Meat Week, Jan. 29th - Feb. 5th

What is this?

➤ Meat Week is a national holiday started in 2005. Each January, for 8 consecutive nights, people across the country gather over piles of BBQ. In every participating city, there is a devoted Captain who creates the schedule of restaurants. Each city develops their own traditions, but Meat Week typically focuses on good ol' American BBQ: Pork, ribs, brisket, barbecued chicken, and anything else you can smoke and smother in sauce.

What HAPPENS?

➤ People eat BBQ together, take pictures of each other doing so, and share them on the internet. Some cities’ captains also give out awards at the end of the week for people who showed exceptional meating prowess, or to honor the best restaurants.

What is HYPE WEEK?

➤ Hype Week is the week before Meat Week, when those excited about the coming holiday create graphical and video meat-hype that is plastered about the internet to warn others that Meat Week cometh.

What MUST I DO TO ATTEND MEAT WEEK?

➤ Unless otherwise specified, just show up! Some cities hold special events with limited seating, which will be announced on that city’s page. But for the most part, it’s an event open to all.

Do I have to go all 8 nights to properly celebrate meat week?

➤ Nope! The captain and first mate are the only ones expected to attend all 8 nights. The idea is that whenever you are able to go, you won't have to fear meating alone. (That being said, you’d be surprised how many devotees soldier through all 8 nights!)

How do i get a meat week chapter in my city?

➤ Become a Captain! Once you’ve created a login for this site, you can click this link to submit the information we require to start a chapter. Primary obligations are: creating a schedule for all 8 nights, showing up all 8 nights, and posting photos from all 8 nights. Once you’ve been approved as a new chapter, we’ll send you a Captain’s Packet that explains how to use this website and some other tips for hosting a successful Meat Week.

How do I share my meatweek photos?

➤ Find your city, click on the night you attended, and click "upload photos." Then just drag and drop! If you've not had the pleasure of attending an official Meat Week chapter, share your celebratory photos on our Facebook page with the hashtag "flyinsolo."

WHY DON’t you include mongolian BBQ, Thai BBQ or steak houses?

➤ Some cities do! Meat Week was created as a celebration of traditional southern BBQ because that’s what made us meat lovers to begin with, so most cities still focus on that. But everyone is free to celebrate as they see fit!

I’m a vegetarian, i feel left out.

➤ More than half the crew who sailed the maiden voyage of meat were herbivores. We’ve even had a few veggie captains! Many come for the camaraderie and stay for the sides. Just make sure the baked beans don’t have pork in them (they probably will) or use fries as a sauce vehicle.

For more on meat week follow link

http://www.meatweek.com/home

National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring month. There is nothing more rewarding than being a mentor. I have been a mentor for a number of years. I am really inspired by the appreciation and love that I am given just by taking time out of my day and spending it with those less fortunate, those with mental health issues, and those that just need a positive role model to look up to. 

In my current job, I am a therapeutic mentor which is different from a big brother big sister mentor, or being a mentor for at-risk youth which I have also done in the past. Therapeutic mentoring is provided to youth (under the age of 21) in any setting where the youth resides, such as the home (including foster homes and therapeutic foster homes), and in other community settings such as school, child care centers, or respite settings. 

TM offers structured, one-to-one, strength-based support services between a therapeutic mentor and a youth for the purpose of addressing daily living, social, and communication needs. Therapeutic Mentoring services include supporting, coaching, and training the youth in age-appropriate behaviors, interpersonal communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution, and relating appropriately to other children and adolescents, as well as adults, in recreational and social activities. TM promotes a youth’s success in navigating various social contexts, learning new skills, and making functional progress in the community.

National Mentoring Month is a campaign held each January to promote youth mentoring in the United States. It was inaugurated in 2002, and is spearheaded by the Harvard School of Public Health, MENTOR, and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Each year since 2002, President George W. Bush has endorsed the campaign by proclaiming January as National Mentoring Month. The declaration has been endorsed by both chambers of the United States Congress. The campaign's media partners have included ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC; Comcast; the National Association of Broadcasters; Time Warner; and Viacom.

