ARCHIVE PAGE…January Is…

JANUARY IS

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012

COFFEEBREAKWITHFRIENDS

Wish all of you a HAPPY AND HEALTHY New Year!

Remember…try to keep those Resolutions within reach…

Keep it Simple…See your glass as half full rather than half empty…

Have an attitude of gratitude…even with yourself!…

Don’t sweat the small stuff…and try to let go and let God…

You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends…

So remember…to have a friend …you have to be a friend…in good times and bad!

And even though family can be trying at times…

they are family…just try to control the expectations…

To make your New Year a Happy one…try to bring some Joy into your life!

We all want Peace in the World…

but maybe we have to work on having it begin within ourselves first…

As for a Healthy New Year…Our bodies are our temples…

Maybe if we think of taking care of our bodies

like we take care of our homes, our cars…

and the many other superficial things we agonize over…

well who knows what might happen???

And remember …mental health is as important as physical health…

Try to allow yourself some time free of stress or anxiety???

It’s a New Year…

Even though our Future as a Nation may look bleak economically…

We can make a difference by getting involved in our Nations Future…

With the up-coming 2012 Election…search out the truth…

Know who YOU want to vote for and why…don’t just listen to friends or the media…

Search for the TRUTH…

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER…

and you have the ability to use your knowledge in a powerful way…Vote!

GOD BLESS!

New Year’s History and Traditions

By Carol Bainbridge,

About.com Guide

The start of a new year has a special significance to people all around the world. It is a time rich with history and traditions and while most of us celebrate and often make New Year’s resolutions, few of us know what’s behind the celebrating and the resoltion making, and probably even fewer of us are aware of the many ways the New Year is welcomed in different cultures. If your children like to ask “why” as many gifted children do, you’ll want to know the answers!

The Beginning of Celebrating the New Year:

Celebrating the new year goes back 4000 years ago, but it didn’t begin in western cultures until only 400 years ago. The holiday began in ancient Babylonia (now Iraq)around 2000 B.C. However, the Babylonians began their new year near the end of what is now March, a logical time to start a new year since winter was over, spring with its new life was beginning and crops were planted for the coming year.In 153 B.C. the Roman senate decreed the new year to begin on January 1. It made this decree to correct the calendar, which had become out of synch with the sun. The date has no agricultural or seasonal significance.

The Acceptance of the New Year’s Celebration:

Although January 1 had no agricultural or seasonal significance, it did have a civil one. On that date the newly elected Roman consuls would step into their positions. Interestingly, the month of January is named for the Roman god Janus, who had two faces, which can represent looking back at the old year and one looking forward to the new one.Celebrating the new year was a pagan practice and for that reason, the early Christian church condemned it. However, in order to more easily convert pagans to Christianity, the Church accepted the celebration on January 1, but made it the Feast of Christ’s Circumcision.

New Year’s Resolutions:

Making resolutions on New Year’s is as old as the holiday itself. The Babylonians would make resolutions, the most popular one being to return farm equipment! The ancient Romans also made resolutions for the new year, their most popular one being to ask for forgiveness from their enemies.The Anglo-Saxons, who settled what is England, had a festival called Yule, which celebrated a fertile and peaceful season. The boar was a part of this celebration and people would make solemn “boar oaths” for the coming year.

Customs:

Although the day designated as the day the new year begins may differ from culture to culture, it is a time the world over for celebrating. There are so many different customs that it is impossible to list them all, but here are some of them:

Germany
Small pieces of lead are melted in a spoon over a lit candle. The melted lead is dropped into cold water. It hardens into shapes, which predict the future. A heart or ring shape, for example, means a wedding.
Greece
A gold or silver coin is baked into a cake. The person who has the piece of cake with the coin inside will be lucky for the rest of the year.

Japan
Before the holiday, houses must be cleaned, inside and out. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, a monk at a local shrine strikes a gong to signify the forgiving of the past year’s mistakes.
Netherlands
To purge the old year and welcome in the new one, the Dutch make bonfires in the street out of their Christmas trees.
Scotland
Firstfooting-people visit neighbors just after midnight to wish them well for the new year. It is considered good luck if the first person to step foot into your house is a tall, dark and handsome man!

Spain
Eating twelve grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve will bring twelve months of happiness.

OTHER CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD…

How New Year is said around the world

Welsh New Year
Top 10 New Years resolutions for 2012

With the coming of a fresh year people always strive hard to have a good beginning. Every year most of us make unique and new resolutions. We plan it well and stay determined to fulfill those resolutions. But somehow only a few have the relentlessness to keep up their resolutions.

With the coming of 2012, many people made various resolutions. Some of them might have succeeded and others couldn’t because of the simple reason that they did not try hard enough to fulfill them. No matter how successful you were in 2010, the new year, 2011 will be your year to have a new beginning and start with a fresh zeal. If you haven’t made your list of resolutions yet, here are the top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2012 to see if they can be applied to your life.

1. Lose Weight

This is probably one of the resolutions which are common to many people who always dream of having a beautiful and lean body. Was this one of your resolutions from past year? If so, be encouraged this year to follow it until you see positive results. Make a plan of what you will give up (late night snacks, that extra meal) in exchange for a lean body. You only have to make this shift once in your lifetime to get lasting results.

