Who wills, can.
Who tries, does.
Who loves, lives.
— Dragon Flight, Anne McCaffrey (1926-2011) Author

This is a good example of how qualities work together for the greatest good. A person who thinks themselves extra Extraordinary will hold themselves above others. But add a good measure of Humility and they will see themselves from a higher perspective.

Pax,
Jim

          EXTRAORDINARY

Definition: going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary

Derivation: It is interesting that this word is made by combining two words that by themselves would not be considered anything out of the ordinary: extra and ordinary. Put them together, add a personality, and you do get someone truly special.

            HUMBLE

Definitions: (1) modest or meek in temperament; free from pride or vanity; (2) respectful

Synonyms: unassuming, unobtrusive, unpretentious

Familial Quality: humor

Quotes:
Lay first the foundation of humility. — Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Roman Theologian

The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful. — Lao-tse (6^th Century bc) Chinese Theologian

Prayer:
We humbly ask God (as we understand the concept) to remove our shortcomings. — Number seven of the Alcoholics Anonymous twelve‑step program.

Observation: One of the opposites of humility is conceit. And, of course, adding humility to your character traits will greatly reduce negative arrogance. But how to acquire humility. A sure fire way to gain humility is to see yourself in relation to a greater reality. This could be God or nature or even physics. But it has to be someone or something you respect and cannot help but be very impressed with. Once a person sees themselves in a larger context they will have the ability (and maybe the will) to see themselves as they truly are.

Symbol: shoes

Consider the Source

Low fat religion spawned legions of processed foods, products with ramped up levels of sugar, and equally dubious sweet substitutes, to compensate for the inevitable loss of taste when fat is removed. The anti-saturated fat dogma gave manufacturers the perfect excuse to wean us off real foods that had sustained us for centuries, now portrayed as natural born killers, on to more lucrative, nutrient-light processed products, stiff with additives and cheap fillers.

Government diet gurus and health charities have long been engaged on a salt reduction crusade, but what has been missing from this noble effort is the awareness that excessive salt is a problem of processed food. High salt is essential to that larger-than-life processed food taste. Without salt, and a sub-set of assorted chemical flavour enhancers, processed foods would be exposed for what they are: products that have lost their natural savour and nutritional integrity. Salt-free cornflakes, for instance, would be well nigh inedible. No one would want to buy them because they would see that they are a heap of nutritional uselessness.

Consider the Source

 Consider the First Source!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word choreographed an assembly of amino acids into an exquisite array of specific proteins. Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” In so doing God demonstrated a penchant for genomic writing, preceeded by an amazing series of prebiotic events, in a highly orchestrated presentation of evolutionary overcontrol.

More about God’s Handiwork!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. — Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991) Author

Some qualities are primarily active (Enterprising) and others are passive (Favored) but one can admire a favorite because the apple of their eye is creative, inventive, takes the initiative, and follows through on their imaginative ideas.

Pax,
Jim

          ENTERPRISING

Definitions: (1) showing an independent, energetic spirit and a readiness to experiment or commit; (2) willing to attempt large or untried schemes; (3) full of energy and inventive initiative

How to Live This Quality Today: Write down your good ideas and let them incubate.

Color: red

          FAVORED

Definitions: (1) treated with or looked upon with friendliness or approval; (2) enjoying special advantages; privileged

Familial Quality: fascinating

Consider the Source

At almost any supermarket, you can pick up both antibacterial soap and probiotic yogurt during the same shopping trip.

In a recent study, published on March 12 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, researchers found that beneficial gut bacteria were necessary for the development of innate immune cells—specialized types of white blood cells that serve as the body’s first line of defense against invading pathogens.

In addition to circulating in the blood, reserve stores of immune cells are also kept in the spleen and in the bone marrow. When researchers looked at the immune cell populations in these areas in so-called germ-free mice, born without gut bacteria, and in healthy mice with a normal population of microbes in the gut, they found that germ-free mice had fewer immune cells—specifically macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils—than healthy mice.

Germ-free mice also had fewer granulocyte and monocyte progenitor cells, stemlike cells that can eventually differentiate into a few types of mature immune cells. And the innate immune cells that were in the spleen were defective—never fully reaching the proportions found in healthy mice with a diverse population of gut microbes.

Consider the Source

 Consider the First Source!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word choreographed an assembly of amino acids into an exquisite array of specific proteins. Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” In so doing God demonstrated a penchant for genomic writing, preceeded by an amazing series of prebiotic events, in a highly orchestrated presentation of evolutionary overcontrol.

More about God’s Handiwork!

Growing Food Connections Launches a Website to Train Communities in Food Systems Planning. With information on continuing education, doctoral programs in food systems planning and policy at Ohio State University and University at Buffalo and student internship opportunities, the website also supports Growing Food Connections’ goal to develop an educational framework for the next generation of food systems planners.

