Life Extension Technology

Feng Shui for Prosperity - Win the Book!

Healthy & Green Living Editors — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:03:05 +0000

While feng shui may not result in that winning lottery ticket you dream of (then again, it just might!), it brings many other benefits by creating a more harmonious and balanced flow of chi through your home. Just as fresh air, clean water and natural foods support the physical health of our bodies, so does [...]

Not Enough Time in the Day

Delia Quigley — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:01:25 +0000

I am always fascinated by the concept of time, that there is really no such thing as time, never enough time, all the time in the world, not enough hours in the day, more time than we need, time to do nothing, not enough time to get it all done. I have meditated on the [...]

When In Doubt

Deepak Chopra — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:01:14 +0000

Its hard to let go when you dont know if you have made the right choice in the first place. Doubt lingers and ties us to the past. Many relationships end in divorce because of a lack of commitment, but that lack didnt grow over time; it was present from the very [...]

15 Healthy Shopping Tips

Dr. Frank Lipman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:01:51 +0000

To me, healthy eating simply means removing, or limiting the foods in your diet that could be harming you and eating enough of the foods that contain the nutrients essential to your health. It is always preferable to get your nutrients from food itself rather than supplements, although replenishing nutrients using supplements is necessary, too. [...]

Are You Going Out of Your Mind?

Ed and Deb Shapiro — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:03:25 +0000

Often one of the most insulting things someone can say to us is, “Are you out of your mind?” But what if it is actually the coolest thing we could say? What if being out of your mind meant you are not disturbed by the madness of your mind and are more in touch with [...]

14 Signs of Inflammation and How to Stop It

Megan, selected from Experience Life — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:03:02 +0000

The signs of inflammation are many and varied its been linked to everything from bloating to joint pain to sinus congestion and skin rashes. Although a clinical assessment is the only way to determine for sure if you suffer from inflammation, the more of the following symptoms you experience, the more likely you have [...]

The Cove Filmmakers Bust LA Whale Restaurant

Melissa Breyer — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:01:14 +0000

It’s not a situation that most Oscar-winning directors might find themselves in: One night clutching the gold statuette, the next day collaborating with the marine conservation unit of the Department of Commerce and the United States attorney. But if you’re Louie Psihoyos, director of The Cove, this is probably just exactly the situation you’d hope [...]

Inspiring Teenager Feeds Thousands of Pets

Mel, selected from Eating Well magazine — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:01:17 +0000

By Diane Herbst, DivineCaroline via Tonic Mimi Ausland, the junior high-schooler who invented Freekibble.com, is personally responsible for feeding thousands of dogs and cats in shelters across America. Today, there’s an easy way for you to help her do even more. When she was a toddler, Mimi Ausland loved animals so much her parents called her Dr. [...]

The Final Word On Haiti (Bicycles, Batteries and Generators…Oh My)

Dave Chameides — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:01:22 +0000

Ok, I lied, it’s not the final word on Haiti, not that I could have that word anyway. After last week’s post, I had a few other thoughts (and a few things to add) and thought I’d shoot them out here. I only titled this post The Final Word, because after this I’ll [...]

Love, Shame, and Self-Worth

Deepak Chopra — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:02:49 +0000

Clearly Jeanne desperately wants her husband to say I love you at times, yet she forces herself not to ask. She therefore pushes herself further into self-doubt, by forbidding herself to ask for what she wants. This self-denial is a result of shame, an emotion closely connected to deservedness. You need to realize that [...]

Dog Helps Save Drowning Cat

Megan Zehnder — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:46:48 +0000

We’re used to the expression “they’re fighting like cats and dogs.” But Chloe, a 22-pound pug, and Willow, her Siamese cat sister, challenged that old dog-and-cat-rivalry stereotype last week when one helped save the other’s life. The duo’s parents, Amanda and Ron Bjelland, walked their pets as usual to pick up the morning newspaper. When they [...]

Why Dinosaurs Are Extinct

Melissa Breyer — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:01:42 +0000

Last week news reports from NASA stated that the earthquake in Chile had shifted the Earth’s axis by about three inches and thus shortened the length of the day. Nobody seems to be that concerned about losing 1.26 millionths of a second each day, but the domino effect of major natural events is nonetheless intriguing. [...]

Go See The Cove!

Dave Chameides — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:45:02 +0000

Editor’s Note: The Cove won the Oscar for Best Feature Documentary! Congratulations! Thanks to the passionate filmmakers who spread awareness through this documentary and to viewers who took action, including those who signed the Care2 petition. Some articles just write themselves and some I just can’t get started. Well today, I’m stuck with the latter problem. [...]

In the Face of Catastrophe, A Shared Embrace

Isha Judd — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:05:28 +0000

The last weekend of Chile’s summer vacations has become a time of mourning for some and gratitude for others. Spending time with the Chileans who are stranded in my center here in Uruguay, I have become aware that everyone is affected, those close to their loved ones and those who are abroad, sitting in faraway airports [...]

Start to Stop the Clutter

Melissa Breyer — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:30:15 +0000

Uncluttering is the act of restoring balance to your life by eliminating unimportant things&#151and doing it will free up time, energy and space for the things that really matter. You can get rid of clutter. No matter how much you have, how small your home, or how little spare time you have, you can transform chaos into order, and here's how to start.

There's no right way to unclutter and no one way that works for everyone. What's important to remember is that getting started is far more important than how you get started.

