AGES AND STAGES IN LIFE

CLICK THE RIGHT ARROW FOR THE MILK OF AN AUDIO SUMMARY. READ THROUGH THE POST FOR THE MEAT.

DISCOVERING, DISCIPHERING AND DEALING WITH THE AGES AND STAGES IN LIFE 

THIS SHOULD BE AN EYE-OPENING POST FOR MOST OF OUR FOLLOWERS and PATRONS. IT IS MOSTLY ABOUT READING THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL AND TELLING TIME. ALTHOUGH MOST OF US KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS, MANY OF US DON'T REALIZE WHAT ​TIME WE ARE IN. THERE ARE MULTIPLE AGES AND STAGES IN LIFE THAT WE ALL WILL GO THROUGH IF WE LIVE LONG ENOUGH. growing and maturing are just a small part of this process. THERE are NO directions or MANUALs TO WALK US THROUGH EACH TRANSITION! THESE AGES AND STAGES REPRESENT AND SIGNAL CHANGE. MANY TIMES, WE ARE UNAWARE OF THE SIGNS OR THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THESE MODIFICATIONS WITHOUT HAVING LEARNED ABOUT THEM. ERIK eRICKSON CREATED A PSYCHOSOCIAL CHART CALLED THE EIGHT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. WE WILL REFERENCE SOME OF HIS FINDINGS BUT THIS POST WILL LOOK PAST THAT. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DECLINE ALSO INTERRELATES AND INTERSECTS WITH THAT TIMELINE. THE TIMING OF MOST THINGS ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT; IT IS THE TIME PERIODS (LENGTHS OF TIME) THAT GENERALLY CHANGE. SOMETIMES THINGS JUST SEEM TO MOVE AT A FASTER PACE AND SOMETIMES THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING. BOTH PROGRESS AND DEMISE USUALLY HAPPEN GRADUALLY. MOST OF THE TIME NEITHER OF THEM HAPPENS TO US SUDDENLY. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN A "NEW NORMAL" HAS SET IN UNTIL SOMEONE OR SOMETHING MAKES THEM AWARE OF IT. CONDITIONS HAVE A WAY OF SNEAKING UP ON US. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, WE MAY FEEL NORMAL, BUT IT'S A "NEW NORMAL." PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT EVERYTHING TENDS TO AMPLIFY WITH AGE. IN THIS POST, LET'S EXPAND OUR MEANING OF AGES AND STAGES TO INCLUDE TIME PERIODS OF AWARENESS, ASSOCIATION AND ASSIMILATION ALSO KNOWN AS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. GOD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANITY IN THEORY IS PROGRESSING THROUGH SEVEN SIMILAR STAGES OF DEVELOPEMENT, theologians CALL DISPENSATIONS. THERE ARE SOME theologians THAT SAY THERE ARE NINE STAGES. THE REALITY IS THAT GOD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MAN SPANS ETERNITY. MAN CHANGES BUT GOD DOES NOT. HUMANITY IS CONFLICTED. AS A RESULT, TODAY'S ZEITGEIST IS ALL ABOUT MANKINDS CONTINUAL STRUGGLE WITH COGNITIVE DISSONACE. THIS TERM describes the discomfort that SOCIETY HAS TO CONFRONT FROM TRYING TO RECONCILE contradictory beliefs. WHETHER WE ARE AWARE OF IT OR NOT, WE ARE CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH A conflict BETWEEN THE NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF OUR EXISTENCE. THIS VARIANCE CAN BE DEFINED AS a SUBCONSCIOUS state of ENMITY AND tension BETWEEN GOD'S WAY AND THE WORLDS ECOSYSTEMS. THIS PRESSURE APPLIES TO COMMERCE, GOVERNMENT, GREED, RELIGION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. THE FACT IS, THAT TODAY, MAN'S BIGGEST ISSUE IS HIS INABILITY TO RESOLVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IN LIGHT OF HIS CORRUPTIBLE MODERN ADVANCEMENTS, DISCOVERIES AND IMAGINATIONS.

