How Much Internet Broadcasting is Too Much?

How much of our personal life should we splash over the Internet for all to view? Over the past few years, technology has become the #1 form of communication for most folks. Gone are the days when we wrote intimate letters to someone to express our thoughts or picked up the phone and held a coversation while sitting on the couch in the living room of our home. These days text messages using incorrect grammar has replaced letters and phone calls using a blue tooth device while driving has replaced calls from home.

I have witnessed folks race to electronic stores for the latest Blackberry and IPhone as if they never lived without such gadgets before. Of course it is our right, for some a duty, to keep abreast on what's current in the world of technology, but how much is too much?

The rise of technology has also brought an increase in the various modes of broadcasting of oneself. Today it is imperative that you own some sort of social networking account with popular sites like: Black Planet, MySpace, Facebook and recently added Twitter. Some use these places to catch a date, others use them to connect with friends from the past and present. I know people and businesses who use the cyber locations for advertising and marketing. When Oprah Winfrey has a few accounts then you know it's serious. And when Ashton Kutcher beats out CNN for the most followers on Twitter, you know social networking systems must be the place to be. If you don't have one you are considered "lame" and out of the loop. I guess this is where the pressure comes from, for the 20-30 something age group, to stay hip and connected.

I started a MySpace account over two years ago after hearing so much buzz about it from friends, celebrities and radio jocks. I became interested mainly because I wanted to market my business and build some sort of following for my mission. The page was used to connect with lost friends and give them a peek into my world using pictures, video and blogs. Then, about three months ago a close friend turned me onto Face book. She informed me that it was much easier to navigate than MySpace. After a few days, the pressure took over and I started an account. Soon after I began receiving loads of friend request from people I went to school with, but never really had a relationship with. I thought it was awfully weird, but had come to the conclusion that after ten years maybe everyone had matured and were seeking to connect on a networking level. Well once I accepted these folks, I heard nothing from them again. Not even a "Thanks Erv" or "How has life been treating you?" nothing! My immediate feelings were to delete all those who did not really want to be a friend, but I decided against it because there had to be some sort of purpose to the connection.

This is when I realized, maybe they just wanted to see what I had been up to over the years, how I had aged and what was going on in my personal life. I guess that's cool, but how much should I broadcast myself to the world to critique? And are there people out there truly interested? Is it okay to have so many accounts? What would be the limit? And who decides that limit? My overall concern is safety. How safe is it to put all your business over the net with pictures of your family? I am not being paranoid. I just had a few ideas about this popular phenomenon of broadcasting and wanted to ponder a few questions to you guys.

A Special Person Deserves a Unique Gift on Their Birthday

Every year we spend on this earth draws us closer and closer to death. Yeah, I know it's a tough reality to swallow, but it is just that- a reality. Now that we have accepted the fact “we are all living to die”, the hope is that we can finally begin to live and celebrate life.

We are fortunate to be reminded about the celebration of life at least once a year, if we are lucky. This time is called our birthday! It's a period when friends and family members gather to host a surprise party, join together for an exquisite dinner at a 5-star restaurant or escape to a party spot like Vegas, Miami, New York, Atlanta or New Orleans. What ever the plans are, you can bet the moment shared with loved ones is a pleasurable experience.

What about the giving and receiving of tangible gifts during the festivities? Should this still be expected when we reach a certain age? Or are gifts wrapped in expensive paper and donned with ribbons something only children should be privy to receive?

Maybe it's my innate nature, but I have always cherished the born day of my friends and relatives. I view this day as their special day to be spoiled and catered to without hesitation or concern of cost. Everyone likes to be treated and thought of as special if only for a day. Plus, it marks the beginning of their new year so we should rejoice in it as such. Someone said, "if you have one true friend you are lucky". God has blessed us to have close relationships with certain individuals for a reason and we should honor them for the love they bring to our life. This is just a few reasons why birthdays should be made a huge deal, regardless of the age of the recipient.

With that in mind, I have a young lady in my life that has morphed into an older sister to me over the past decades. She has showed me the power of love through giving when I was just a teenager trying to understand the true meaning of love. Her simple gesture transformed the way I view birthdays every since. It is to her I am deeply indebted. I vowed a long time ago to spend my life showing her just how royal she is and how much I adore our connection, being in her presence and sharing in her story.

Since I already know her favorite things range from jewelry, antiques, designer bags /clothes and all things dainty, it won't be too difficult to come up with a gift for her. The challenge is making sure that what I give her is unique and can touch her deep into her heart and tap on the soul. Maybe even cause her to shed a tear or two and then crack a smile that slowly transforms into an uncontrollable crescendo of laughter. It may seem like I am asking for too much, but I actually aim for these types of reactions when giving gifts of love. To make this goal more obtainable, I prefer to use some sort of artistic expression that captures the essence of the person leaving them with a memento they can constantly reflect on when in search of endless days of pleasure.

So as I process my thoughts and bring them into a visual existence, I will keep you posted. My ultimate focus is to construct a small masterpiece that includes various sentimental items my beloved friend/sister enjoys. The central theme is her favorite show and movie, "Sex in the City". From this, the foundation of the project begins.

