The 6 Things You Didn't Know About Gray Hair

While some women proudly sport a silver mane, most of us face the arrival of new gray hairs with dread. The good news: Scientists are hard at work on how to prevent the salt-and-pepper look. So what do researchers know that you don't?

1. Normal aging is the biggest culprit: Okay, no surprise here. Dermatologists call this the 50-50-50 rule. "Fifty percent of the population has about 50 percent gray hair at age 50," says Dr. Anthony Oro, professor of dermatology at Stanford University. And like skin, hair changes its texture with age, says Dr. Heather Woolery Lloyd, director of ethnic skin care at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

2. Your ethnicity makes a difference: Caucasians tend to go gray earlier - and redheads earliest of all. Then Asians, Then African-Americans. Scientists haven't figured out why yet.

3. Stress seems to play a role: "Stress won't cause you to go gray directly," says Dr. Roopal Kundu, associate professor in dermatology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. "But stress is implicated in a lot of skin and hair issues." During an illness, for example, people can shed hair rapidly. And hair you lose after a stressful event - like getting chemotherapy - may grow back a different color.
4. Your lifestyle makes a difference: Smoking, for example, stresses your skin and hair. "Low vitamin B12 levels are notorious for causing loss of hair pigment," says Dr. Karthik Krishnamurthy, director of the Dermatology Center's Cosmetic Clinic at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. By contrast, eating foods such as liver and carrots may be helpful for holding off going gray, says Dr. Wilma Bergfeld, a senior dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

5. Hair and its color are separate things: Hair stem cells make hair, and pigment-forming stem cells make pigment. Typically they work together, but either can wear out, sometimes prematurely. Researchers are trying to figure out if a medicine, or something you could put in your scalp, could slow the graying process. (Hair dye simply coats your hair in color but doesn't alter its structure.)

6. Your hair doesn't turn gray - it grows that way: A single hair grows for one to three years, then you shed it - and grow a new one. As you age, your new hairs are more likely to be white. "Every time the hair regenerates, you have to re-form these pigment-forming cells, and they wear out," says Oro.
Culled from:yahooshine

SOME 5 REGRETS PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE ON THE DEATH-BED

Hello Friends, I stumble on some interesting lesson about life and i discovered that we can live this world without regrets, if we do things right and my personal note. A Nurse reveals the some top 5 regrets people make on their death-bed

1, I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me: This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.  It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it. 

PERSONAL NOTE: Live your life the way you want it, remembering you can never undo what you have done. Think and act wisely, because you have just 1 life to live.

2, I wish I didn't work so hard: This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.  By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle. 
 PERSONAL NOTE: No matter how hard you work for an organization, the organization can never take the place of your family or love you like your family. Which is your priority, work or family (wife/husband and children)? Spend your time wisely.

3, I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings: Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
PERSONAL NOTES: Expressing your feelings will not kill you, it helps you stay out of worries. Try to speak when you are in love, learn how to speak politely, hiding or keeping your feelings can cause lots of sicknesses. Express yourself!

4, I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends: Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.  It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
PERSONAL NOTES: We were created for each other, not to live in isolation. Don’t ever joke with friendship, because every friend came to fulfill a purpose in your life, discover it and don’t chase them.

 

5, I wish that I had let myself be happier: This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying. 

PERSONAL NOTES: Let’s get things right, we all have our issues and some of us try to take worries out of our mind and remain happy. No one is actually ugly, its only people who refuse to smile or be happy that are ugly.

Happiness or smiles brightens your day and makes your heart free from all worries or burdens. Don’t kill yourself before your time, it cost nothing or less to smile or be happy. But it is expensive and more costly to frown or be sad.

Culled from Bronnie Ware,  By Ayodeji Anifowose

 

True Soul Mate Is A Mirror

Your True Soul Mate Is A Mirror

People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

A soul mate’s purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life.
Source: Elizabeth Gilbert.

 

EVERY GOOD PARENT NEEDS TO READ THIS!!!!

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Ephesians 6:1-4.

This knows also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away, 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Finding the appropriate title for this piece was such a hard thing to do because everything that comes to mind doesn’t seem to depict the whole picture that I’m trying to portray.