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE IS GOVERNED BY ITS DESIGN, INTENT AND PURPOSE BUT CORRUPTED BY ITS ABUSE AND MISUSE

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE CANNOT BE CIRCUMVENTED

​"Getting old is not for the faint of heart." "Everything amplifies with age." Those two statements form the basis of this post. There are some unexpected things that come with age and there are nuances that change along with it. The unexpected things are more or less unanticipated and generally unsaid. The nuances are usually transitions of traditionally learned cause and effects that gradually changed over time unbeknownst to us. In a nutshell, the short lapse of time spent in doing regular activities that maintained our physical abilities simply diminishes while getting shorter and shorter. This is in contrast to the amount of time and effort required to increase or maintain our current physical status, if possible. It basically takes longer and longer at a certain stage and calls for more consistent dedicated effort and time than in the past. As we age to this stage, almost any small amount of lack or slack can easily and firmly set us back! That same ole familiar road back to recovery then becomes more and more bumpy, difficult, stressful and tedious.
"So, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." The majority of people do not consider or ponder life's cycles until they are either at the end of one or see it illustrated in a production or story like the "Lion King." Life operates in cycles and patterns. Birth and death are a part of that pattern. Life operates off of the principle of the seed! When we see life's sequences with spiritual eyes and embrace it from that perspective, it's easier to understand how corrupt mankind's thinking has become. The D.I.P. (Design Intent & Purpose), also known as nature's way operates off of the seed. Please stop removing the pits and seeds from our fruits. Few fruits are naturally or normally seedless! However, there are some fruits that can naturally grow without seeds through other processes that bypass fertilization. Such phenomenon is the exception not the rule. This process is called parthenocarpy and it can occur in wild plants. This is one of the processes used to artificially cultivate various seedless fruits. Parthenocarpy or stenospermocarpy (another related mechanism) occasionally occurs as a mutation in nature. Today, scientist have observed these processes and duplicated them. An example of this technology can be found in many citrus varieties that can yield seedless fruits. Stenospermocarpy may also produce apparently seedless fruit, such as "seedless watermelon," but the seeds in stenospermocarpy are actually aborted while they are still small. THE CIRCLE OF LIFE NEEDS THE SEED. Every stage in our lives from infancy to late adulthood is a part of a larger cycle of perpetual change and interchange. The evolutionary succession of living and dying defines life as we know it! Seeing life through the lens of homeostasis gives us one of the best views we can have of it. Homeostasis is defined as any self-regulating process by which an ecosystem or organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival. Homeostasis is the process that prevents the finality of death from having the upper hand over life! This means that in spite of deaths curse, life defeats it through God's perpetually ordained cycle of renewal powered by divine love. So Death is not really the end of a cycle it is actually the beginning of another one. Death has never had power over life, although it seems that it does. The source of all life comes from God. Originally, death's purpose was to end life, but life itself is a byproduct of God's love. God's love transformed the power of death into another cycle of life in the form of a seed called faith. Apoptosis, commonly referred to as programmed cell death, plays an essential role in maintaining a balance with mitosis by regulating cell populations during development, preserving tissue homeostasis in adults, and contributing to various biological processes. In the universe as we know it, the circle and cycles of life are complicated, and every species needs a seed. When we learn how to number our days as life teaches us to, we will discover many other lessons in its day-to-day curriculum. Learning is an ever-evolving process. Unfortunately, learnings' biggest obstacle is already obtained knowledge or previous learning. Most people seem to have a tendency to remain in their "comfort zone." We all have a tendency to get stuck in our present position and state of understanding or thought. Many of us prefer to deal with and manage old mistakes rather than learning a new way of navigating around them. Some of us mistakenly even call this behavior faith. We like to default back to what we already know and have experienced whether it works or not. Growth is about change. When people stop growing, they generally stop changing and become set in their ways. LET'S KEEP GROWING, LEARNING AND IMPROVING OURSELVES! Numbering our days is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn!

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE WHY DO WE INTUITIVELY IGNOR AND/OR RESIST CHANGE?

