Using Your Hands (Getting Dirty) Aides in Fighting Depression

Sanjay Gupta says:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/major-depression-resource-center/sanjay-gupta-using-your-hands-to-heal-your-head.aspx

San Diego State University Stroke Awareness and Info Day

The Director of Gray Matters had a table at San Diego State University's Stroke Awareness and Info Day, on Monday, April 27th. Many hospitals and organizations that offer services for people with Stroke and Brain Injury were present.

Staying Focused in the Digital World

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/expert-blog/fighting-distractions/bgp-20136510/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=housecall

The Ocean Matters

Creek to Bay Cleanup

THE OCEAN MATTERS!

 

Sonar Causes Brain Injury to Sea Mammals

I need to explain my experience and express my sadness for the whales, dolphins and all sea mammals living in the waters of Southern California.  I am a kayaker and in November 2014, I went on a paddle with two fellow sea-kayakers.  We put-in at La Jolla Shores and paddled out past the caves.  A whale surfaced about 30 feet from my boat.  It was a baby.  It was alone.  It swam right up next to my boat.  I could see the barnacles on it’s back.  She (or he) stayed relatively close, giving us some time to admire her.  Yet her mother was nowhere around.  What could cause a mother whale to separate from her young?

This is not new news - Sonar has been used in California waters by the Navy, for quite some time.  I recently found out that most, if not all Navy ships have sonar-firing capabilities!  Sonar uses very powerful sound waves that can damage whale and dolphin hearing. I want to explain to you a little about brain injury, because this is my field (www.graymatters4u.com).   Whale and dolphins being injured by sonar can be better understood, when compared to soldiers’ blast brain injuries.  Sonar has caused whales to hemorrhage (i.e. to bleed) around the ears.  These animals survive largely by their sense of hearing; when their hearing goes, they are mortally disabled.  I feel an ache in my heart for their disability.   Through their sense of hearing being blasted by sonar, I feel that their very sense of survival is threatened; mothers get separated from their babes!

I am sharing this because San Diego needs to know about the condition of the ocean environment in which our neighbors - the sea mammals exist.   Many of them are traumatized by noise pollution underwater.  I looked at that baby whale with no mom’s love or support and I felt what he was going through. He was fully disoriented.  I have seen people disoriented from a brain injury.  I know what they go through.  I have experienced it myself.  When the baby whale went underwater, we paddled on for about half an hour around the cove and then paddled back (one hour total) and when we returned, the whale was still there!  It was still alone and notably DISORIENTED!!!

I am writing to advocate for the whales and dolphins.  I hope to educate about what they are going through and perhaps motivate change for them.  For more information about noise pollution and its impact under water, see http://ocr.org/.

The Ocean Matters!

Heidi Lerner

Sometimes we just need to accommodate!

Hold onto your Fork!

Hold onto your Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. 'There's one more thing,'  she said excitedly.. 'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply? 'This is very important,'  the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my Right hand.' The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. That surprises you, doesn't it?'  the young woman asked. 'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor. The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.'  It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come.' The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming. At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled. During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel,  indeed.They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share. Being friends with someone is not an opportunity, but a sweet responsibility. And just remember...keep your fork! The BEST is yet to come! G-d Bless You