Freedom vs. Work

After a long week off from work it is sort of bittersweet to be back in the rat race again. Yes, I did enjoy my time away from the tedious tasks performed at my place of employment and the time spent revitalizing my self was well appreciated. It's just that now I have to get my head, and body back into the routine of things and it is always challenging.

For a whole week I went without an alarm clock. I just feel asleep when I was tired and awoke when my body was ready. Never did I use the clock to monitor my daily activities. I was free to live without restrictions. Now that I'm back at the job, I feel myself slowly letting go of certain freedoms I had become use to. It's time to transform into a robot again. I truly hate this mundane feeling and am counting the school days until I can once again live without the confinement that comes with living and a capitalistic society.

One day I will be set free from the captives of "making money" and being a slave to the system. That is when Freedom really will become a true reality.

With that in mind, let me get back to work.

7-Day Fast Ends

It's has been a very rewarding 7 days. I am literally in another zone in all areas of my life. Isn't it beautiful when everything in life aligns to meet you where you are and carries you to the next level? It's the best feeling in the world. I hope you are blessed to feel this vibe one day.

Since my detox was such a success, I decided to extend it for the rest of the month. The focus is always to live a healthier lifestyle, so I will be eating only Raw Foods--Alive foods for you that understand. Basically all those foods which grow from the ground and have life and if placed back into the earth should breed new life. Isn't this the way we eat, "to live"?

Spritual Detox

Personally, I think any detoxification program that doesn’t include a spiritual; dimension is simply worthless. When I imagine ridding one self of toxins this includes all things poisonous to the body and thus needs to be eliminated. If you are a spiritual person in any form, than you understand that sometimes the soul of man is contaminated by outside forces. This causes a disruption of spiritual peace, leaving us uninspired and more susceptible to the temptations of life. Therefore it is safe to conclude that spiritual consciousness has healing properties that must always be included in any cleaning process in order for total wellness to be achieved.

The daily ritual engaged in during detoxification and afterwards is designed to strengthen faith, communication and connection with the creator. I usually take time in the morning to pray. Thanking God for his mercy and love and for keeping me whole. I also spend time praying for friends, family members and for those whose needs I don’t really know of, but who need delivering from something. While driving in the car, I listen to gospel music. I also take the time to read “Faith to Faith” by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. It is filled with daily affirmations to help motivate and uplift the spirit. I spend the day applying those lessons to my life. Before turning down to bed, I read a few verses of the Bible, and pray. Although I try my best to stick to some sort of format, I know the spirit moves when it sees fit and I must move with it wherever it leads. So always remember to “let go and let God have his way”.

This is way cleansing the body of all things foreign is crucial. When there are items inside the temple that are not supposed to be there, they block the natural flow of positive enlightenment and cause harm to the mind, body and spirit. It is in our best interest to always keep these elements of self balanced and healthy, so we can live a righteous life that focuses on taking care of the world around us.

Meditation, Relaxation and Sleep

Hot water and steam have a relaxing capability that works well with soothing the mind and calming breathing patterns. Soon after I get out of a bath or sauna, I want to drift off into a deep sleep. This is the moment when tranquility is at its highest point and the freedom meditation brings is very obtainable.

The beauty of meditation is that it can truly be done any place at anytime. The time spent in silence will do a great deal for you, even if it’s just for a few minutes of motionless peace. Allow yourself a moment to collect your thoughts and just be. Our lives are constantly bombarded with so many issues that attempt to agitate and frustrate us to the point where we become disconnected with self. Often causing stress, this ultimately leads to various illnesses like high blood pressure and depression. It’s important for our overall health that we remain serene as much as possible. We should be at a point where we are able to identity those trigger that cause anxiety and also be equipped with effective techniques that will work to alter the agitated state and get us back on track to a centered space.

A few techniques I have found helpful with bring about relief from life’s daily task included: listening to soothing music (I prefer Jazz, Classical or any type of mellow sounds), yoga, candlelit room with incents burning, an awesome massage or facial is the ultimate form of relaxation. But the number one relaxation medicine is sleep. Nothing tops deep, uninterrupted, good old fashion-sleep.

Hypothermia- Hot Baths, Sauna and Steam Showers

Incorporating hot baths can be seen as a luxury and it is, but creating a hot tub sort of environment in your home bath works wonders in the detoxifying process. I recommend bathing in Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate), which draws toxins out of the body and helps to relax the muscles. You can also add bath beads or oils for a calming aroma. I have used rosemary and eucalyptus oils several times.

It is recommended that you soak every night while detoxifying for 20 minutes. While bathing, use a scrub and natural soap to cleanse the skin of impurities. When you are done, try to refrain from rubbing lotions on the skin. Give the skin time to breath.

Another popular form of heat therapy is the sauna. If you own a gym membership you know about the benefits of spending time in the sauna after a workout. It is very effective in speeding up the sweating process and healing strained muscles. But if you are not able to attend your local gym, you can always create a similar effect at home. All you have to do is close the bathroom door, block any airways under the door with a towel and cut the shower on to its hottest temperature. This will create a steam effect. Clog the tub and let the water fill in the tub. Pour a little bit of hydrogen peroxide in the water and watch it work wonders for the nasal passages. Add these different types of cleansing regimes to your detox, but limit them once you have ended your program to 1-3 weekly. You should notice the difference in your skin immediately.