Change is an inherent and constant aspect of life. Contrary to expectations and opinions, change is not an exception, it is a rule. Change falls under the principle of modification. Change permeates every aspect of life, from the smallest of daily routines to the major pivotal events. Changes and its modifications whether gradual or sudden, positive or negative, expected or unexpected are inevitable! Changes represent entrances, ends, exits, gateways, portals, stages transitions and triggers. In life, the most difficult changes we face are not in what we do, but in how we do it! It is our own corrupted "WAYS" of thinking, reasoning and doing that permit us to indulge in hidden iniquities. There is much more to our sins and transgressions than the commission of the acts themselves. It is also the "attitude of behavior," the rationale, the reasoning and the "WAY" we go about it that matters. Changes can come with stress, discomfort, joy or elation. Some changes can disrupt established routines and force adaptation. Gradual changes are the most difficult to recognize. Other changes can make middles into beginnings and beginnings into ends. Change affects order, and order is often the first change. Our Priorities can change in importance and are a direct reflection of our commitment to change. Getting older teaches those of us still learning about change to examine and inspect, improve or reject and face it or embrace it. Many of us resist change and prefer consistent tradition even if change brings improvements. Aging and getting older is a natural and normal process of stages. Stages directly coincide with ages but are not as easy to determine or define. Being "long in the tooth." directly deals with life's changes and "getting old" is not for the faint of heart. Many people are unaware of the ages that correspond with the various stages they find themselves in. Sometimes we can be at a stage in life without the maturity to recognize just what stage we're in. Sometimes growth and maturity plainly reveal's the stage, after that age has already passed. Facing change is facing the unknown even if we have some idea of what we're dealing with. Be not deceived. Sometimes change has a familiar face but in reality, all change by design introduces something different and/or new! It is normal to think that the way things appear and occur in the future will look and feel like they did in the past. This may not be the case especially at this present age and stage of exponential growth and technological innovations. Each new level we arrive at or stage we reach brings new challenges and commitments. Many previous solutions that might have resolved old problems of the past effectively, may no longer work in a new evolving unfamilar environment.

Change usually introduces differences foisted upon us in an abrupt or transitory manner. In times past, many of us experienced what we called "long days." As time moves on, most of us will discover that the days were long, but the decades are short. Children grow like weeds and time gets away from us. Each of these new stages come with its own unique issues. As we age our bodies begin to speak a new language that many of us fail to learn and interpret. So how do we number our days and properly embrace change? The answer is continuous introspection and improvement. In biblical and spiritual terminology, it means to strive for perfection. Although no one is perfect, we all are decedents of perfection. Consider the fact that a perfect God created a perfect environment (world) for a perfectly created man perfectly. WE WERE MADE PERFECTLY, NOT BUILT TO BREAK! Perfect is without defect or flaw. So, it stands to reason that the only possible change perfect can transition to is imperfection. Isn't that what happened? For a serpent to entice Adam and Eve in a perfect environment he had to offer them something that seemed greater but was not. The Devil deceived Adam and Eve based on the fabrication that they were not already perfect and whole. The serpent was just one of the gardens inhabitants. The serpent had no Eden authority. He tricked Adam and Eve into thinking that he knew something they didn't by talking with them about the trees in the garden. The Devil gained a foothold in the affairs of humanity through the "perfection lie!" "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." Creation and the Garden of Eden depict a situation that is often not properly interpreted or fully understood. When viewed in its full and proper context, it becomes apparent that although Adam blamed Eve for what had happened, in reality he placed the blame on God! Literally he blamed the gift (Eve), but spiritually he blamed the giver (God). Finding fault with the gift also implicates the giver. Imperfection is easy, just make any little change to something​ perfect! We can now see how easy it was for man to corrupt his perfect relationship and status with God. It is man who first brought imperfection to God in the form of disobedience. Man could not and can not successfully modify God's perfect creation. As a result, God had a perfect plan to redeem man. As a result God bring back perfection to man in the form of Jesus. The formula for this dynamic change described by Jesus is called being "Born Again" as a new perfect creature. This dynamic stage has been bestowed and gifted upon humanity.

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NATURE, FIXES, HACKS, SHORTCUTS & TRICKS

This "Born Again" phenomena is not an instantaneous magic bullet for change and perfection. It is an intervention with an undertaking of a commitment to a standard we were incapable of naturally maintaining on our own. The idea of a "new birth" corresponds with the process of learning, maturing and growing over time. Birth is man's natural and normal process for procreation. We often use terms like bloom, blossom, bud, germinate, shoots and sprouts to describe the emergence of life. Regardless of what we call it; this is the natural process of reproduction. ​Nature takes its own course, runs in its own time and finishes on its own schedule. The nature of the universe is designed to evolve along with everything else in it. Nature is God's design in perpetuity. We can copy, duplicate and imitate it but we cannot create nature. An entities nature is its basic inherent features including its innate essential qualities or character. It's similar to an autonomous inescapable habit, reflex, tendency or urge. We are our nature and can't help but to be like it. Although our nature is built in, we do have control over it. We cannot directly change our nature, but we can authoritatively exercise control over it. This is why we are free moral agents. Any changes or modifications we make must be our own choice. Overcoming our compromised and corrupted nature is a spiritual endeavor. The things our nature compels us to do feels natural because it is. Inventions and technology can allow us to get as close to free flight as virtually possible, but man will never fly. Some airline pilots feel and would actually like to think that they could literally soar through the atmosphere. If men were given the physical abilities and attributes from feathers to navigational awareness, the idea of a batman would not be so far-fetched! However, flying requires more than just feathers. Emus and ostriches don't fly and even roadrunners can only maintain flight for short distances. Flight is a gift. One of the biggest dilemmas mankind faces today is his lack of understanding interdependent and interrelated design. We've adopted a premise that somehow and in some way; man, creation and the entire universe was not designed, intended and purposed perfectly. Over time and possibly as a result of technology, somehow or another man has created a false narrative that the universe was formed with a lot of flaws, and it is man's job to correct and perfect it. Today philosophers, physicists, scientists and the like use terminology like "loopholes" and other colorful language to describe the "Black Holes" in their deceptive theories. True order and Nature can be explained away but it cannot be tricked for very long!

