a cool wind, blowing strong and kind.
Leaving doubt and fear so far behind…
I can see now where I once was blind.

© 2016

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Negative and positive attitudes can both be caused by something. And you can look around and see plenty of places to put (or lay) the blame. Tyrants in control of many (or most) of the nations. Self-serving, thieving politicians. Ubiquitous drugs, legal and illegal. And the list goes on.

But I believe negative and positive attitudes are actually your fault.

Because, ultimately, YOU decide how you’ll react to the problems in the world. And you get to choose which side of the attitude spectrum you’ll show to the world.

My suggestion, and you can totally ignore me if you think my tips are just too simpleton, is to choose positive. Because when you choose to be positive, you’ll almost immediately be different from almost everyone. And, for the most part, that’s a mighty good thing.

Here are some tips I shared a few years ago. And they’re still great recommendations:

  1. Show your teeth. What?! I just mean that you need to smile. When I was a young kid my dad was an avid runner. I wanted to go with him, but it was difficult to keep up. He told me to smile as I was running, and it would keep my attitude more positive. I didn’t believe him, and it felt goofy, but I did it, and it worked.
  2. Focus on what you do; not what you don’t. When things don’t go so well on any given day, it’s easy to start focusing on what you did wrong. That’s OK to a point, but only as long as you learn from your mistakes. Sometimes it’s not a mistake. Sometimes it’s just a difference in perspective. Keep in mind…you’re a professional; you’ve worked hard to learn what you know, and just because someone doesn’t agree makes no difference.
  3. Speak “up”. The words that come out of your mouth aren’t just heard by others. You hear them, too. Make sure that your words are uplifting whenever possible.
  4. Eat better. Just as the words coming out of your mouth can affect you; the food going in can, too. If you’re filling your “tank” on sugars and caffeine to keep going, before you know it you’ll have a larger tank. And it’s even more difficult to stay positive when that happens.
  5. Filter the news. While it’s good to stay informed, it’s not beneficial to hear each and every day about the countless crimes and misdemeanors. In fact, you don’t have to hear about them to know they happened, so get a dose of information from your various sources, and then read a good book or work on your next project.
  6. Move it. OK; I know you hear this everywhere you look or listen, but it really does help your positive outlook. Get away from your desk or TV or whatever it is you sit in front of too much. Even if you take a walk around your neighborhood, you’re getting oxygen into your blood. And oxygenated blood goes to your brain, and you know what your brain does.
  7. Love. You really never have to look far to find someone to love. I don’t mean the kind of love you find on the cover of the newsstand magazines. I mean the giving kind of love. If you don’t have a wife or husband or potential, you can still love your fellow human being. Love them enough to say an encouraging word now and then. When you do that, you’ll be working on suggestions 3 & 7 at the same time.

 

Combine and or all suggestions and get positive. The world needs YOU.

I look for Everlasting holy clues
To steel myself through all this negative news
I dream the Everlasting wide-eyed stuff,
But I’m still aware that dreaming’s never enough.

(from the song “Everlasting and Everywhere” off the Do Right collection)

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My love for letters and words began long before my first day of school. Many of my earliest memories are of my Grandmother and my Mom reading stories and the Sunday “funnies” to me. And I think the word pictures from those stories and comic strips led, in part, to my lifelong habits of observation.

Here’s how I see it (pun slightly intended) observation creates thoughts. Thoughts create ideas. And ideas create words. Then, words create sentences. Sentences create paragraphs. And paragraphs create verses or chapters or books. So, it’s like the power of observation becomes good ink for the pen. Or in my case, nowadays, strokes for the computer keyboard.

So, writing became one of my favorite lifelong habits

Do you prefer to read and leave writing to authors? The world needs readers AND writers. So, you’re good either way. And whether you write, or prefer to read, I hope lots of good ideas and words dance in your thoughts today. And everyday. Who knows? Maybe some of them will become…

Ink For The Pen

The little girl who fell and bruised her knee on the ground
Didn’t know her tears were some more ink for the pen.
The little boy who ran and laughed and jumped all around
Didn’t know his giggles were more ink for the pen.

The dog that chased a ball and caught it right in the air
Didn’t know its wagging tail was ink for the pen.
The ducks that saw the dog and then scattered everywhere
Didn’t know they quacked up some more ink for the pen.

The loved ones who were here but have since passed away
Didn’t know their lives provided ink for the pen.
Until I leave this world and my body’s cast away
I’ll write about this love that brings me ink for the pen.

© 2013

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Live well and be well because you can’t be sick and inspire…at least not for long.

Oh, you think you can? Think again. You need your health. It’s not just something that’s nice to have around. It’s the core essential to any job you do or any career you have.

Don’t just be sick. Because the world needs you to Be Well.

Whether they know it or not. And here’s what I shared, about 10 years ago, to motivate you.