Participants in the National Mentoring Month campaign include leading nonprofit organizations and numerous governors and mayors. Designated nonprofit and governmental agencies are responsible for coordinating local campaign activities in communities across the country, including media outreach and volunteer recruitment. Local lead partners include state and local affiliates of MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, Corporation for National and Community Service, Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network, America's Promise, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Communities in Schools, and United Way of America.

Look into a mentor program to see how it can benefit you and how you can benefit it and use it to be a light in someones life. 

~National Blood Donor Month~

 Many people do not realize how important blood donation is each month. There are many diseases and many needs for blood bags in the hospitals. I know first hand about the importance of blood donation because I have someone in my life that normally needs at least 10 to 15 bags of blood per year. It's important and it can save a person's life. 

Some ask the question, "Why should I donate blood?"

You don’t need a special reason to give blood.
You just need your own reason.

Some of us give blood because we were asked by a friend. Some know that a family member or a friend might need blood some day. Some believe it is the right thing we do.

Whatever your reason, the need is constant and your contribution is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply. And you’ll feel good knowing you've helped change a life.

When you give blood you will receive a mini physical to check your
* Pulse
* Blood pressure
* Body temperature
* Hemoglobin

What can you expect if you give blood? 
Come prepared. Have a light meal and plenty to drink. Bring your donor card, driver's license or two other forms of identification. Bring the names of medications you are taking.

You will go through 

* Registration - The staff and volunteers will sign you in and go over basic eligibility and donation information. You will read information about donating blood, and will be asked to show a donor card, driver's license, or other form(s) of ID.

* A mini physical - You will answer some questions during a private and confidential interview about your health history and places you have traveled.
They will check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level present in a sample of blood.

* The donation - The actual donation takes about 8-10 minutes, during which you will be seated comfortably. The process is safe and sterile. Red Cross staff and volunteers will be available if you have any questions. Certain donation types, such as platelets, red cells or plasma, can take up to two hours.

* Refreshments - After donating, you should have a snack and something to drink in the refreshments area. You can leave the site after 10-15 minutes and continue with your normal daily activities. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment knowing that you have helped save lives.

How can you be eligible to donate?
To ensure the safety of blood donation for both donors and recipients, all volunteer blood donors must be evaluated to determine their eligibility to give blood. The final determination will be made on the day of the donation at the blood drive or blood donation center. If you were deferred from donating in the past, you may be able to donate again.

Donation Type                                                     Donation Frequency*

Blood (whole blood)                                             Every 56 days

Platelets                                                             Every 7 days, up to 24 times/year

Plasma                                                                Every 28 days, up to 13 times/year

Power Red                                                           Every 112 days, up to 3 times/year

Learn more about donating blood and think about donate blood as soon as possible. 

Signing off 

Dr. Destiny Basset 

aka Big Sister On Point ~I am a donor~

National Hugging Day

Hug Someone It’s National Hug Day

💖 National Hug Day or National Hugging Day occurs on January 21 and is officially recognized by the United States Copyright Office, but is not a public holiday. The purpose of the day is to help everyone show more emotion in public. There is only one way you are supposed to celebrate the holiday, offer a hug to anyone and everyone you want. While National Hug Day and the Free Hugs Campaign share many similarities, there is not an association between the two. Whether you hug a family member or a stranger, the mental and physical health benefits are the same.

Kevin Zaborney is credited with coming up with the idea of National Hugging Day in 1986. It was included in Chase’s Calendar of Events; Zaborney’s friend at the time was the granddaughter of the proprietors of the publication. He chose January 21 as it fell between the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays and Valentine’s Day and birthdays when he found people are generally in low spirits. Zaborney considered that “American society is embarrassed to show feelings in public” and hoped that a National Hugging Day would change that, although he thought that his idea would fail.
The holiday is also observed in many other countries. The idea of National Hug Day is to encourage everyone to hug family and friends more often. Zaborney cautions to ask first if one is unsure of the response.

1)    Hugs make us feel “happy”! When we hug another person, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone associated with “happiness,” according to scientific studies.