Diagnosis, Denial, Due Diligence

Ann Pietrangelo — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:06:59 +0000

So you’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now what? Denial. My own lasted only a few brief moments. The odyssey to diagnosis was a difficult one, and I quickly embraced the sweet relief of finally having an answer. But then it hit me — I have MS. I have MS. I have MS. Me. MS! There [...]

Join A CSA To Go Sustainable This Spring

Judi Gerber — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:07:29 +0000

With the official start of spring coming on March 21, you might be dreaming of warmer days and fresher food and of sticking to that resolution you made back in January to eat more sustainably. One way to do this is to become a CSA member (Community Supported Agriculture), an increasingly popular way to buy local, [...]

The Jewels of Hawaii in a Cookie: The Killer Bar

Megan, selected from Planet Green — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:07:23 +0000

I am writing this post from the southern tip of the island of Kauai. My family headed to Hawaii last week and since then, I have been indulging in all the treats found locally on this island paradise. One of the most decadent delights that I have found so far came in the form of [...]

Inspiration As Transformation

Deepak Chopra — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:01:56 +0000

If the brain produces thoughts, and these are the result of stored information inside our neurons, how does anyone ever have a new idea? Why arent we constantly combining and recombining old information? New thoughts come to us from the mind, not the brain. The most original new thoughts are called inspired; on the [...]

3 Sleep Tricks to Try in Bed

Megan, selected from Yoga+ Magazine — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:12:56 +0000

By Shannon Sexton, Yoga+ The following exercises will help you fall asleep and stay asleep by facilitating physical, mental, and emotional cleansing and activating the body’s relaxation response. Try them and see for yourself. 2:1 Breathing Have you ever noticed that when your nervous system is jacked up, your inhalations are longer than your exhalations? Short [...]

Tax the Beautiful?

Megan, selected from Ode magazine — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:05:02 +0000

Ugly people should be compensated for their obvious disadvantage in society, argues Gonzalo Otalóra. Gonzalo Otólora, once a pimply teenager, has written Feosexual, an ironic book about his decision to ignore people’s opinions about his looks. In his native Argentina - the country with the most beautiful women in the world, he says - his book [...]

Positivity Quest Day 62: Not a Happiness Project

Wendy Strgar — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:01:06 +0000

The Happiness Project has topped The New York Times best seller list. Apparently I was not alone in thinking that maybe there was some road map for me in there about my own positivity quest. From the beginning though, there was something a little too organized and rational about her project for [...]

11 Ways to Save Money in the Kitchen

Megan, selected from Planet Green — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:13:41 +0000

By Kelly Rossiter, Planet Green The weekly grocery bill takes up a lot of the average family’s income so here are some ideas about how to trim down the bill. 1. Ditch prepared meals right now: Consumers have been led to believe that they don’t have the time to cook and it simply isn’t true. You can [...]

Choices, Choices, Choices: How Sustainable Are Yours?

Ronnie Citron-Fink — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:08:12 +0000

“The 800 lb. gorilla behind virtually all of the ’sustainability challenges’ is you and me, the consumer. The problem is not that we are bad, but that we have been blind to the impacts of our everyday choices which are about to change.” ~ Peter Senge, MIT Sloan School of Management As we watch the trend [...]

10 Most Threatened Animal Species (Slideshow)

Melissa Breyer — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:01:41 +0000

“We have an urgent window of opportunity in which to step up and pull back some of the world’s most splendid animals from the brink of extinction,” says Dr. Sybille Klenzendorf, WWF’s Managing Director of Species Conservation. The world’s leading conservation organization, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been working for over 45 years to help protect [...]

Reducing Exposure to Antibiotics

Megan, selected from Yoga+ Magazine — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:10:47 +0000

By Blair Lewis, Yoga+ Hailed as “miracle drugs” when they came into widespread use in 1941, antibiotics quickly became a panacea. Because both doctors and patients wanted quick cures, we have been throwing antibiotics at a host of ailments for the past half-century, whether they were required or not. That was a mistake. That mistake was compounded [...]

Is Agave Worse Than High Fructose Corn Syrup?

Kayla Coleman — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:14:39 +0000

There have been some articles surfacing that claim agave nectar is no better than high-fructose corn syrup–a statement that, as a vegan baker and agave-lover, flabbergasted me, to say the least. How could my beloved, natural, organic, alternative agave be no better than processed, Monsanto-sprayed, genetically modified high fructose corn syrup? Is my beloved brownie-sweetener [...]

Jessica Simpson: Pork-Free for Pet Pig?

Mel, selected from ecorazzi — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:01:31 +0000

Dog-owners wouldn’t be caught dead eating dog meat. So does that mean people with pet pigs should avoid pork? Jessica Simpson is pondering this very question on Twitter, revealing: “I’m thinking about getting a pet pig. Does this mean I’ll have to give up pork?” You might remember Jessica caused quite the controversy last year when she [...]

Free Willy Already! Looking at the Existence of Marine Parks

Eric Steinman — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:01:59 +0000

Nothing is more awesome for a child than watching a 12,000-pound Killer Whale jump vertically out of the water, extending its body skyward like a marine-based rocket, only to dramatically splash down into a tank of preternaturally blue water leaving a tsunami-sized wake to soak appreciative spectators. This sort of spectacle and showmanship occurs [...]