~ Put down that diet cola and repeat after me…I want to be healthy. ( I want to be healthy) I need to be healthy (are you repeating after me?) If I’m not healthy, I’m no good to anyone. (say it…it’s true) And if I’m healthy, I can overcome obstacles in my mind, body, and work.

OK. Do you believe it? Because, if you do, you can live well AND be well.

So, believe it.

Chew on this.

You eat fast food everyday. You don’t exercise. And you definitely don’t drink enough water. Or even when you drink it, it’s mixed with tea or coffee. And you think you can take your little one-a-day so-called vitamins and keep the bad times away.

Wrong.

You gotta get well, be well, and stay well.

People depend on you to do your best. And constantly reaching for a tissue to honk your nose isn’t your best. Neither is running for an umpteenth bathroom break. How much good work are you gonna get done like that?

There used to be commercials where a guy didn’t know how to get dressed or make breakfast or even get in his car? Then, he gave up smoking. And he’s had to re-learn how to do everything without a cigarette in his hand.

Don’t be like that guy. Live well. Be well. Stay well. Start now. Be happy. Grin. It’s good for you. And you’ll keep your mind free to think up all kinds of things to write about.

It just worked for me.  🙂

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OK, for this meeting of Overeaters Anonymous, I’d like to pick up where we left off during the last meeting. And that, of course, is the ever-important issue. Dessert: before or after the meal? And while Albert reads the minutes of the last meeting, let’s all sample this excellent crab dip.

Mm..Mm. Overeaters Anonymous is my favorite group.

My only question is…why be anonymous? Why not go all out and live loud and proud. Overeat like there’s no tomorrow. Right? Because, let’s face it, there actually might not be a tomorrow.

Maybe you’ve heard this: “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die”. Or maybe you’ve heard another version: “eat, drink, and be merry…for tomorrow we die”.

And “let us eat…” comes from the Bible. Did you know that?

Paul wrote that first version to Christian believers in Corinth. He was talking about the effects of denying the resurrection of Jesus. He was saying that if there is no resurrection, then this life might very well be all we have. And if that’s the case…we’d better party as much as we can possibly stand. After all, who knows how long anyone has.

(Definitely a check in the “dessert first” side of the debate)

Anyway…

Paul also shared with the Corinthians how the work he was doing in Ephesus (and anywhere else for that matter) would serve no reasonable purpose, if death is the end. Why should Christians bother to share anything about Jesus if we’re all gonna just die and that’s it? What a waste of time…right?

Well, everyone has his (or her) own flesh to contend with. Everyone deals with that voice, or notion, or thought that says “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die”. The flesh wants what the flesh wants. And like Paul said, “I die daily”. It’s only by the Grace and knowledge of the everlasting salvation Jesus provided for me that I rise again daily.

Do you have that same assurance and hope?

Have you considered the possibility there might be some truth to this story Christians can’t seem to shut up about? Do you feel secure and confident about the choice you’ve made when it comes to how long your life will last?

I only ask because I know how much love you’ll miss out on when you deny the birth, death, and resurrection of your Creator. I’d hate to see that. Especially when it’s so avoidable. You simply need to choose. Life? Or death?

There are choices that we’re given freedom to choose.
But use wisdom; with your choices you could abuse.
Simple words could lead little lambs to slaughter,
And where that ends; you will always long for water.

(from the song “Do Right”)

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Almost 10 years ago I wrote an article on why you should live well and be well. And I shared how it’s not just a mantra. Or a greeting. Or some line in a Star Trek movie. And I think the information I talked about is even more relevant now. Because, well…da ‘Vid. Duh. (remind me to tell you about “da ‘Vid”)

As much as it’s within your power to do so, be well.

Despite how much of your freedom you lose with each passing week, there’s a lot that’s still in your power. Like what you eat and drink. And whether or not you get up and move around more. Thankfully, there’s no one forcing you to eat fast food and sit on the couch all day and night. Well, if there IS someone forcing you to do that, call 9-1-1 as soon as you can.

Before I go any further, I need to clarify (for the millions who went to public school) that I’m in no way saying you can be well all the time. Far from it. But you gotta give your immune system the best fighting chance possible. Because it’s up against badder bacterium and bugs all the time. And more and more vicious viruses.

So, like I said, almost 10 years ago…put down that diet cola and decide to make healthier choices. Because when you’re not healthy, you’re no good to anyone. Functionally speaking. Not inherent value, of course.

Plus, healthier choices help you overcome obstacles in your mind, your body, and your work.

Fortunately those healthier choices aren’t difficult to figure out. I came up with an acronym a long time ago.

YES MAM. (I know that not how you spell ma’am, but it’s an acronym…sound it out)

You Eat Sensibly, Move Around More.