2)    Hugs alleviate stress! Just as a good hug increases our oxytocin levels, it decreases our cortisol or “stress” levels.

3)    Babies need hugs as much as water and food! According to researchers at Harvard University, hugs help promote normal levels of cortisol necessary for child development.

4)    Hugs make us better students! Students who receive a supportive touch from a teacher are twice as likely to volunteer in class.

5)    Hugs improve our game! Scientists at University of California, Berkley discovered that the more affectionate members of a team are with each other, the more likely they are to win.

6)    A hug a day keeps the doctor away! A hug stimulates the thymus gland, which in turn regulates the production of white blood cells that keep us healthy and disease-free.

7)    A hug stops the bug! Researchers at Carnegie Mellon proved that individuals who were sick and received hugs had less severe symptoms and were able to get better quicker.

8)    A hugging heart is a healthy heart! Research from University of North Carolina showed that a good hug helps ease blood flow and lower cortisol levels, which in turn help lower our heart rates.

9)    A hugging couple is a happy couple! Couples that experience their partners’ love through physical affection share higher oxytocin levels.

10)    Hugs let someone know you care without having to say a word! According to Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley, we can identify love from simple human touch – imagine how much love a big hug can communicate!

                             💖💖💖💖💖💖                                        💖💖💖💖💖💖

http://www.nationalhuggingday.com/

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day ~ 1.16.17 ~ A Day On, Not a Day Off

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, what many are happy about to have a day off and some wish they had a day off. This day is not just a day off but it should be a day on. Especially with all the things going on in this world today, I pray that people are reflecting on what this awesome man really stood for us, what he worked toward and what he made happen.

In the words of Coretta Scott King...http://www.thekingcenter.org/meaning-king-holiday

The Meaning of The King Holiday

BY CORETTA SCOTT KING

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.

We commemorate Dr. King’s inspiring words, because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn’t enough just to talk the talk, that he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day, the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans.

The King Holiday honors the life and contributions of America’s greatest champion of racial justice and equality, the leader who not only dreamed of a color-blind society, but who also lead a movement that achieved historic reforms to help make it a reality.

On this day we commemorate Dr. King’s great dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation; a nation that has a place at the table for children of every race and room at the inn for every needy child. We are called on this holiday, not merely to honor, but to celebrate the values of equality, tolerance and interracial sister and brotherhood he so compellingly expressed in his great dream for America.

It is a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing. No other day of the year brings so many peoples from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brother and sisterhood. Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian-American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King, Jr. had for America. This is not a black holiday; it is a peoples’ holiday. And it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream.

We commemorate on this holiday the ecumenical leader and visionary who embraced the unity of all faiths in love and truth. And though we take patriotic pride that Dr. King was an American, on this holiday we must also commemorate the global leader who inspired nonviolent liberation movements around the world. Indeed, on this day, programs commemorating my husband’s birthday are being observed in more than 100 nations.

The King Holiday celebrates Dr. King’s global vision of the world house, a world whose people and nations had triumphed over poverty, racism, war and violence. The holiday celebrates his vision of ecumenical solidarity, his insistence that all faiths had something meaningful to contribute to building the beloved community.

The Holiday commemorates America’s pre-eminent advocate of nonviolence — the man who taught by his example that nonviolent action is the most powerful, revolutionary force for social change available to oppressed people in their struggles for liberation.

This holiday honors the courage of a man who endured harassment, threats and beatings, and even bombings. We commemorate the man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for others, and who knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept on marching and protesting and organizing anyway.

Every King Holiday has been a national “teach-in” on the values of nonviolence, including unconditional love, tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation, which are so desperately-needed to unify America. It is a day of intensive education and training in Martin’s philosophy and methods of nonviolent social change and conflict-reconciliation. The Holiday provides a unique opportunity to teach young people to fight evil, not people, to get in the habit of asking themselves, “what is the most loving way I can resolve this conflict?”