Ten Surprisingly Sugary Foods

Mel, selected from DivineCaroline — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:01:56 +0000

By Tina McCarthy, DivineCaroline My New Year’s resolution? When the clock struck midnight, I vowed to cut my sugar intake by eliminating sweet treats like cookies, chocolate, and soda from my diet. On the first day of 2010, I ate strawberry yogurt for breakfast, snacked on a granola bar before lunch, sipped on vitamin water, and enjoyed [...]

Cuter Than a Teacup Pig?

Melissa Breyer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:01:04 +0000

My great grandmother was fond of describing winsome wee things as “cute as a bug’s ear,” and I still think that a bug’s ear is probably exceedingly adorable. Why do we find small things so cute? Babies, puppies, kittens? Total cuteness. As for babies, Jeffrey Kurland, associate professor of biological anthropology and human development [...]

Does This Smell Weird To You? The End of Expiration Dates

Eric Steinman — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:01:18 +0000

With the natural delegation of domestic responsibilities, some people are bestowed the jobs that require such skills as brute force, persuasive ingenuity, and unyielding diplomacy (as in dealing with the telephone company), whereas others are simply saddled with the task of deciphering whether the yogurt has gone bad. There is one in every household, maybe [...]

10 Baths That Heal

Brigitte Mars — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:17:46 +0000

I lived for 2 1/2 years without running water (while living in a tipi on a commune where I bathed daily in an ice cold creek). I still marvel the blessings of hot running water for its calming and healing effects, and am careful to not be wasteful. Soaking in a warm fragrant tub can be [...]

Secrets to Happiness

Megan, selected from Ode magazine — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:14:19 +0000

By Peter Van Dijk, Ode Magazine French psychiatrist Christophe Andre, who has written some 15 books, including Vivre Heureux (”How to lead a happy life”) and L’Art du Bonheur (”The art of happiness”), answers some questions about the nature of happiness and provides interesting insight into how we can achieve this state. Do you think people are [...]

Kindness Through Loss

Wendy Strgar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:01:25 +0000

Before you know what kindness really is, you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment… only kindness that raises its head from the crowd of the world to say ‘it is I you have been looking for’ and then goes with you everywhere, like a shadow or a friend. –Naomi Shihab Nye The [...]

Why Meditation?

Deepak Chopra — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:01:31 +0000

There is one mind-body technique that goes directly to the root of the stress response by releasing the remembered stresses that trigger new stress: meditation. Levels of cortisol and adrenaline are often found to be lower in long-term meditators, and their coping mechanisms almost always tend to be stronger than average. Although it had been [...]

Happy Tails: Animal Adoption Successes!

Healthy & Green Living Editors — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:01:29 +0000

Animal gets lost, abandoned, given up; animal lands at shelter; human goes to shelter looking for pet, meets animal; human adopts animal; animal adopts human; a mutually beneficial and loving relationship is born! Few things are as heartwarming as a successful animal adoption story–and our friends over at petfinder.com should know since that is pretty much [...]

5 Great Documentaries: And The Oscar Goes To…

Megan Zehnder — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:06:55 +0000

With the 82nd annual Academy Awards ceremony coming up this weekend, I’m looking forward to seeing which movies do well–especially those nominated for best documentary. Documentaries are especially favored, because they combine several things I love: art, activism, and story telling. A great documentary often captivates a mainstream audience, stimulates awareness and interest, and inspires viewers [...]

10 Power Foods for the Olympian in Everyone

Michelle Schoffro Cook — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:02:51 +0000

Who wasn’t inspired by the impressive efforts put forth by the Olympic athletes over the past few weeks? There were the amazing performances of the American athletes who pulled together for the highest medal draw at the Games. Canadian athletes broke Olympic history by having the highest number of gold medals in a [...]

Family Life: Connecting with More than the Internet

Terri Hall-Jackson — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:05:03 +0000

Years ago, an episode of Oprah featured an incredible wife and mother who was dying of cancer. This woman decided to videotape herself discussing a wide range of topics so that her daughter could have conversations with mom once she was gone. Leading up to her passing, this woman’s family did a number of wonderful [...]

Sewing On A Budget: DIY Scarf To Skirt Surprise

Ronnie Citron-Fink — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:05:24 +0000

Sewing is a hobby with a budget-friendly heart. Making your own clothes or home décor often can be cost effective. But, those who frequent sewing stores know that sewing supplies and fabric can still be quite expensive. That is why it is a good idea to consider repurposing fabric and altering clothing items that you [...]

Are You In Touch With Your Archetypes?

Deepak Chopra — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:01:46 +0000

Mythical stories, their heroes and heroines within, are called archetypes. Archetypes are perennial themes that reside at the level of the collective, universal soul. These themes are representations of our collective souls yearnings, imagination, and deepest desires. These themes have existed forever. We see them in the writings of ancient cultures, in literature [...]

Does What I Eat or Drink Affect My Sleep?

Dr. Frank Lipman — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:01:46 +0000

Definitely. Caffeine and alcohol are the two biggest culprits, but other substances may affect your sleep too. Caffeine even in small doses blocks sleep neurotransmitters. If you have a problem with sleep, cut out coffee and any caffeinated beverages (even in the morning). Caffeine is not just in coffee. It’s in colas and other soft drinks, [...]