Consider the Source

 Consider the First Source!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word choreographed an assembly of amino acids into an exquisite array of specific proteins. Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” In so doing God demonstrated a penchant for genomic writing, preceeded by an amazing series of prebiotic events, in a highly orchestrated presentation of evolutionary overcontrol.

More about God’s Handiwork!

We become what we do. — Dune, Frank Patrick Herbert (1920-1986) Author

One piece of general advice these days is to take yourself out of the equation. A healthy sense of self is necessary, and yet it is not an excuse to be selfish. A good way to create a balance is to think of the rights and feeling of others. How can I be Thoughtful? How can I be positively Penitent? What is the proper action to take with the offence I have given?

Pax,
Jim

            THOUGHTFUL

Definitions: (1) showing respect for others; considerate; courteous; (2) aware of the views and sensibilities of others; heedful; mindful; attentive; (3) characterized by or manifesting careful deliberation; contemplative; cognitive; (4) occupied with or given to religious reflection; meditative; (5) possessing the power of reasoning and conceiving ideas; imaginative

Balancing Qualities: creative, curious, flexible, open, persistent

Quotes:
The soul is dyed with the color of its thoughts. — Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121-180) Roman Emperor and Philosopher

Govern your thoughts as if your future depends on them, because it does.
— Debra Saint Claire (1952 – ) Master Herbalist

 Reflection: Others deserve your special attention because they are valuable. If you realize their worth, you will wish to be good to them – thoughtful, considerate, and courteous.

Comments:
• Positive thoughts expand. Negative thoughts contract.

• In order to be thoughtful you have to know (or gamble on knowing) what the other person desires, needs, or wants. There are subtle signs, but one way that is pretty definite: Ask.

            PENITENT

Definition: having regret of offense or sin and willingness to atone; contrite

Comment: If you did something you know was wrong, you will eventually see it for what it was, and want to reverse the injury. To feel a need to take positive action is a first step. Yet you may not be able to remove the harm done to a specific person. What you can do is change who you are. Then you will act differently to all.

Consider the Source

Very little fat on this baby!

Learn how to make biodegradable seed starting kits out of newspaper.

Consider the Source

 Consider the First Source!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word choreographed an assembly of amino acids into an exquisite array of specific proteins. Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” In so doing God demonstrated a penchant for genomic writing, preceeded by an amazing series of prebiotic events, in a highly orchestrated presentation of evolutionary overcontrol.

More about God’s Handiwork!

Should a person perform a meritorious action, he should do it again and again; he should find pleasure therein: blissful is the accumulation of merit. — Buddhism, Dharmmapada 18

It is a tall order to ask someone to spontaneously manufacture Vibrant Blissfulness. We do not go around in a state of energetic vitality all of the time (unless you are a child). But we can mellow the manic side of these qualities (by harmonizing them with the tranquil qualities) and find their mental and physical energy to be enervating.

Pax,
Jim

            VIBRANT

Definition: characterized by energetic activity; vital; vigorous

            BLISSFUL

Definitions: (1) experiencing complete happiness or joy; (2) the cause of delight or elation

Synonyms: blessed, ecstatic, rapturous

Quotes:
Note: The following four quotes are from Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) Interview with Bill Moyers

If one has the guts, you might say, to follow the risk, life opens, opens, opens up all around the line.

The way in which the “richness” of the quest builds up, builds up, and continues to build up – it’s terrific.

I feel if one follows his bliss, the thing which really gets you deep in the gut, and that you feel is your life, doors will open up – they do! If you are on your way, even if no one has done it before, it will open up.

If you follow your bliss, you will have your bliss, whether you have money or not. If you follow money, you may lose that money, and then you won’t even have that. The secure way is really the insecure way.

Comment: Part of being in your bliss is being in balance. When you enhance a quality, it floods into the space where negative qualities had lurked. Bliss and fear cannot live in the same place.

Consider the Source

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. — James Vernon Taylor (1948-) Composer

A sweet little baby is Endearing. Each of us comes into this world with a set of values gifted to us simply by the generosity of grace. As we grow, it is our responsibility to expand these elemental qualities into more sophisticated and personal flowers and gems of goodness. Our second word this week is Cordial. In both definitions is the word affection(ate). Therefore cordiality is an outgrowth of being endearing.

Pax,
Jim

           ENDEARING

Definitions: (1) binded by ties of affection and love; cherished or beloved; (2) manifesting tender emotion; admiration

           CORDIAL

Definitions: (1) proceeding from the heart; warm; affectionate; genial; (2) reviving of spirits; cheering; giving strength; invigorating

Synonym: gracious

Saying: A bras ouverts (French): “with open arms”

Consider the Source