On the King Holiday, young people learn about the power of unconditional love even for one’s adversaries as a way to fight injustice and defuse violent disputes. It is a time to show them the power of forgiveness in the healing process at the interpersonal as well as international levels.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is not only for celebration and remembrance, education and tribute, but above all a day of service. All across America on the Holiday, his followers perform service in hospitals and shelters and prisons and wherever people need some help. It is a day of volunteering to feed the hungry, rehabilitate housing, tutoring those who can’t read, mentoring at-risk youngsters, consoling the broken-hearted and a thousand other projects for building the beloved community of his dream.

Dr. King once said that we all have to decide whether we “will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. Life’s most persistent and nagging question, he said, is `what are you doing for others?’” he would quote Mark 9:35, the scripture in which Jesus of Nazareth tells James and John “…whosoever will be great among you shall be your servant; and whosoever among you will be the first shall be the servant of all.” And when Martin talked about the end of his mortal life in one of his last sermons, on February 4, 1968 in the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church, even then he lifted up the value of service as the hallmark of a full life. “I’d like somebody to mention on that day Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others,” he said. “I want you to say on that day, that I did try in my life…to love and serve humanity.

We call you to commemorate this Holiday by making your personal commitment to serve humanity with the vibrant spirit of unconditional love that was his greatest strength, and which empowered all of the great victories of his leadership. And with our hearts open to this spirit of unconditional love, we can indeed achieve the Beloved Community of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream.

May we who follow Martin now pledge to serve humanity, promote his teachings and carry forward his legacy into the 21st Century.

Times has change and then times has not changed. This man worked so hard for so much and the world today seems to be taking a backward spin. Let's not let his dream be in vain but, let's help keep his dream a live.  As he said, "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." While many "hate" what is going on in the world right now, let "love" guide you to help do something great to improve it!

Signing out...

Dr. Destiny Basset

         aka

             Big Sister On Point

Sugar Awareness Week Jan. 16th - 20th

Sugar and Health

⧪ As a society, we consume far too many sugars. Sugars are divided into two types: naturally occurring sugars, and free sugars. Naturally occurring sugars are found in whole fruit, vegetables and milk-based products and these are not considered harmful for health, although they still contain calories. Free sugars includes monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates. Free sugars are found in a wide range of foods such as sweets, cakes, biscuits, juices and fizzy drinks, and these can be very detrimental to health. While foods such as fruit and dairy products can be a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre; foods containing free sugars often have very little or no nutritional benefit. 

⧪ Whilst certain food and drink manufacturers claim their products are a good source of energy because their products contain added free sugars, this is misleading.  The body generates energy from carbohydrate which can be found in fruits, vegetables, breads, pasta and rice and there is no need whatsoever for added free sugars.

⧪ Sugars are an unnecessary and unhealthy source of calories, and health experts are becoming ever more concerned about the issues associated directly with excessive sugars consumption. The incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, along with the sometimes serious consequences of those diseases, is rapidly increasing. There is a direct link between consumption of sugars and dental caries as well as a possible link between consuming excess sugars and high cholesterol, high blood pressure, some cancers and non-alcoholic liver disease.

Even if you are slim and appear to be healthy, consuming too much sugar can still have serious effects on your health and these issues may only appear later in life.  It is particularly important to try and reduce the amount of sugars that children consume. Children can grow accustomed to a diet high in sugars, and this habit will then be harder for them to break. It is therefore important to try and cut down, where possible, and opt for healthier low-sugar alternatives that can be just as tasty.

Sugars and Tooth Decay

What is Tooth decay?

⧪ Sugars in food and drinks play a major role in the development of dental caries. Bacteria within the plaque use the sugar as energy and release acid as a waste product, which gradually dissolves the enamel in the teeth [1].
In 2010, the World Health Organisation (WHO) commissioned a systematic literature review to answer a series of questions relating to the effects of sugars on dental caries. The systematic review showed consistent evidence of moderate quality supporting a relationship between the amount of sugars consumed and dental caries development. There was also evidence of moderate quality to show that dental caries is lower when free sugars intake is less than 10% of energy intake. Dental caries progresses with age, and the effects of sugars on the dentition are lifelong. Even low levels of caries in childhood are of significance to levels of caries throughout the life-course. Analysis of the data suggests that there may be benefit in limiting sugars to less than 5% of energy intake to minimise the risk of dental caries throughout the life course.