Oscars 2010: How to Make a Moviegoing Experience More Green

Megan, selected from Mother Nature Network — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:03:25 +0000

Q: As Oscar madness strikes and I scramble (often dragging my boyfriend) to local multiplexes and art house theaters to catch the nominees, I’ve been wondering if there’s anything I can do to make catching a flick a more Mother Nature-friendly affair. I want to try and play by the rules and not sneak in [...]

Abandoning Pets: A Form of Violence

Delia Quigley — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:01:23 +0000

A major side effect of America’s economic downturn is that when people don’t have money, they cannot afford to feed their animals, much less themselves. This seems to leave them no recourse but to drop said pets at a local rescue shelter or worst still just to abandon them, often times to die of dehydration [...]

Fishers of Men

Susan Wagner — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:21:21 +0000

Call me crazy, but when I experience something more than once, I pay attention. I believe there are no coincidences. Life is a series of connections, many of which take place on a level we are not conscious of until they “break through” as serendipity. If we are alert, we can receive the message intended [...]

The Problem With the Teenage Brain

Eric Steinman — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:01:50 +0000

Using a metallic marker for eyeliner. Dying a cat pink. Putting tuna fish in a gas tank. Throwing a leather armchair into a swimming pool after lighting it on fire. Driving a moped into the ocean. Attaching bungee cords to a television and throwing it off the roof. Replacing the vodka in the near empty bottle with water thinking no one [...]

God Is Revealed In Stages

Deepak Chopra — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:01:43 +0000

In Stage 6: Vision, Compassion, Love, God loves every aspect of humanity, and he presides over a world that surrenders to him even when it isnt asked to surrender. Power turns on its head. No longer anchored in threats of any kind, it proceeds from love, asking nothing yet inspiring complete devotion. A person [...]

Widely Used Weedkiller Turns Male Frogs Into Females

Melissa Breyer — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:15:12 +0000

Atrazine, one of the most widely-used weedkillers, can turn male frogs into females, researchers reported on Monday. “Atrazine-exposed males were both demasculinized (chemically castrated) and completely feminized as adults,” Tyrone Hayes of the University of California Berkeley and colleagues wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The atrazine can turn male frogs [...]

Unknown Food Ingredients? There’s an App for That!

Megan, selected from Mother Nature Network — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:08:09 +0000

There are more than 1,500 food additives and ingredients listed in the Don’t Eat That iPhone app ($1.99). This is a handy app to have with you at the grocery store. Ingredients that are listed in red are ones that you might have a concern with. Those listed in black are generally considered natural and [...]

What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day

Healthy & Green Living Editors — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:01:26 +0000

Happy “What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day!” Yes, it’s true–a holiday that is both a question and a celebration! This particular question/holiday is the creation of Thomas and Ruth Roy, under the name of Wellcat Holidays & Herbs and brings to mind any number of ways to celebrate your companion pets. But [...]

Ask the Loveologist: Is This Taboo or Really That Popular?

Wendy Strgar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:01:45 +0000

My boyfriend has been trying to get me to try anal sex with him by saying that everyone does it now. I am pretty sure that hardly anyone does it and if they do, they are probably homosexuals. He said he even saw a BOB kit that had everything in it at a local sex [...]

Can Haiti Become an Environmental Beacon For The World?

Dave Chameides — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:07:50 +0000

I spent two weeks in Haiti shortly after the earthquake and what I saw there was truly unreal. For starters, the devastation is beyond belief, bordering on the incomprehensible. You can look at pictures of what has happened, but to truly understand the scope of it, you need to see it firsthand. Essentially, the city [...]

5 Great Ways to Chill Out Before Losing Your Cool!

Ed and Deb Shapiro — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:01:30 +0000

Have you ever lost it and just wanted to scream? We did when we spent time in India, amidst the crowds and hustle, with little sleep and constantly on the go. There were definitely times when we would lose our cool, get irritated, and lash out at each other unnecessarily. The ability to keep our peace [...]

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Within You

Deepak Chopra — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:01:04 +0000

The source of reality is inside you. It is your essence. Here Jesus points the way to hidden dimensions, not simply the conventional notion of Heaven. When you go inside, you are aware of activity such as thoughts and feelings. Your instinct is to pursue the activity that brings pleasure and avoid [...]

7 Animals With the Longest Life Spans

Megan, selected from Mother Nature Network — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:08:46 +0000

Text by Bryan Nelson, MNN There are tortoises alive today that were 25 to 50 years old when Charles Darwin was born. There are whales swimming the oceans with 200-year-old ivory spear points embedded in their flesh. There are cold-water sponges that were filter-feeding during the days of the Roman Empire. In fact, there are a [...]

Doing Good for the Mind and the World

Melissa Breyer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:01:45 +0000

Every time you turn on the TV, read the newspaper, or go online, you are confronted with everything that’s wrong in the world. From unemployment to war to illness and poverty, the problems are seemingly endless and can leave you feeling depressed and powerless. As a college student, I was tired of studying these problems [...]

Diagnosis: How to Handle the Beast

Ann Pietrangelo — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:06:34 +0000

Multiple sclerosis. Is that the disease that puts you in a wheelchair or leads to a nursing home? Montel Williams… Richard Pryor… Annette Funicello… all names associated with MS, and isn’t there a mountain climber or two that have it? Confused? You are not alone. That’s why the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation recognizes March as National MS [...]

