Am I my brother's keeper?

It is a question as old as time, as relevant as today, as urgent as tomorrow. Am I my brother's keeper? Am I responsible for the welfare and upkeep of my neighbor? Just who is my neighbor?How much should I help?

These questions are the very same questions that great men throughout history have wrestled with, from Jesus, to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Eli Wiesel. Great men and women throughout history have always pondered this question, and as long as man is on the earth it will always be with us.

On this day of contemplation of the man Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the meaning of his life and legacy, and in view of the recent tragedy in Haiti, it is good, well, prudent and just to ponder these and other questions.

Many are worried that committing aid to Haiti will bankrupt this already fragile economy of this country. Others worry about an increase in immigration. Still others are apprehensive over the potential for violence. Scores are predicting that things will never change, that Haiti will continue as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, etc.

Today, let us all go forth, with humility and good will. Let us think upon the words of Dr. King:"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." With Haiti, as with all the other countries of the world, neglect, abuse, intolerance, indifference will reap a whirlwind. Let us all sow peace, love, understanding, and rebuild Haiti with a will, and a purpose: to keep and maintain our brother in safety, with love and respect.

#WednesdayWisdom on Twitter!

TO: EVERYONE!
FR: DOULA ANGELITA
DT:06 JANUARY 2010
RE: #WEDNESDAYWISDOM



This announcement is to let all know that on the first and third Wednesday of each month, Doula Angelita, San Jose's Community Doula, is launching a new initiative, #WednesdayWisdom, on Twitter.

The purpose of #WEDNESDAYWISDOM is to discuss a topic and disseminate easy-to-use tips on how to incorporate the topic into your life. Additionally, Doula Angelita does a QnA session during #WEDNESDAYWISDOM in which she personally addresses issues concerning the audience.

#WEDNESDAYWISDOM is a way for Doula Angelita to reach out to people in a comfortable way, and is a good way to demonstrate why she is San Jose's Community Doula and a leading expert on birth, parenting, nutrition and women's issues.

Join Doula Angelita's new 2010 launch today and get inspired to best health! Bless!

No excuses, a new start.

Many people are so excited for the New Year. This is the time when people are eagerly looking forward to having a new start and turning over a new leaf. Diet, exercise, personal characteristics, new ways of doing things are examined and mulled over. When it comes down to it, the best thing to do is to get to the brass tacks of what it is that you want to do with this new energy.

One thing that I want to do is to help organize people in terms of diet and nutrition. My belief is that it is not enough to make a resolution to lose weight, one must implement a strategy in order to ensure that what is being revamped is a lifestyle, not just a food choice. For example, it is not enough to say "I must add vegetables to my diet"; how are you going to accomplish this, especially if vegetables and you have never gotten along?

Using a commonsense approach, a few gentle recipes and some humour, this becomes less of a burden and more of an adventure. Looking upon change as a positive thing and not a colossal hassle helps tremendously in having a more successful outcome.

So, my advice for today:

TIP: WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE/ADD/SUBTRACT/ FROM YOUR DIET-AND WHY.

There, now that wasn't that hard, was it?

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Doula Angelita is a trident doula, parenting coach, nutrition guide and women's issue advocate. She is in tune with the New Year and ready to help you become attuned as well.

Are you ready to breathe?

Here's a fast and easy way to get your mind right, increase your awareness of your body systems, improve your homeostatic condition, and the amount of oxygen flowing to your brain. It is perfect for those on the go, those with limited time, limited mobility and limited patience for a whole series of complicated exercises. It is both portable and affordable, and a lot of training does not need to be done. What is this wonderful thing? It is breathing.

A deep mindful breath is a way to cleanse and center. It is a way to focus yourself when in the grip of stress and strain. It is a simple manner in which to bring yourself back into yourself when the events of the day threaten to overwhelm you.

Inhale deeply. Hold it for a count of five. Exhale deeply for a count of five. Repeat as necessary in order to bring your heart, mind, body and soul into proper alignment.