                                                           GOING SUGAR FREE!!!!!
        

                                                Planning

⧪ In order to successfully complete my sugar detox, I knew I needed to be prepared for the week. I began by researching various bloggers' journeys to their sugar-free lifestyle to better understand what I was in for. By no means did I believe I was a sugar addict, but I do enjoy sweets every now and then. During my research, my perception of my apparently “low-sugar diet” completely changed. I quickly learned many foods I didn’t think had high sugar contents did.

Next, I began to prepare what I was going to eat. I put together a grocery list of foods and went to my local farmer’s market and grocery store to ensure my fridge was stocked. For the purpose of this experiment, I eliminated fruit from my diet due to its high sugar content. However, it’s important to note the sugar in fruit is different than the refined sugars found in processed foods.
When reading nutrition facts labels, it’s important to be aware that sugar can be masked by many different names. Look out for “syrup,” “malt,” and anything ending in “-ose.” In addition, look out for “fruit juice” and “fruit juice concentrate.” Also note, organic sugar is still sugar.
Some of my frequent foods I eliminated from my diet included Special K protein bars, granola, bagels, potatoes, plain Greek yogurt, sauces, condiments, and salad dressings. Once my fridge was stocked and  I knew what to eat and what was off limits, I was ready to begin!

⧪ Are you thinking about trying to eliminate sugar from your diet? Going cold turkey is definitely not for everyone. Instead, try adding one less sugar packet to your morning coffee, ditch the salad dressing, and make a homemade dressing, or drink one less soda per day. Slowly, eliminate more and more.
So now that this is over, what’s next for me? I neither plan on chowing down on a dozen doughnuts nor do I plan on completely eliminating sugar from my diet, but I do plan on keeping a healthy balance. I plan on saving those sugary foods for rare occasions. I also plan on finding a variety of foods and easy recipes to include into my now-sugar-conscious diet.

For more information on a sugar free diet: Follow link
http://www.medicaldaily.com/sugar-free-diet-what-happened-when-i-didnt-eat-sugar-7-days-297968

National Hobby Month

National Hobby Month happens every January, just as the new year starts. Everyone has a hobby or interest, or something they enjoy doing in their leisure time. Open up the new year with this national month celebration and see if there's something else in the world that might interest you.

 Below are some ways you can celebrate National Hobby Month.

Figure out what your current hobby is. Take a survey to determine the best hobbies for your personality. Ask yourself what you enjoy doing, in a non-work, family committed, or education environment. Do you like to take pictures of things? Do you like to collect random items?

Draw out a list of related activities to your hobby. If you enjoy taking pictures, list different subjects of things that you might be interested in, for example, people watching versus how animals, such as birds, act in public. If you like to knit, see if there's any projects that you haven't done before.

Do an online search for ideas. Pinterest is an excellent place to start, as it's filled with categories of images shared by others. Hobbes is also a great place to go. You can also do a YouTube search for tutorial videos, such as fingernail art or how to complete a certain level in a video game.

Ask around. Try see what hobbies your family and friends have. People from every angle has different likes and enjoyments and you might come across something that would be of interest to you

Commit to your new hobby. There's many discussions amongst New Year's Resolutions and how people do not always "keep" to them, but make this new hobby something for you. It all starts out with creativity and self-encouragement.

Find someone who enjoys the same hobby so that you actually stick with it. HobbyBuddy.com is a good site to connect with others who like what you like.

Take up a class. Many public places, including craft stores and other businesses, offer classes, preferably during the weekends or evenings. Classes are the best interaction because you're with other people with the same interests as you.


Evaluate after some time if you enjoy or are satisfied with your hobby. It does take some time to getting used to something new, but if it's something related to your old hobby, you'll soon realize that there's more possibilities out there and could enjoy it more rather than trying to suit yourself with a whole different interest.

Try to make some money out of your hobby. Committed hobbyists are known to rack up money by creating their own things and selling their completed products to others. Take a picture of your things and put it on sites like eBay or Etsy.