A Women’s History Month Salute To Sustainable Farm Heroines

Judi Gerber — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:06:32 +0000

March is National Women’s History Month. For those who aren’t aware of it, National Women’s History Month was started by the National Women’s History Project, (NWHP), a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1980. The group provides educational resources, materials, and information about the roles of women in American history. In 1981, the NWHP successfully lobbied Congress [...]

Positivity Quest Day 52/53: The Gift of Kindness

Wendy Strgar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:01:20 +0000

The best portion of a good man’s life–his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. –William Wordsworth When I think of kindness, I remember when my first child was diagnosed with a range of developmental delays and the children and parents that I met while she attended preschool for special needs children. Special needs [...]

Your True Voice

Isha Judd — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:12:19 +0000

There are two voices within all of us. The voice of consciousness, which comes from truth, and the voice of the intellect, which is based in fear, duality and protection. But which one do you pay attention to? In our society, the intellect rules. We give it so much power, so much importance, that we [...]

Reclaiming the anniversary: one father’s journey

Tom Davis — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:44:00 +0000

By LAUREN HALE
Featured blogger

On April 9, 2009, I posted a moving story from Joseph Raso over at the Postpartum Dads Project. Susan Stone had originally posted this at Empowher.com and I reposted with her permission. The piece stayed with me.

On Wednesday night, I received an email from Joseph. It included a link to a video montage of his daughter, Crystal, set to the Rascal Flatts song, “Why.” Crystal tragically shot herself shortly after giving birth to her second child, Max. No one knew she had been struggling. They simply thought Crystal was being Crystal and worrying just as she always did.

No one was let in to help her. Her world turned upside down, inside out, and the only way she saw out was to leave her family behind in the most tragic way possible. Joseph has worked courageously and tirelessly to share Crystal’s story with as many people as he can in order to raise awareness of Postpartum Mood Disorders. And for that, I commend him. It is difficult work to take such a dark event and turn it into something so showered with light nothing can touch it.

Today, February 27, 2010, marks the second anniversary of Crystal’s tragic passing. Please join me in respectfully remembering her life. Join me in praying for her family, her parents, her husband, her children – praying they will continue to find strength and that God will bless them each and every day. Join me in sharing her story to raise awareness of Postpartum Mood Disorders. Click on the candle picture to light a virtual candle which will burn for 48 hours in honor of Crystal and mothers everywhere who needlessly lose their lives to Postpartum Mood Disorders each day.

I charge you with a simple task today. If you know an expectant or new parent, male or female, make a point of asking how THEY are doing. Encourage honesty. Don’t judge. Listen with compassion. Educate yourself and expectant/new parents about Postpartum Mood Disorders. Feel up to more? Challenge your local L&D to educate new moms if they aren’t already doing so. Please don’t let any more mothers suffer so alone and so silently. It’s just not okay.

(Before you click on the video below, please know that it made me bawl like a total baby after having read Joseph’s piece. And I don’t cry or bawl. Often. If you are not emotionally stable right now, you may want to skip the video. There is nothing graphic in it at all. It’s just very very moving. Kudos to Joseph for putting together such an amazing montage.)

The following is what Joseph shared with me via email when he sent me the video:

“This Saturday (02/27/10) is the second anniversary of Crystal’s passing. Mary, I, and the whole family miss her so. Seeing her children, Hannah and Max, almost daily is double edged sword. On one hand, being a huge part of their lives brings such joy, but on the other hand, every time we see them we are reminded WHY we are such a big part… it is because Crystal is gone. I thought you might want to keep this video in your library. Someday you might want to forward it to someone who could be at risk of postpartum depression. This song “Why,” by Rascal Flatts, not only tells the story of how our actions can affect others, it is also so beautiful, anybody could enjoy it. When I first heard it, I was reminded of what we went through after Crystal died. God Bless You.”

If you, a loved one, or a friend are coping with the recent loss of a loved one to suicide, please read this from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

If you are contemplating suicide, there IS hope. There are people who love you. People who care and want to help you heal. Need someone to talk to right now? Click here for a comprehensive list of resources in the US.

If you are struggling with a Postpartum Mood Disorder, contact Postpartum Support International’s warmline at 1.800.944.4PPD. (I may just be one of the people to return your call – I’m a volunteer for the warmline in addition to providing support in my home state of Georgia)

Bottom Line here? There is hope. There is help. And above all, you are absolutely NOT to blame. And above that? You WILL be well.

Please feel free to share any of the above information on your blogs or within your networks. In fact, I encourage you to do so. Below is a button for you to place on your blog in remembrance of Crystal. The only rule is that if you download it and post it, it must be linked to Joseph’s YouTube video.

Here is a list of blogs participating in today’s remembrance event. A big Thank You goes out to all of them for great posts! (If you posted and you’re not listed below, please let me know so I can add you to the list!)

* Postpartum Progress: A Father Remembers His Daughter
* Ivy’s Postpartum Blog: Never Assume that All is Blissful
* ICanGrowPeople: Remembering Crystal
* Psych Central Family Blog: Postpartum Depression is Painfully Real
* Stumbling Barefoot: Remembering Crystal

The Dawning of the Afterlife

Deepak Chopra — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:01:05 +0000

The first stage of the afterlife emerges with certain consistent events: 1. The physical body stops functioning. The dying person may not be aware of this but eventually knows that it has occurred. 2. The physical world vanishes. This can happen by degrees; there can be a sense of floating upward or of [...]

