VALERIUS

Valerius Maximus was a writer in ancient Rome during the reign of Tiberius (AD 14 - 37). His most famous writing, Memorable Doings and Sayings is instructional in nature and arranged in short chapters, each focusing on a particular virtue (anger, cruelty, bravery, gratitude, etc.). 

Valerius gives an unending number of examples of life in and around Rome in the first century AD, incorporating a moral undertone and words of wisdom. For centuries his book was used as a guide for Roman etiquette.

Having never heard of him, I was surprised to hear his name called out to me in a dream, as if I were him!

"Step out of the shadows Valerius!"

What does it mean? I could only imagine! Where the mind goes in sleep is so very mysterious.

I looked 'Valerius' up on line, and discovered that he was a writer, with interests similar to mine! Of course... I had to read Memorable Doings and Sayings, and am halfway through it now. Perhaps through dream, he was trying to tell me to focus -- to keep on writing. 

In honor of the ancient writer here is one of his musings, and one of my favorites:

"The richest nourishment of virtue is honor."

A C T I O N S

"You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; 

for whatever your actions are, such must be your spirit."

Demosthenes (383-322 BC)

R E A S O N

"OUR CHIEF AFFLICTION IS THAT WE LIVE NOT ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT OF REASON, 

BUT AFTER THE FASHION OF OTHERS."

Seneca (4 BC - AD 65)

"You had mentioned that day, the burden on owners of gun stores that the expanded background checks would harm. I am just wondering why the burden of my mother being gunned down in the halls of her elementary school isn't more important than that." 

Erica Lafferty, daughter of Dawn Hochsprung who was gunned down by Newtown shooter Adam Lanza, in speaking with Senator Ayotte at a local town meeting as to why she voted against background checks for gun sales. 

T H E - M A G I C I A N ' S - C A L L

The Magician's Call

Sunrise, sunset
Billowing fields of grass
Moon beams, fireflies
Twinkling sky of night.

Distant thunder rumbling near
Rainbows sprinkling a tune
Operettas by feathered friends
Magic that never ends.

Courtesy of Nature
Who gives freely to us all
I only wish our gratitude
Is equal to Her call.

An original poem by Nancy Elizabeth Luz

(c) 2011

R E C I P R O C I T Y

Blossoming flowers and warming weather remind me of summer vacations soon to be. Winter, spring, summer, fall... the years cycle, birthdays pass, and hopefully we all become a little wiser through it all. 

Throughout the ages philosophers have said that now is the only time that matters. But somehow we get caught up in the rush of life, and forget...

We forget that a walk with Nature even if it's just to smell a flower or admire a tree, or rest in the sand by the ocean, is rejuvenating, making us more tolerant of 'human' Nature, our own as well as everyone else's!
 
Nature is always there to remind us that instead of lamenting about 'what was or what might be', we should enjoy today, not worry about tomorrow, nor cry over yesterday. They say we crawled out of the ocean. Do you think She misses us? If we can love Nature, can Nature love us back?

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."

Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

H A P P Y - M O N D A Y !

Maxine

W H Y - O R G A N I C ? - H E R E ' S - A - T H O U G H T !

My niece sent me a link today to an interesting article about a middle school student from Texas, named Ria Chhabra, who created a science fair project to try to determine if there were proven benefits to eating organic food. And her project proved that there were, at least for fruit flies. But before you laugh, understand that: 

"Fruit fly models are often used in research because their short life span allows scientists to evaluate a number of basic biological effects over a relatively brief period of time, and the results provide clues for better understanding disease and biological processes in humans." This is according to the writer of the New York Times article about Ria's science project found here:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/is-organic-better-ask-a-fruit-fly/

Ria has since won top honors in a national science competition, publication in a respected scientific journal, and university laboratory privileges (normally reserved for graduate students). The New York Times summarizes Ria's findings: 

"By nearly every measure, including fertility, stress resistance and longevity, flies that fed on organic bananas and potatoes fared better than those who dined on conventionally raised produce."

Either via the New York Times article, or by clinking on this link you can read the scientific report published on January 9, 2013: Organically Grown Food Provides Health Benefits toDrosophila melanogaster.

Let's hope the food industry takes notice!