Could you ever remember laughing so hard you cried?

Even the Old Testament references the healing properties of laughter: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

In his book “Anatomy of an Illness” Norman Cousins describes how he cured himself of a debilitating disease through the use of humor. He watched old Marx Brothers movies and laughed uncontrollably. He believes his own laughter cured his disease and went on to live well into his 80s!

Laughter affects human physiology. It:

* Reduces pain. Our bodies produce pain-killing hormones called endorphins in response to laughter.
* Strengthens immune function. A good belly laugh increases production of T-cells, interferon and immune proteins.
* Decreases stress. When under stress, we produce a hormone called cortisol. Laughter lowers cortisol levels and returns the body to a more relaxed state.

According to Psyche Center – Maud Purcell, LCSW, CEA also adds that humor has a positive impact on intellectual and emotional functioning. It:

* Helps put life’s trials and tribulations into healthy perspective by making them seem smaller.
* Aids us in overcoming fear.
* Allows us to take ourselves less seriously.
* Triggers our creativity.

Daisy Says: Let go and laugh, it does a body good!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (this blog is dedicated to this cause)

In my 11 years of tour as a police officer the most common police incident reported was ‘Domestic Violence’. When I was assigned the afternoon shift not a day went by without having to record 1-2 Domestic Violence reports on my tour.

There is an incident that I recall quite vividly: it was a typically hot summer Florida afternoon, the shift started rough, with accidents and emergency responses all over the district. I was riding as a two-man unit (two-man units are assigned all high priority calls), we received a high priority response on a Domestic Violence call due to possible weapons in the house.

It had already been a stressful shift, the sun had descended and we were in the dusk of day when we responded to the pleas of a battered Hispanic woman. When we drove up to the house a Latin woman ran up to our car screaming hysterically. I quickly exited my vehicle to render aid to the victim/wife who was still screaming and crying, while my partner attempted to make sure that there was no physical threat by the spouse.

It was really hard for me to make out her face in the dark and I had to hold back my own shock at my confusion. I could not make out her face. Her mouth was moving but it did not align with her nose…she had been punched so hard that her nose had shifted to her cheek bone; one eye had sealed shut and swollen to the size of a lemon it already started turning colors. It was like looking at quasi modo. I knew that she was beyond pain and probably didn’t even realize that her face had been re-designed; keeping my eyes on my partner inside the house and totally aware that the situation had not been totally diffused I requested the paramedics to respond and tend to the victim/wife.

The tension was still in the air, I looked back in the direction of my partner, who at this point attempted to calm down this 230 lb muscular testosteroned infused Latino male but it was clearly evident by the physical abuse to the wife that the home was not a safe environment for her – anything could trigger another act of violence. In my interview with her, she stated that she had confronted her husband about an affair he was having, I tried to calm her down and asked her politely to remain outside while I tried to get his side of the story.

For our own safety the silent communication between my police partner and I said one word: Arrest. The man was pacing like a caged lion between my partner and I, his chest was heaving while he was screaming over our shoulders directing obscenities towards his wife. With a nod from my partner I began reading the man his Miranda Rights – it happened too quickly within a blink of an eye the man began swinging blows at my partner, swiftly and decisively I reached for my handcuffs while trying to halt one of the blows directed towards me. During the struggle my partner grabbed his police radio and requested additional back up, we couldn’t over estimate the adrenalin driving the man, then… out of nowhere I felt a crashing pounce on my back. The victim/wife was swinging, punching and pulling at me – shouting: ‘let go of my husband, let go of my husband!’.

My brain was trying to make sense of all that was going on real time. Trying to make sure not to get hurt, trying to make sure that the man would not reach for a weapon in his house or for ours, and on top of that there was this maniac hysterical battered beaten up wife trying to hurt me and stopping me from protecting her from future harm – and now I’m trying to protect myself from her!

In the end we ended with two arrests.

In the state of Florida the laws of arrest on domestic violence fall under chapter 901.15 sec 7:

901.15 When arrest by officer without warrant is lawful.–A law enforcement officer may arrest a person without a warrant when:
(7) There is probable cause to believe that the person has committed an act of domestic violence, as defined in s. 741.28, or dating violence, as provided in s. 784.046. The decision to arrest shall not require consent of the victim.

Domestic violence should not happen to anybody. Ever. Period.

If you know of someone that may need help, they can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. http://www.ndvh.org/

Until the violence stops, the hotline will continue to answer…One Call at a Time. Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 170 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Daisy Says: It is a sign of restrain when men/women can argue and still be civil.

With now 3 generations that compete in the market place ranging from age 16 to 70, it just seems that everyone is pecking at each other instead of genuinely working with each other. Our wholesome values …have they disappeared with our great grandparents? God, Family and Country.

Did it ever occur to you? Divided we fall.

Tear a country apart and screw with the psyche of its peoples foundation.