Elephants and their Shocking Math Abilities

Robyn, selected from Mother Nature Network — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:19:45 +0000

When it comes to brainpower, elephants may have more than just long memories. The BBC reports that the sizeable pachyderms may have a host of other exceptional mental skills that have not been undocumented. Included among these potential abilities are an ear for voices and languages, as well as an eye for numbers. A team of [...]

7 Foods Banned in Europe Still Available in the U.S.

Megan, selected from TreeHugger — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:09:37 +0000

By Christine Lepisto, TreeHugger Genetically Modified Foods Although the E.U. is continuously coming under attack for policies banning GM foods, the community is highly suspicious of genetically modified foods, and the agro-industrial pressures that drive their use. The problem with GM foods is that there is simply not sufficient research and understanding to inform good public policy. [...]

The Hidden High Calories in Condiments

Mel, selected from DivineCaroline — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:01:47 +0000

By Allie Firestone, DivineCaroline I just had a healthy-eating wake-up call. After purchasing a few sessions with a trainer at my gym, I started writing down what I was eating. When I proudly showed up with my dutifully recorded log of healthy meals, I was expecting praise and maybe even a congratulatory high-five for my smart eating [...]

Prevent Glaucoma with Green Tea

Megan, selected from Planet Green — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:03:43 +0000

It’s old news that a mug of green tea is a potent pro-health powerhouse. From lighter more cosmetic perks like keeping skin youthful and toned to more serious preventative care like fighting Alzheimer’s and cancer. All of these benefits are obtained from the absorption of green tea catchetins and other anti-oxidants like vitamin C, vitamin [...]

Finding A Cure For Cabin Fever. Is There One?

Ronnie Citron-Fink — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:18:53 +0000

I am told Cabin Fever is not a measurable or diagnosed affliction. But, it is getting capitalized here like any true disease with a name because I believe it is real. I bet you know many, many fine folks who have fallen ill with this degenerative mood-altering ailment. What, with the snow, ice, rain, slush, [...]

Finding A Cure For Cabin Fever. Is There One?

Ronnie Citron-Fink — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:18:53 +0000

6 Bedtime Rituals for Better Sleep

Megan, selected from Yoga+ Magazine — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:08:32 +0000

By Shannon Sexton, Yoga+ We are a sleep-starved nation. About 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia, and according to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly seven out of ten report frequent sleeping problems–although most remain undiagnosed. Alarmed? You should be. As Stanford University “sleepdebt” expert William C. Dement, MD, PhD, warns: “Lost sleep accumulates as a debt that [...]

Pain in the Neck

Megan, selected from Experience Life — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:05:09 +0000

By Kermit Pattison You arrive at your job feeling fine. But by mid-afternoon, you’re feeling like someone has put a death grip on your neck and upper back, and no amount of head rolling, neck grasping or shoulder hunching seems to do much good. By the time you get to the gym, your energy is shot [...]

Confessions of a Sugar Freak: Beating Fatigue and Depression

Mel, selected from Natural Solutions magazine — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:01:03 +0000

By Margaret Adamek, PhD, Natural Solutions As far back as I can remember, I was tired. All of the time. No matter how much sleep I got, no matter how much coffee I drank, my fatigue simply overwhelmed me. I had a terrible time waking up. By late morning, I could hardly concentrate on my job. [...]

Pocket Change: Teaching Children About Money

Eric Steinman — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:01:23 +0000

As much as I value parental lessons and cautionary tales that dissuade curious children and teens from doing things like, eating stuff off the sidewalk, cheating on tests, filling up on bread, wearing dirty clothes, having unprotected sex, hanging out with the wrong crowd, being unkind to animals, taking other people’s property, ingesting drugs and [...]

Myths and Risks of Knuckle-Cracking

Mel, selected from DivineCaroline — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:02:47 +0000

By Allie Firestone, DivineCaroline As a lifelong knuckle cracker, I’ve heard the spiel dozens of times–you know, keep popping and you’ll end up with arthritis. Because of this, I’ve always kept an eye out for any proof that’ll prove my naggers wrong. Unfortunately, all I’ve figured out over the years is that there’s a lot of [...]

8 Animals That Mate For Life

Megan, selected from Mother Nature Network — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:13:58 +0000

By Bryan Nelson, Mother Nature Network Humans in many cultures like to think of themselves as a faithful species, but when it comes to true fidelity, many other animals offer better examples of how to keep a relationship together. Although monogamy and lifelong pair bonds are generally rare in the animal kingdom, here’s our list of [...]

Do Toxins Cause Autism?

Melissa Breyer — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:01:11 +0000

It took a few thousand years for us to realize the severity of lead poisoning, although the signs were certainly there: “crazy as a painter” was a catch phrase rooted in the demented behavior of lead-poisoned painters in antiquity. Mad as a hatter? Before the use of mercury was banned in the 1940s, hat makers [...]

A Tale of Kale with Brigitte Mars

Brigitte Mars — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:09:02 +0000

In the color spectrum, green is at the center of the rainbow, representing balance, healing, emotional stability, love, peace and rejuvenation. Green foods are power packed with nutrients, energizing, detoxifying, rebuilding and immune strengthening. As greens grow, they provide oxygen for people and the planet. Green foods are rich in chlorophyll, a potent collector of [...]

