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Judge Me By the Footsteps I Leave Behind.
Saturday night my wife and I took our daughters to see the Las Vegas production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical “Phantom of the Opera” where a desperate and disfigured character haunts the Paris Opera in his search for love. We wanted the girls to begin to experience this art form and their mother and I wanted them to have one more place to wear their Easter dresses. To add to the evening we asked our dear friends to bring their young sons and daughter to the show.
As expected, the show was terrific and though some of the theme seemed a bit complex for children between 5-10 years old, our friends’ daughter Lexi watched the show with the type of focus I see from her as her soccer coach. Lexi, you see, is the most gifted player I have ever coached and a blessing to be around. She leads by example, never has a harsh word for anyone and will defend her soccer ‘sisters’ whenever needed.
After watching the show and grabbing an ice cream, Lexi’s mother queried her family as to what they thought of the show, what the message might have been. Her boys gave their estimation and then Lexi weighed in on what the horrific “Phantom’s” plight should teach us.
Seven year old Lexi says we shouldn’t judge people because they are ugly.
Simple enough, from the mouth’s of babes. But is it that simple?
Today’s story (below) takes the subject of Lexi’s concern for others a step further as a young man who survives Vietnam asks his parents if they can take in his terribly wounded friend, not just for a moment, but for the foreseeable future.
What they tell him changes everyone’s lives forever and reminds us all to be a little more like Lexi.
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Judge Me By the Footsteps I Leave Behind
Story provided by a reader.
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam.
He called his parents from San Francisco.
“Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.”
“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”
“There’s something you should know the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mined and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”
“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”
“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him.
A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.
Thankfully, there’s someone who won’t treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
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6 Feel-Good Foods That Naturally Boost Your Mood
Editor’s Note:
Over the past few years we’ve identified that in addition to making the world a kinder, better place that our readership of Kindhearts like you also want to live longer and healthier lives. As such, we’ve gone on a recruiting mission to find great new writers who can give us ideas so that we can all “Live well. Be kind.”
Today is our first of many great ideas for living better. Enjoy!
6 Feel-Good Foods That Naturally Boost Your Mood
When we’re feeling down, we often turn to our friends for solace or look for an activity that can distract us from our worries. Our first instinct isn’t usually to turn to food — unless it’s to dig into a pint of ice cream for comfort— but eating the right diet can actually boost your mood and your happiness overall. Whether you’re stressed out and anxious or you just don’t have the energy or motivation to get through the day, picking the right foods can help keep you feeling relaxed and upbeat.
It might sound farfetched that food can so greatly affect your mood, but research shows that certain types of diets can have a significant effect on your happiness levels. One study from the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that people who ate a typical Mediterranean diet filled with whole and unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, and olive oil were much happier than those who ate a standard Western diet that included a lot of fast food, dessert, and soda.
Eating healthy foods can provide you with the nutrients your body needs to help fight off depression and keep your stress levels at bay. If you need a little boost in your mood, try eating one of these six feel-good foods that will have you smiling in no-time.
1. Dark Chocolate
As if you need another excuse to eat the sweet treat: dark chocolate has been found to fight off anxiety and depression. One study from the Journal of Proteome Research found that daily consumption of chocolate led to lower levels of stress hormones. Cocoa also contains antioxidants called polyphenols which can help fight against depression and other mental disorders.
Make sure you opt for chocolate with 70 percent cocoa or higher, and avoid kinds with added sugar, which can actually have the reverse effect.
2. Berries
Berries such as raspberries and strawberries contain a natural ingredient that closely resembles valproic acid, a chemical used in prescription mood-stabilizing drugs. One study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine also found that daily consumption of goji berry juice increased people’s general feelings of wellbeing
3. Turkey
Turkey contains two important nutrients that help play a role in your mood: selenium and tryptophan. Research from the journal Biological Psychiatry found that subjects who received selenium supplements experienced a decrease in anxiety and elevated mood. Additionally, tryptophan is an amino acid that is responsible for synthesizing serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Increasing your intake of tryptophan results in higher levels of serotonin, which can not only improve your mood, but even your behavior.
4. Nuts
If you’re a fan of snacking throughout the day, start chowing down on some nuts. Like turkey, nuts can also help boost your serotonin levels, and it only takes one ounce of nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts to improve your happiness.
5. Fish
Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids, an important mood-boosting nutrient. Research shows that increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids can help relieve symptoms of depression. One study from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry even found that omega-3 fatty acids are just as effective at improving mood as an antidepressant.
6. Leafy Greens
Greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and other lettuce contain folic acid, an important B vitamin that plays a role in mood regulation, including the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Research from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shows that increasing your intake of folate can help reduce depressive symptoms.
When in doubt, you’re always best sticking to whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, but the above foods especially can help keep you calm and positive overall.
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14 Jul 2016
6 Feel-Good Foods That Naturally Boost Your Mood
Editor’s Note:
Over the past few years we’ve identified that in addition to making the world a kinder, better place that our readership of Kindhearts like you also want to live longer and healthier lives. As such, we’ve gone on a recruiting mission to find great new writers who can give us ideas so that we can all “Live well. Be kind.”
Today is our first of many great ideas for living better. Enjoy!
6 Feel-Good Foods That Naturally Boost Your Mood
When we’re feeling down, we often turn to our friends for solace or look for an activity that can distract us from our worries. Our first instinct isn’t usually to turn to food — unless it’s to dig into a pint of ice cream for comfort— but eating the right diet can actually boost your mood and your happiness overall. Whether you’re stressed out and anxious or you just don’t have the energy or motivation to get through the day, picking the right foods can help keep you feeling relaxed and upbeat.