And don’t even try to tell me you don’t know what “sensibly” means. Because when you eat a donut or ice cream or cookies, you know (yes, you know!) it’s just for fun. And you know (yes, you know!) it’s not sensible. Plus, you know you’re gonna “crash” later when the sugar rush runs out. Don’t tell me you don’t know. Because you DO.

But here’s a caveat I’ll add. And this oughta stir things up.

If you’re not a Christian, I hope you totally disregard my advice and recommendations. Because, if you don’t love your Creator, I don’t care if you get sick. That’s right. I don’t care. In fact, I’d prefer you’re out of circulation as much as possible. And maybe if you get sick enough, you’ll realize you’re not all that. Not even the bag of chips. And my recommendation to you is to use the down time to find out what it takes to stay out of hell.

But if you ARE a Christian, start today. My advice, from 10 years ago, is more important than ever. “Be happy. Grin. Laugh. And for cryin’ out loud, build up and maintain a healthy immune system. The world needs you. And I’m pullin’ for you.

Now, get outside and take a walk today
Unless it’s cold and there’s no sun today.
Then stay inside and take a break today
And read The Word, for Heaven’s sake, today.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot “da ‘Vid.” My good friend, Brian, called me yesterday with a t-shirt design idea. He said he dealt with the Covid back in January. And while it was no fun, it was “no big deal.” So, he thought a t-shirt with a smiley face, talkin’ about havin’ da ‘Vid, would be a great idea.

So, I designed it. And Brian’s gettin’ one. And he says you should, too. Click or tap the picture of the shirt to get yours today…if you’ve had da ‘Vid.

Click or tap the pic to get your 'Vid shirt today

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Adrenal glands. Oh yeah, now we’re talking about some pretty exciting stuff. And I bet when you got up this morning the first thought you had, after your coffee kicked in, was “Where can I find me some stimulatin’ adrenal conversation?”

Never fear, I’ve got your adrenal glands gossip right here.

First, let’s talk about the easy-to-understand stuff. Like the zona glomerulosa, fasciculata, and reticularis. They don’t do so much. Just produce aldosterone, cortisol, and sex steroid hormone. So, no big deal.

Then, there’s the adrenal medulla that produces catecholamines. Or maybe you know them by their hormonal names, epinephrine and norepinephrine. But again…no big deal. Same with the adrenal cortex.  It’s the section that produces some hormones necessary for fluid and electrolyte (aka: salt) balance. Maybe you recognize their hormonal names: cortisol and aldosterone.

And here’s some more Captain Obvious stuff: The zona glomerulosa converts progesterone, through a series of steps, to the mineralocorticoid aldosterone. Then, some other layers of the cortex convert progesterone to 17-hydroxyprogesterone. And then the progesterone is converted to either the 17-hydroxysteroid cortisol or the 17-ketosteroid sex hormones.

Apparently every day these boring, little, triangle-shaped adrenal glands (located above your kidneys) secrete 15″“20 mg of cortisol, 25″“30 mg of androgens, and 75″“125 µg of aldosterone.

Yeah, I know. Big yawn.

Sure, I could blabber on and on about the ho-hum details of what your adrenal glands are doing while you’re enjoying your coffee and donuts. But your mind needs true stimulation. Right? And I’m sure you couldn’t care less about symptoms like…

  • Where’s my caffeine?
  • Why won’t my food (and my belly) go on down?
  • Stop yelling at me chips, cookies, and cakes!
  • I can’t get to sleep. No, wait. I can hardly wake up.
  • Who you callin’ Fatso?
  • Oh woe is me…all the time.
  • Why is there so much hair in the sink the same color as mine?
  • Thyroid schmyroid. Who needs it?

Yeah, I know a lot of people believe all that stuff going on inside you just happened by accident. So, who cares that your adrenal medulla can be stimulated along its preganglionic sympathetic fibers? And who cares how that causes release of dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine?

Plus, it’s just a nice side effect that sympathetic neural outflow is increased by some silly-sounding fight-or-flight response. Right? Yeah, so what, if that can be triggered by fear and/or emotional stress? Or typical stuff like upright posture and pain, cold and hypotension, and hypoglycemia and more.

Plus,

Who needs to read all those made-up Bible stories about some silly notion of a “creation week” or worldwide flood? Who needs to read some white-haired old guys writings about humans being made from the dust of the earth? Because that certainly wouldn’t help anybody understand how norepinephrine exerts negative feedback at the preganglionic sympathetic receptors. Am I right?

No, all those simplistic functions going on in just two tiny glands inside your body, which is made up of about 30 trillion cells, are just happening because they need to happen. Let’s not get all Biblical about it.

Let’s just be glad our bodies work the way they do.
And how it’s not a case of why or even who.
Let’s keep evolving till we don’t need all this stuff
Like skin and bones, because our minds will be enough.

Yes, Let’s.

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