A Bad Call

Wendy Strgar — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:01:36 +0000

Adversity causes some men to break, and others to break records. –William Ward Heartbreaking is a word often associated with soccer matches that come down to shoot-outs after long extended play has not been able to determine a winner. Five players against the goalie; whoever scores more goals wins. It is a terrible win, hardly reflective [...]

Nice Cans: Getting BPA Out of the Food Supply

Eric Steinman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:15:17 +0000

We are all still reeling from the BPA scare of 2008 that called for an early retirement to all plastic baby bottles, various canned foods, and an assortment of plastic bottles and such. For those of you left unaware of what exactly the BPA scare is all about, bisphenol A (also affectionately known as BPA) [...]

Michael Vick: Strip for $1M To PETA

Mel, selected from ecorazzi — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:01:14 +0000

Now here’s an interesting offer. Playgirl has offered to make a $1 million donation to PETA if Michael Vick bares all for an upcoming issue. A spokesman for Playgirl confirms to Life & Style magazine, “I sent the request to Michael Vick on Wednesday, but we haven’t heard back yet. I figured he paid back society [...]

Creating Miracles by Manipulating Light

Deepak Chopra — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:01:54 +0000

Of the million ways you could define enlightenment, identifying with the light is a good one. Miracle workers do more than access energy patterns. At any given moment, it is impossible to compute how many human beings have turned into miracle workers. It should be pointed out that miracle-working is accessible before sainthood. [...]

Dog Saves Life of 3-Year-Old Girl Lost in the Woods

Jerry James Stone — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:04:45 +0000

A toddler, lost overnight in the woods, with only a t-shirt to protect her from 30-degree weather, isn’t the kind of story that usually ends well. But it did for three-year-old Victoria. Thanks to her Queensland heeler named Blue. “We have to give a lot of credit to Blue,” said Kim Rayfield, the girl’s aunt. “He [...]

5 Best Snacks to Boost Your Mood

Mel, selected from Caring.com — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:01:47 +0000

By Nikki Jong, Caring.com Change your diet, change your mood? Science says the answer is yes. Food isn’t just fuel for the body; it feeds the mind and changes our moods. Food scientists are still exploring the big picture regarding food and mood, but it’s clear that certain foods have a feel-good factor. Try these five [...]

Which Smart Phones Emit the Most Radiation?

Megan, selected from Mother Nature Network — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:04:29 +0000

The health effects of cell phone radiation is a growing concern which is why many cell phone users have been consulting a Cell Phone Radiation Guide to figure out which phones let them keep talking and texting while limiting radiation as much as possible. That report was put together by Environmental Working Group last September [...]

Introvert or Extrovert: What’s Your Personality Type?

Mel, selected from DivineCaroline — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:01:44 +0000

By Molly Mann, DIvineCaroline To help me come to terms with my shyness as a child, my mother explained that some people, including me, are crocuses who bloom in the shade and keep their petals closed, while others are sunflowers who draw energy from their surroundings. In psychological terms, these two kinds of people are known [...]

15 Ways to Reduce Food Packaging

Terri Hall-Jackson — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:05:14 +0000

It is now a common sight to see shoppers carrying their own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store. That is fantastic, and such an easy eco-friendly action for most of us to take. Still, there’s a ton of material we continue to schlep home when shopping — the cellophane, unrecyclable bags, plastic, and cardboard [...]

10 Reasons To Start Writing In A Journal and 10 DIY Journals

Ronnie Citron-Fink — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:02:02 +0000

Recently, I had a chance to peek into the journals of friend, composer, author, and master traveler, Margaret De Wys. Margaret has made traveling a seductive art form and her journals inspired the book, Black Smoke: A Woman’s Journey of Healing, Wild Love, and Transformation. Margaret is game for just about anything, and she keeps [...]

Aging Creatively

Deepak Chopra — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:01:56 +0000

Psychologists who study creativity say that artists and writers often can produce more new ideas in their sixties or seventies than in their twenties. One interesting variable is that the later you take up any creative pursuit, the more likely you are to pursue it into old age. Creative experience may enhance the structure of [...]

Should I Drink Milk to Prevent Osteoporosis?

Dr. Frank Lipman — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:01:45 +0000

Although I believe whey protein, which comes from dairy is a great source of protein, I do not believe dairy is healthy in general. We have all been brainwashed to think that dairy products strengthen bones and stave off osteoporosis. But this is not the case. Walter Willett, M.D., professor of preventive medicine at the [...]

Smiling Dogs

Healthy & Green Living Editors — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:04:07 +0000

Most people who have interacted with animals can see that we share many traits with them–for example, emotions. Even if there are skeptics, pet owners and animal lovers know that animals, like us, have feelings like guilt, fear, and excitement. Of course, animals have different ways of expressing these emotions (when’s the last time you saw [...]

Best Chocolate Recipes

Healthy & Green Living Editors — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:59:06 +0000

February is Chocolate Lover’s Month. Wait, what? How did we nearly miss this? It’s the 24th of the month and we are just now discovering the existence of this decadently delicious holiday? We would’ve been celebrating all month long if we had known! Even with only days remaining, it’s not too late to indulge in those [...]

Nurturing Your Racist Child: Parental Pitfalls Often Yield the Worst Results

Eric Steinman — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:03:33 +0000

Back in the day, I went to about as racially and ethnically diverse an elementary school as you could get. It was urban and populated with children of various nationalities and lineages. From my white-boy perspective, things were pretty copacetic and harmonious with cliques of children more apt to discriminate along gender lines than racial [...]