Break them from their Faith – (Take God away from the pledge of allegiance, away from the currency;

Take their kids from their homes and send them out at age 18 because they are adults (who said you can’t keep your kids at home til their good and ready to fend for themselves? teach them to be Family and Unite? No! its not economically sound! Separate the family and now you have more economic contribution! Another tax paying bundle!;

…and finally tear at the country that nourishes you, …that’s right, keep fighting with each other about what you think you are entitled to… Opportunity no longer seems to be enough.

He grew up in a time,
When a third-grade education,
Was all the school you needed,
To work the family farm.
He’d take time off on Sunday,
Him and all his family,
warm a pew,
And give thanks to the Lord.

There was no gray, only black and white.
Didn’t need no-one to tell him,
What was wrong or right.
‘Cause he had God, Family, and Country.

He set aside his plow,
In early 1940,
Said goodbye to his small town,
And put on the Army green.
Hard Times on the front lines,
Writin’ letters on wet paper,
Not one word about the awful things he’d seen.

His was a generation,
That answered without question.
They knew they had to win,
‘Cause they were fightin’ for…
God, Family, and Country.

On the coffee table,
Sits the family Bible,
Where just last year he added,
A little boy to the family tree.

There’s the folded flag they gave us,
On the day he left us.
But the thing that I remember most,
Is the way that he…

Believed…

In God, Family, and Country

(lyrics by Craig Morgan)

What do you believe in?

Daisy Says: When a group of people share the same beliefs they can rise to any challenge.

I find a silent connection with the polar bear, so many qualities that I admire such as their ability to navigate along the earth’s magnetic lines , introspection, ability to find sustenance in barren landscapes, purity of spirit, strength in the face of adversity, solitude, expert swimmer through emotional waters, finding ones way back from the brink.

Many times I have journeyed into life moving in one direction or other yet it was through solitude in introspection that I could find my way back to the source of light and guidance.

Polar bears are intelligent and fearless; native tribes throughout history have held the polar as a desirable ally and spirit helper. The white color of the polar bear represents purity of spirit. As this bear is fearless and the universal energy only flows when fear is absent, the polar serves as a valuable ally in getting past fear, both physically and mentally. When our own courage falters we can connect with our animal nature and overcome obstacles beyond our imagination.

To the Eskimo and Inuit peoples this animal is a source of both physical and spiritual nourishment. On a spiritual level, the polar bear is regarded as the embodiment of the spirit of the North, an animal who possesses ancient wisdom and has shamanic powers.

Of the bear family the polar is the most aggressive and carnivorous, yet they are not territorial. They are exceptional hunters. Polar bears weigh up to 1600 lbs and are able to knock a 500lb seal out of the water with one blow. Polar bear attacks are more likely to be predatory and are almost always fatal. They are stealth hunters, and the victim is often unaware of the bear’s presence until the attack is underway. Incredibly strong, they are adaptable which is an excellent survival skill. (Though they are one of the largest land carnivores, they are still capable of great speed on both ice and earth. They are able to swim 100 miles non-stop.)

There have been many instances in my life where I’ve had to adapt to the circumstances and surroundings in order to continue the growth of my soul. To question the journey was not an option, only to adapt and grow secured my survival.

In general, adult polar bears live solitary lives. Yet, they have often been seen playing together for hours at a time and even sleeping in an embrace, adult males have “well-developed friendships.” Cubs are especially playful as well. Among young males in particular, play-fighting may be a means of practicing for serious competition during mating seasons later in life. Polar bears have a wide range of vocalizations, including bellows, roars, growls, chuffs and purrs.

The Polar Bear is one of my mentors through observation of this majestic creature I have learned many lessons and gained much wisdom.

Prior to acting the polar will observe the situation beforehand. They know how exactly how to preserve their energy and strength and use both at the most appropriate time for the best outcome. The art of energy management is a lesson we can all benefit from.

Within the animal kingdom the polar has no enemies. However, they do have but one enemy – the human hunter.

Daisy Says: Dare to be courageous. Dare to enter the Artic!

Whether we like it or not… we are destined to play the relationship mind game. Some of us fall prey to the game and others have become masters at it.

What is yet most amusing is that this game is being played every day and we are playing it whether we are aware of it or not. In this game we also (in most cases subconsciously) choose our partner partially based upon their abilities and skill at playing the games we know how to play.

“Flirting” can be placed in this category as one of the mind games we play, for the most part it is fun and satisfying and does no harm.

I don’t claim to be an expert of mind games and would not like to play any game where someone could get hurt, yet I do believe that one should be aware of the games that people do play because one could so easily get caught in the middle of a full blown game. Keep your eyes on the end zone and go for a touch down!

If you are going to play… try and learn the rules, tread with caution, give your opponent a few passes and always go for the home run!

Daisy Says: In the name of Peace and Love, Yes is the surrender when you let go.