THE INTERCONNECTION AND INTERSECTION OF THINGS

It is important to take into consideration how ALL things interconnect from the micro to the macro. All things interconnect and intersect in the grand scale at some level, how they interact at specifically distinct areas and levels can make critical differences. The intricate design of most living things, especially the highest species in creation, the human body follows a preservation and survival order or routine. It is increasingly important for health care practitioners to understand that we are spiritual beings having a human experience that is intellectually processed through our interconnected minds! When we are injured or get sick in any way, our system responds by maintaining the vital functions we need to keep living through cutting back on or downgrading the less essential parts. This in effect minimizes some functionality of some aspects of our being in order to protect other indispensable parts. This is part of the reason that some of our extremities can be sacrificed in order to save our lives through amputations and other natural methods our bodies use to survive. When our bodies are stressed and oxygen depleted the most important functions must be sustained to our hearts, lungs and brains. When these organs are taxed, they in turn can limit may other function and operate at a subpar level themselves. Some level or type of shock occurs after every accident or stressful event. The effects may be short lived, but it happens, nevertheless. Sometimes people sick with chronic conditions and injuries experience deficiencies in mental acuity. Times of brain fog, memory lapses along with confusing or conflicting thoughts are likely to come about whether we're aware of it or not. These effects can be immediate, delayed, cyclic or ongoing. Some subtle manifestations may be difficult to detect or accept due to how we feel and the deceptive nature of our own cognitive or confirmation biases. Other may recognize discreet changes but not be aware of their association with an underlying condition. Ability and acuity are not the same thing, they are close, but they have distinctions. Acuity deals with the sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing and processing the data or information. Ability is the possession of the means and skill to do something. Able bodied persons can be partially disabled in their acuity and not know it. Clear and critical thinking is not only a leaned skill, but it is an interconnected and interrelated integrated function of our being. We must be acutely aware of the mental, physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of existence to paint a complete picture. When people do things that they know are wrong, they are in fact operating in an "out of mind" delusional way and the deceitfulness of sin has a grip on them systemically. this is something we have experienced personally. Looking back on former behaviors and previous decisions we made that were detrimental to ourselves and hurtful towards others; how many of us can utter the phase that "I must have been out of my mind!" Note that the expression does not say out of brain or mental ability. The phrase says out of mind or mental acuity!