The Power of Your Intention

Delia Quigley — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:01:29 +0000

How many times have you put out into the web of cosmic energy a specific intention trusting that somehow it would manifest as you intended? And yet how many times when opportunity came knocking to fulfill that intention you were to busy, distracted, frightened, or asleep to recognize that what you had asked for had [...]

Jumping with my daughter

Tom Davis — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:31:00 +0000

I was finishing a story on transportation and money and blah blah blah (those are the words that go through my head, sometimes, when I'm doing stories on transportation and money and blah blah blah) when my 4-year-old daughter walked into the room.

"Oh, no," I thought. "My privacy is shattered! My silence is broken! No work will be done! Productivity shall cease!"

The first words out of Anna's mouth were, "You have to leave the room. We're playing here."

I have to leave? "Really?" I asked.

Suddenly, I felt scorned, like I did the day my junior prom date stood me up. Work suddenly felt so incredibly meaningless to me.

"Can't I stay?" I asked.

"OK," she said. Then she adopted that tone and used those words that, if they didn't come from the mouth of a 4-year-old, would sound like some bad Sci Fi Channel script.

"But you must play with us!" she said. "You must play with us now! You must stop your work!"

She walked in with her 4-year-old best friend and started jumping up and down on the bed. They tossed whatever papers I had laying there, and threw them on the floor. One was a paycheck (it was already cashed) that floated in the air like a leaf and landed on my lap.

Next thing I knew, I was jumping on the bed, too, only I was doing it from my knees. The ceiling in this room is too low for a 6-foot-2-inch, relatively sane man to be bouncing up and down, from his flat feet, on an elevated bed.

All productivity did, indeed, cease. But I treasure these moments because I feel like every little jump, every little toss of the papers, every moment of just being there with Anna will help make her a loving, independent, strong, confident child and adult.

When it comes to dealing with children, I look at the sum of the parts. Who needs to schedule playtimes with your own son or daughter? They love and thrive on spontaneity, so why not meet them at their level?

Every little spontaneous moment, whether it's five minutes or five seconds, brings me closer. And all those moments put together, I believe, have made her a better child, a loving child and a caring child who knows that her parents will there for them, even at a moment's notice.

I look at my older boys and I see how they're turning out, and how they're turning out just that way. Neither of them are followers. Both of them seem to have a strong moral compass, even if our senses of humor can be - at times - pretty sick.

But they care when other people are hurting. They can't wait to tell my wife and me when they're succeeding. For years, before they got too old for it, they liked nothing better than jumping - on the bed, with us.

I hear from some people who say we coddle our children too much, that we don't give them enough independence and we have a hard time letting them go. These are usually the same people who endorse the warehousing of children in daycare centers and preschools that cram 30 children in a small room with one teacher.

"Stick them in daycare," people tell us. "Make money, man! Go to Wall Street, find rich pastures!"

Don't get me wrong - I totally understand daycare and I understand why it's necessary. We have had our children in some of those same places, though never for very long. But I don't know anyone who truly loves it, or views it as nothing more than a no-alternative solution.

My wife and I have chosen the poorer alternative, even though it has us juggling schedules and working multiple part-time jobs.

But it's also opened up our schedules so we can be there, at that moment, when my daughter looks up at us with her big blue eyes, with her bangs dangling over them, and says:

"Wanna jump?"

Unpeeling the Layers of Love

Deepak Chopra — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:01:58 +0000

One of the most valuable things you can learn about yourself is what you mean by the words I love you. The meaning you impart is complex because it contains you. Your past associations with love, your childhood imprints, your unspoken expectations and beliefs are all packaged in language. Thus I love you expands [...]

5 Foods That Help You Lose Weight

Mel, selected from Caring.com — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:01:50 +0000

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com Don’t get sucked into the idea that food is your enemy when you’re trying to lose weight. In fact, it’s just the opposite: Befriend the right foods, and the pounds are much more likely to peel off than if you just try to cut calories across the board. Here, five foods known [...]

Ask the Loveologist: How Soon is Too Soon?

Wendy Strgar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:01:00 +0000

I just started dating a new man and although I know that there aren’t really any hard and fast rules about how long you should wait to have sex, I don’t know if you can tell me any kind of signs to look for that tells me that it’s too soon or for that [...]

What The Buddha Might Say To President Obama

Ed and Deb Shapiro — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:08:00 +0000

A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker. -The Buddha Why is there so much confusion about President Obama? It is being said that he is dealing with a broken government. Perhaps what is most needed [...]

Playboy’s Barbi Twins Take On The Fur Industry

Mel, selected from ecorazzi — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:01:17 +0000

By Elizah Leigh, Ecorazzi Celebrity is a funny thing. Quirky looks and a lack of discernible talent notwithstanding, there are still certain people in the public eye who manage to become household names. Of course, it certainly helps if you’re of the female persuasion and you happen to be one half of a set of twins [...]

How to Send Tents and More to Haiti Now

Dave Chameides — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:05:46 +0000

After recently returning from two weeks in Haiti, the number one thing I am asked by people is “what can I do to help?” While donating to worthy causes like Partners in Health, the organization I was there with, is important, I have realized that people are much more interested in giving if they [...]