The Broadening of the Mind

The search for knowledge is a journey. You can never know enough, see enough or have enough of it. If you think you do, then decay of the mind begins. With each new day, there is something new. The thirst for knowledge has given us many great new inventions and invaluable treasures have been uncovered in the pursuit of it. Therefore knowledge is to be sought after relentlessly to create a better future for the world, or simply to awaken our own minds to fresh new thoughts and ideas.

Time is such a precious entity to us. One of the best uses of the summer holidays must be in gaining knowledge whether in culture, art, history or nature.

We can expand our minds with a visit to the great museums of our time. These storehouses of life in the past and of an earlier world are filled with information and evidence of how our ancestors existed. We’re able to see, feel and touch things of those who have long left us. Earth day, 22 April 08, was more acutely appreciated by Anton, who had recently visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He enjoyed the interactive and engaging exhibits of dinosaur bones and the Earth’s eco-systems. And he thought of his friend Neil, a lepidopterist wanna-be, who would have been fascinated by the amazing Butterfly Conservatory there.

With an open mind to learn, comprehend and appreciate our past, we also discover our own identities, and perhaps find the roots of our personal journeys to redefine ourselves.

10 Great Museums That Will Inspire The Mind:

1. The Musee du Louvre - France, Paris
    

2. Galleria degli Uffizi - Italy, Florence
    

3. Accademia dell'Arte del Disegno - Italy, Florence
    

4. The Metropolitan Museum of Art - United States, New York
    

5. The National Gallery - England, London
    

6. Van Gogh Museum - Spain, Barcelona
    

7. Chateau de Versailles - France, Versailles
    

8. Vatican Museums - Italy, Vatican City
    

9. Prado Museum - Spain, Madrid
    

10. Tate Modern - England, London

Get Physical In The Summer

‘Our bodies are our temples’ is a true and timeless adage. It’s where you reside, the tangible existence of yourself. Don’t let stress, illness, bad diet or a sedentary lifestyle, knowingly or unknowingly, be our undoing.

In summer, it is the sun that is the best health food, with sunblock of course, to ensure safe sunning. Without sunshine, those who have experienced living in seasons with long dark hours, even in summer, have expressed moods of depression and an unhealthy disposition. This is due to the lack of seratonin production; and the UV from sunshine is our main source of Vitamin D, necessary for our bones, muscles and immune system.

Heart-pumping action can be enjoyable, and certainly beneficial by increasing endorphins, blood circulation and it burns fat. It then improves your body aesthetics.

Sharlyn and Dirk discovered Vietnam on road bikes. They went up and down the mountains of Sapa, saw pristine blue skies and green landscapes and shared moments with the local tribe. They found it exhilarating and refreshing not just the usual tourist route.

For this summer holiday period, to look good, feel good and have a guilt-free great time, get physical and adventurous. Challenge yourself and refresh your bodies with a good cardiovascular workout. The activities could be ones you’ve never attempted before or some sport that you used to excel in but haven’t revisited for a long time.

5 Tips To Enjoying Your Body Challenge:

1. Pick an adventure sport, such as cycling, rock-climbing, kayaking. Adventure sports are less mechanical. A game of tennis or golf is also fun and socially uplifting.
    

2. Always be well prepared. Know what you are going for and plan for it by using the right equipment for safety purposes.
    

3. Be energized and keep hydrated. Cardiovascular sports require high levels of energy. Take an energy bar and a bottle of water to stay hydrated.
    

4. Family and friends will certainly add another dimension to any sporting activity. Good company ensures that there is constant encouragement and support, especially in challenging endeavours. Make a date.
    

5. Always warm up before any sport to prevent injury and stretch after activities to ensure that you do not suffer post-exercise pains.

Firing Up Your Heart

Ah, Passion! Passion is often associated with fire, the colour red, and it is the emotion that should burn within us. It is that powerful force that motivates love or hate and awakens the depths of our hearts. It is the driving force of life.

Passion or indifference sets apart the successful from the mediocre. Passion fuels motivation and achievement. Those without passion do what they do in a perfunctory manner. The question here is, does passion still reside in your heart?

Look deep into your heart, find out if perhaps you might have once had it, but the humdrum of daily living has become routine. How do we rekindle lost heartfelt passion?

Often, the line between passion and mere action lies between pursuing something whole-heartedly and just scratching the surface of something you enjoy without commitment.

The summer means you’re mid-way through the year. It’s a good opportunity to get away and pursue yourself and nothing else. Part of pursuing yourself and rekindling the relationship with your heart is finding passion and setting your heart on fire once again.

5 Tips To Pursuing A Heart Of Passion:

1. Identify your strengths and weaknesses to enjoy your strengths & empower your weaknesses.
    

2. Identify your likes and dislikes to find your heart’s desires.
    

3. Commit time regularly to activities you enjoy with your family and the people you love. Give your passions the time they deserve. Do it now.
    

4. Try something new occasionally, even if it’s challenging. You will discover new passions to relish.
    

5. Surround yourself with people who share common interests. They can be a source of encouragement, help reignite your passion and you will make new friends.

What is the state of your soul? Is it stressed and troubled? Or is it calm, relaxed and joyful?

For centeredness and holistic well-being, the soul should be in a state of peace. However, we may still feel the effects of disturbances, from work, family or environment. These can trouble the soul and affect our heart, body and mind, causing us to be susceptible to illness and mental unrest. In the summer especially, we know that high temperatures and humidity can affect even our spiritual equilibrium.

Music has been said to soothe the raging soul and could be the quickest solution.

Music comprises more than ambient sounds. The combination of rhythm and tunes can change the pace of heartbeats, set you in a state of meditation and alter your mood. Just as it sets the stage in films and the affects those who attend a rock or classical music concert, music can heal our souls.

Cynthia has been enjoying Relaxing Moods VI body, mind, soul. There are three cds titled Yoga, Spa and Pilates. Each cd is approximately 60 minutes.

She says “No matter what household chore I am attending to whether ironing, cooking or cleaning, I feel a complete sense of peace within myself as I listen to these cds. I received them for Xmas and I listen to it everyday and have not grown tired of it.”

The power of music lies in its ability to take our focus to an external element other than ourself. This takes us away from our frustrations and personal thoughts, allowing our souls to be quickly transformed. As we start to focus on soothing music, we find ourselves led into a calm inner state. This is because music is processed in our brain, sets the rhythm in our hearts, and brings us to a steady whole.

So, sit back in your favourite chair, have a cup of coffee, turn on the speakers and tune into music that is soft, calming and healing.

5 Genres Of Music To Repair Your Soul:

1. Classical - http://www.classical.com
    

2. Lounge - http://www.lounge-radio.com
    

3. Instrumental - http://www.ez-tracks.com/instrumental.html
    

4. New age music - http://www.newagemusic.com/
    

5. Nature sounds - http://www.naturesounds.ca/

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