Living in Russia has afforded me the opportunity to witness, compare and contrast the stark (but gradually fading) differences between the (Eastern) European and African culture in light of The Bible. One way you could measure or gauge which direction society is headed by taking a peek not only at its youth but at the children and their worldview (yeah they have worldviews too -it’s what parents, TV or whoever brings them up gives them). For those who know me well, its no secret that Charles W Colson is one of my favourite authors because he asked a ‘simple, yet difficult for so many to answer’ question-what is your worldview? When I’m not studying at the University or attending to scholarship students’ affairs, I’m out in a high school which I will not name for confidential reasons teaching English to children from 5^th grade to 12^th grade and my experience has been quite educational and a little bit disturbing.

Back in Nigeria, the norm was raising godly children and moral agents of society. The teacher’s job at school was made much easier because morals and life’s secrets were taught and in grilled into the child’s heart by not just the parents but by the community. If you did something wrong, you got punished/rebuked, if you did something good, you got rewarded and being known as a good kid by all was a reward itself. Of course there were always meant to be bad fruits to the bunch but at least the family, neighbourhood and community never ignored its social and moral obligations and so a teacher could walk into class confidently knowing that if he gave an order, it would most likely be obeyed because the students were taught to obey authority and be blessed or disobey and face the consequences. The family was sacred and even if the home was a boxing ring between the parents, they were still smart enough to remember God and society’s stance on divorce and respected the sanctity of marriage and children never had to fear for one day that his dad or mom would get fed up and leave.

Over here in Russia, it’s almost the opposite the teacher walks into class with only one thing in mind-giving the children the materials needed to keep them up to standard-that itself is an honourable thing no doubt, but does it really have to be so? The teachers’ hands are tied because the worst he could do to the child is to kick him/her out of class (which would make the student only happier-less learning to do) or call his/her parents (which will achieve little). My point being the students’ fears that nothing is at stake here. That brings us back to the family and society. In Nigeria, if any passerby were to see a 6 years old for example smoking a cigarette, as Mr.T would say ‘I pity that fool’ because he’s gonna get it not just from his parents, but the passerby alarmed at that sight would also take the right action by scolding him how he dims fit and making sure his guardians know about it so the lesson never leaves.

My point being, I don’t have to know whose child it is to care, we’re talking about a future generation but over here, a minor walks up to an adult and asks for a cigarette or a lighter and gets one. Some are even bold enough to walk into stores to buy. The kid doesn’t really care how his parents his parents ‘will react to it after all their not doing a very good job making their marriage work so why should he care. Russia has one of the worst divorce rates in the world and with the kind of kids they’re raising, chances of those statistics going downhill look dim.

What do these comparisons and the quoted scriptures have to do with my piece. First of all, the events taking place should not alarm us because the Bible said they would happen and they are happening and is as much as its effects are vivid in Europe and the west; they’re gradually sipping into our lives in Africa. There was a time we took the positive things from the west and let them keep their sadist life-style but we have taken to that now. But does that fact that the Bible says that they will happen mean we should do nothing because whatever will be, will be? No! Jesus told us to make disciples. God called us to redemption. He gave us a cultural mandate to redeem culture and transform society. Save the ones that are lost and to protect the ones in danger of being corrupted. Lots of religious holidays have been commercialized but I still decided to take advantage of that to teach a lesson to my children. It was unbelievable no one could tell me completely the nativity story
but thankfully I think most can now.

Usually children make a list of the good thing they did to show to Santa and that was the perfect opportunity. I asked all my children to write a list of 10 good things they had done in 2011 and can you believe that was probably the hardest class work they had done that year? Some couldn’t get to 5 things and the others it was a list of things they had done for themselves and not for others and those didn’t count. That taught me a lot, children know very little about what good deeds are. We also have holidays celebrating men’s day and women’s day in Russia and they were to write essays on the importance of men in this world and when it was time for women’s day, they were also to spell out the role of women in our world today but all they could do was to point out why men are better than women and vice verse.

All these pointed out to one thing but I didn’t want to jump into conclusions just yet. I decided to get close and find out how the kids are doing. Now these are children of millionaires and celebrities. Children that never lack material things, travel the world when they wish and yet were troubled and lacked a special kind of love and on closer inspection, most were from broken homes or homes waiting for the final crack. Most don’t respect teachers because their parents never taught them to or never told them the importance. Most find out important things they should be learning from their parents through their friends who are just as much from broken homes without sound instructions. The proverb said ‘spares the rod and spoil the child has no place here’ and so it goes. People keep moaning that this is a lost generation.