It might sound farfetched that food can so greatly affect your mood, but research shows that certain types of diets can have a significant effect on your happiness levels. One study from the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that people who ate a typical Mediterranean diet filled with whole and unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, and olive oil were much happier than those who ate a standard Western diet that included a lot of fast food, dessert, and soda.
Eating healthy foods can provide you with the nutrients your body needs to help fight off depression and keep your stress levels at bay. If you need a little boost in your mood, try eating one of these six feel-good foods that will have you smiling in no-time.
1. Dark Chocolate
As if you need another excuse to eat the sweet treat: dark chocolate has been found to fight off anxiety and depression. One study from the Journal of Proteome Research found that daily consumption of chocolate led to lower levels of stress hormones. Cocoa also contains antioxidants called polyphenols which can help fight against depression and other mental disorders.
Make sure you opt for chocolate with 70 percent cocoa or higher, and avoid kinds with added sugar, which can actually have the reverse effect.
2. Berries
Berries such as raspberries and strawberries contain a natural ingredient that closely resembles valproic acid, a chemical used in prescription mood-stabilizing drugs. One study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine also found that daily consumption of goji berry juice increased people’s general feelings of wellbeing
3. Turkey
Turkey contains two important nutrients that help play a role in your mood: selenium and tryptophan. Research from the journal Biological Psychiatry found that subjects who received selenium supplements experienced a decrease in anxiety and elevated mood. Additionally, tryptophan is an amino acid that is responsible for synthesizing serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Increasing your intake of tryptophan results in higher levels of serotonin, which can not only improve your mood, but even your behavior.
4. Nuts
If you’re a fan of snacking throughout the day, start chowing down on some nuts. Like turkey, nuts can also help boost your serotonin levels, and it only takes one ounce of nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts to improve your happiness.
5. Fish
Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids, an important mood-boosting nutrient. Research shows that increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids can help relieve symptoms of depression. One study from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry even found that omega-3 fatty acids are just as effective at improving mood as an antidepressant.
6. Leafy Greens
Greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and other lettuce contain folic acid, an important B vitamin that plays a role in mood regulation, including the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Research from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shows that increasing your intake of folate can help reduce depressive symptoms.
When in doubt, you’re always best sticking to whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, but the above foods especially can help keep you calm and positive overall.
-
28 May 2015
“I’m Going to be The Best Dad”
Get ready to watch the most adorable video of 2015!
This wife loves to give her husband little pep talks and make him repeat all the beautiful things she says about him!
As if that wasn’t heart-warming enough, this certain pep talk has a surprise and hilarious ending!
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8 Comments
Joyce Kinton
Dont judge a book by its cover…..
There is one who loves every inch of us, inside and out….
Often I feel ugly,the things I do need changing….
It doesnt matter…he wants us to live the best we can, to follow his pathway..
Yet his love never wavers..his eyes light up with love when he sees us show loving kindness to others…
“Thats my Daughter, shes the apple of my eye…”
Feel better now ? you should….he LOVES You s prinkled with love Joyce xx ♥ƸӜƷ·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.☆Light
Many Blessings ♥ And A Happy Easter BeBe!
. .̆ .(’). . (♥). ʚįɞ.(\_/).(¯`♥´¯) .(’) . . (♥)
. .. \ĺ/´. .\ĺ⁄´ . . .( . .) `*.¸.*´ .\ĺ⁄´ . .\ĺ⁄
̴̡ı̴̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡.̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡.̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡.̡̡̡c(”)(”)̡ ̴̡ı̴̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡.̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡.̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̡
25 Apr 2011 01:04 pm
RITA B.DEAN
How lucky we are because GOD never judges us by our good looks, how much money you make @ had, how rich you are, how big houses @ cars u had but simply HE loves us because of your heart…sincere heart, honest heart to love others as you loves yourself!!
Thank you for the lovely story and so deep meaning!!
PEACE & LOVE from Malaysia.
25 Apr 2011 02:04 pm
Margaret
May God forgive us for the many times we hurt each other and cannot feel how much God loves everyone.
25 Apr 2011 04:04 pm
lisa-jo
I couldn’t help but think if the son had been honest with his parents they would have done what ever they could for there son. I really don’t think this is a
fair story on the parents part. I have a brother and sister in law who had a
downs syndrom baby and had no idea they were having one. The moment the baby was born they cried but they later excepted it and thats the way we are built we cry but later except it and then we learn to see the blessings in it all.
25 Apr 2011 04:04 pm
Attafuah Puni
Though provoking story. Love and kindness should be shown towards others no matter the situation we find ourselves. The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbours. The parents would have expected love and kindness if they were in that situation.
26 Apr 2011 10:04 am
Darlene Morgan
“Judge me by the footsteps I leave behind” leaves one thought in mind, “As you have done unto others, you have done unto me”, the words of our Savior Jesus Christ, and the example and life we should live, to love one another unconditionally as He loves us, and never judge others, and accept others for their differences. There was a moral to that story, and could have been worded better without the words “to live with us”, because “us” refers to the soldier and his parents, and it is unfortunate that there are individuals that do not accept others unless they meet their standards, but it is Heavenly Father’s standards that we need to live by.
28 Apr 2011 02:04 am
Jessica P
All I have to say is wow. That article was so touching and so surreal. It is unfortunate that “we” as a whole can not uni-fie until destruction happens in our lives.And as I have been taught it is not the footsteps we leave behind that we are to be judged for but the mountains we are still yet to climb. No one can be certain ones pattern of life and how it changes the soul. To become purified one must be burned.We all reap what we sow. So it a conscious effort daily to bring onto the the Christ White Energy.
Blessings to all
Love and Light
Jessica Anne
03 May 2011 02:05 am
Anonymous
I agree with Lisa-Jo
09 May 2011 02:05 am