2. Getting Organized

Punctuality and organization is very crucial in a man’s life. People should always organize things accordingly and never delay any work what so ever. Work planning is very important both in office and also in home. The 2012 resolution must also include being organized and well planned. This will not only help in becoming a disciplined person but can also help in earning appreciation. In life problems are inevitable but handling these problems in planned and organized way is the main thing. Therefore a person’s resolution must include being disciplined. Simple things such as making a daily goal list before you start the day can go a long way.

3. Spend Less, Save More

How did you do financially in 2010? Many people spend money on unnecessary things without any justification. Money is an important thing in life and should be spent very carefully no matter how rich a person may be. Here’s a simple rule for you to follow in 2012. Before you buy something, always spend some time justifying the reason. You should spend the same amount of time it took you to earn that money on reasoning before you buy. If you do this, you will be able to cut most of the impulse purchases and you will be drawn to a better deal elsewhere.

4. Enjoy life to the Fullest

Life comes once and should be enjoyed as much as possible in the right way. Staying alone and isolated, and staying morose does not help. It is an individual’s duty to motivate oneself more and more so that they can reach the goal that they intend for. As the years are passing by, you are moving closer to the end of life. This should be seen as a positive aspect in life, because it encourages you to enjoy what you have in your life right now. Therefore make a resolution to find a reason everyday to enjoy life, enjoy everything that you do and enjoy every little moment in life, and then the life becomes worth living.

5. Staying Fit and Healthy

There are many people who lead a much undisciplined life and do not take care of their health. Staying physically and mentally fit should be another important resolution which can change your life positively and effectively. Regular exercise for half an hour everyday can help a lot in keeping mental peace.

6. Learn Something Exciting

Time waits for none and it should never be wasted. There are so many things that a person might engage himself or herself into apart from what they do. Where do you waste most of your time everyday? Do you spend idle time during waiting for the bus or train? Carry a book or an audio book on your career or profession every time you travel. Can you cut down on the time you spend watching TV, and learn a new skill? You’re never too young or old to learn a new skill. Therefore, make a resolution to upgrade your skills.

7. Quit Smoking

Smoking is injurious to health and it is known to all. Many people cannot give up smoking even after trying a lot. If you’re still addicted, your 2011 resolution should be to quit smoking. It will not only help you, but it will help everyone else whom you see everyday.

8. Helping Others in Their Dreams

Everybody thinks about oneself but there are few people who care for others. A great resolution is to help others. It always feels very nice to know that our actions can make other people smile and this is something to be proud about. You don’t need to be rich to help others. You can help others in 2011 with your time and skills. The more you help others, later you will also receive favors from other people because of the law of reciprocity.

9. Fall in Love

Love is a wonderful feeling, a feeling that comes from within. Are you in a relationship and is it the time to get engaged?, or is it the time to find someone in your life to share your experiences with? It’s never too late to fall in love.

10. Spend More Time with Family

Your 2012 resolutions should include loving family members. Every family member is dependent on each other and so spending time with family is very essential. An individual stays with its family for most of the time and should devote as much time as possible. Something that most successful businessmen and women regret is not spending enough time with their families when they could’ve. Spending time with the family gives a person a chance to know each other, share feelings with each other, share joy and sorrow. This is indeed an important resolution that will give you fulfillment in life.

These were some of the top 10 chosen resolution for year 2012. Some of them may be applicable for your and some may not. However, 2012 is a new beginning in your life. Create your own list of resolutions and make a quantum leap in your life this new year!

WHAT IS YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION?

Happy New Year: To Our Health!

As we embark on the beginning of a brand new year, let us always remember that one’s health is central to our being here on earth. As my grandparents always said, “without good health we have nothing”. That sounds harsh, but in many ways true.

Every month we have been discussing about a particular cancer that is represented by that month. It’s becoming clearer that cancer is everywhere and is a part of our lives as human beings. What my Italian ancestors used to call the “brutta“disease and was rarely talked about is now still a disease but its fear has lessened. We owe this to talented, intelligent doctors, scientists and activists who have spent their lives finding ways to prevent cure and control cancer. All we have to do is become knowledgeable, listen and take care of our bodies and pray that our heath care providers are listening too.

January is deemed cervical cancer awareness month. Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer death in American women. The number of women developing the disease and dying from it has greatly decreased thanks to the Pap smear test. Cervical cancer is typically a slow growing cancer that may not have symptoms, but can be detected by having regular Pap smear tests. This test detects subtle changes in the cells that may lead to cancer development.

Cervical cancer is typically caused by the HPV (Human Papillomavirus). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and affects both females and males.

Gardasil or the HPV vaccine is become available to teenage girls and is effective in preventing HPV infections, therefore is effective in preventing cervical cancer. Now the vaccine is approved for boys as well.

When my teenage daughter’s pediatrician asked if I wanted my daughter to have the vaccine I had many questions. I felt as though I would be expecting her to be sexually active. The pediatrician assured me that if the fear of AIDS hasn’t detoured teens from having sex that giving this vaccine wouldn’t encourage it. He also pointed out that we don’t know if other forms of foreplay, such as “petting” may also spread the HPV virus. That made sense to me so she got vaccinated. Everyone needs to do their own research and ask questions of their health care providers before making their decision.

According to the American Cancer Society risk factors for cervical cancer are the HPV infection, smoking, HIV infection, dietary factors, hormone contraception, multiple pregnancies, exposure to DES and family history of cervical cancer. There is possible genetic risk associated with HLA-B*07 gene. Like all cancers early detection is the key. So be proactive!!