Learn How Grace Can Sustains a Troubled Relationship

 “So, spread love everywhere you go—first of all in your home. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor.” —Mother Teresa “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32  The couple sat next to each other, miles apart. She wanted to work on it. He said he did too. So over the next several weeks, we did our best to walk through the problems.  Each had a laundry list of complaints. She did this, this, this and this. He did this, this, this and this. I listened carefully to each of them, and I tried to teach them to listen to each other. We practiced reflective listening, and we talked through the steps of conflict resolution. 

My approach was based on the words of a mentor counselor, “It is never about the laundry lists. It is always about the communication.”

Eventually, they told me things had improved. I was glad but unsure. To me, there was still something missing, particularly for him. They had learned the how of communication, but they lacked a change of heart. 

Not knowing how else to help them, I agreed they had come far enough and secretly hoped it was true. I didn't see either of them for a couple of years—until I sat behind him at a social engagement. He was sitting with his new girlfriend.

All relationships are difficult. Whenever you put two flawed people together, it won't take long until you get a list of complaints: They are selfish. They are irresponsible. They are proud. And these complaints pull us apart, threatening to destroy the relationship. 

But God made us to be connected to one another, so what are we to do? “The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him'” (Gen. 2:18). “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no-one to help him up!” (Eccl. 4:10). For the longest time I believed that my mentor was right and that the most important thing in good relationships was the communication. 

But now, after years of ministry (and marriage), I see it differently. Communication is not the most important thing in good relationships. It is the second most important thing. The most important thing is grace. Imperfect people will, by definition, let us down. They will fail us, hurt us and annoy us. And don't count on them changing. As Rich Mullins once said, “My friends aren't the way I wish they were; they are just the way they are.”  

Every relationship you have, from your spouse to your neighbor, requires grace. And the more important the relationship, the more grace you will need to give—for the more deeply you know someone, the more deeply flawed you will discover them to be.

“Love your neighbor as yourself,” Jesus commanded. In other words, give your relationships a spoonful or two of loving-kindness. But how exactly do we do that? I believe gracing your relationships requires changing two law-based attitudes that lay deep within our hearts: justice and judgment. By Ryan Hobbs

God Has Not Forgotten YOU!!!

God has not forgotten about you!!! He always hears your prayers. But, if you’re praying but believing God can’t, maybe that’s the reason God hasn’t. You’ve got to Want it, Pray about it, and BELIEVE it in order to Receive it! Stop looking at how big your problems are. Pray with your eyes on God, not on your difficulties!

 

Granted, God knows what’s best for us and Not everything that’s good to us, is good for us. That’s why trusting God is so important. You have to trust Him enough to say “If it doesn’t work out exactly how I want, with who I want, or when I want, I know God will never steer me wrong” God will answer your prayers in due time. Just keep your faith and praise Him in the meantime! Lord, Increase our Faith while we wait for you to answer our prayers. Help us to believe that there is nothing you cannot do.

Not only will we patiently wait for your answer, we will give you praise right now for what you are about to do! In Jesus Name, Amen! Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24

You also new to believe on HIS name He died for all your sins and He LOVES YOU!!! (John 3:16). 

 

Source: The Praying women

Your Happiness Is Determined by Two Daily Choices

Everyone in this life is searching for happiness. The word happy in Hebrew is the same word for blessed. We all want blessings in our lives, and yet so many fail to live a happy, blessed life.

Proverbs 3:13 gives the secret to a continual life of happiness or blessedness: "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding" (NKJV).

All the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Jesus Christ. Unless a man comes into this knowledge of Jesus Christ, he will always lack the wisdom that brings happiness. Chances are also he will seek happiness in the wrong places.

There are two kinds of wisdom—the wisdom of this world, which comes from below, and the wisdom of God, which comes from above. James tells us about these two kinds of wisdom: "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (James 3:13, KJV).

Which wisdom will you choose to walk in today? If you choose the wisdom from above, you will have a happy, blessed day no matter what circumstances you encounter.

Lord, You are all wisdom, and I will grow in heavenly wisdom only as I stay close to You, talk with You and listen to Your Word. You are the way that leads me to all the hidden treasures of wisdom. Your Word is the road map that instructs me as I follow this way. Help me as I go searching for hidden treasures today in Your Word, and help me to operate in heavenly wisdom today in all of my relationships with others. Thank You. Amen.

READ: Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-26; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15

By Linda Sommer