REACHING THE AGE OF A SAGE

Our destiny is under our own control a lot more than most of us realize or believe. Our "controlled destiny" can be simply described as how we navigate through change. However, resistance to change is a common psychological response. Resistance to change can be triggered by fear, being comfortable with the status quo, being too close to or familiar with the situation and distrust in agents of change. ​Longevity comes as a result of accepting and weathering change. Living a long, healthy life does not require winning a genetic lottery. Only 25% of our probability for living a longer life is due to inherited genes. The other 75% is due to environmental factors, according to Dr. Luigi Fontana. Dr. Fontana is a professor of medicine and nutrition, and director of the healthy longevity research program at The University of Sydney in Australia. If what this doctor says is correct, there is a strong correlation with our lifestyle that points to causation. Do we really determine most aspects of our destiny, or are we predestined to the dictates of what life brings? "Sagacity" and scripture agree that free moral agency and self-determination have a double edge sword. Self-determination allows us to forge our own future at our own peril. We have to make adjustments and modification (changes) as we journey through life by embracing and making difficult CHOICES that do not compromise our principles and standards. Erik Erikson proposed that our development from infancy to older adulthood consist of eight key stages. Each of these stages are characterized by a central conflict that must be resolved in order to continue developing a healthy personality. The way we transition from one stage to the other effects how we manage each new stage. Although this theory highlights one of two polar opposites as an outcome, we believe that many people get caught somewhere in the middle between each stage's two extremes with cognitive dissonance. It's always easier to trust in what has worked before, even if it doesn't work anymore. This applies to everything except GOD. God does not change but God does author change. Change and trust are not juxtaposed. We continue to put our trust in God. The understanding we need to apply here is that although God does not change, we do! Sometimes we can be so sure of something that we are blinded by our own pride. At other times we can be so uncertain of something that it stifles our faith. Once again Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced from having conflicting beliefs or participating in conflicting behaviors. There are multiple ways we express cognitive dissonance both consciously and unconsciously. The worse manifestations come as a result of being spiritually blinded from seeing them. There are many types of cognitive dissonance. We will list some common examples. Belief disconfirmation occurs when we are forced to deal with information that contradicts a previously held belief about something or SOMEONE. Induced compliance is when we are forced, coercively or otherwise, to act against our beliefs. Effort justification is where we give greater weight and more value to an outcome based on the effort, energy or resources expended to achieve it. There are others not listed here. In our opinion the worse of them all is called post-decisional dissonance. We describe it as unreconciled regret. This is the discomfort we feel and must continually live with after making difficult and usually unchangeable choices. As we reach the age of a sage, we must learn to accept, acknowledge and internally deal with past errors, mistakes and transgressions known and unknown. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. One of the ideas behind these passages of scripture is that God wants us to genuinely desire change. According to a renowned Doctor of Psychology, there ae four basic stages or states that can foster a readiness for change. We can be compelled by authority to change. We can comply with change to escape criticism and fulfill others' expectations. We can "smarten up" by becoming intellectually aware of the rational need for change. We can also make a mental and emotional commitment through the heartfelt beliefs, convictions, principles and standards we embrace. In any event embracing change can be a wise choice. “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.” There are four steps listed here: desire, separation, seeking and intermeddling. 

THE WISDOM IN PATTERNS OF FOURS

Anyone who's been around for any length of time should be familiar with and recognize some of life's patterns. We've discussed the power of threes in a previous post. Let's briefly touch on the foundation of fours. Life is filled with transitional stages. One way of evaluating and managing them is to divide and name them. The notable psychiatrist Carl Jung proposed a theory that there are four stages of life. Each of these stages represent different psychological focuses and motivations at different times throughout our lives. These stages are called the Athlete, Warrior, Statement, and Sage stages. In life the number four symbolizes completeness, directions, elements, stability, structure and even luck. There are multiple ways of using the wisdom of fours as a tool to truth. Let's concentrate on using it to examine ourselves first, then look to apply this principle in many other instances. A four-step approach is a common way of dealing with issues. The story of King Hezekiah in the Bible is an example of utilizing the "principle of four." In this instance, King Hezekiah at the age of twenty-five, instituted major religious reforms in a four-fold manner. Usually, most people resist change, and we are sure he faced adversaries and obstacles instituting his mandates. The first four things that he did were demanding and intrusive. "He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan."​ Cleaning house and ruffling the feathers of a people bent on being like the other nations around them took courage. It involved removing every form of idolatry even objects and symbols that were associated with worshipping the true God. It took all four of these actions to accomplish the one goal that king Hezekiah desired. There are numerous ways to apply and expect to see the number four working in our lives. 

​The medical profession uses the principle of four in many of their operations as well or better than any other field. When a person feels sick or weak and sees a doctor there are several four-step processes that usually begin whether we are aware of them or not. The process generally begins through anamnesis (sharing our medically related history) which helps the doctors understand the pathology (the science of the causes and effects of the disease). After those two steps come the diagnosis and prognosis (the identification, expected course, outcome and chances of recovery). This is usually the first of various four-step processes in medicine. These four-step processes in medicine can be applied across various disciplines to improve patient care and outcomes. Here are some examples of how four-step processes in the medical industry are designed to work.

Pharmacokinetics: Deals with the journey of any administered drug through the body including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Knowing and understanding each of these steps helps in designing more effective and safer medications. 

Quality Improvement in Medical Practice: Such as The STEPS Forward, is a collection of practice improvement strategies that follow a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) strategy designed to enhance patient care and office efficiency. 

Clinical Decision Making: Is a modified "scientific method" approach that involves determining probabilities, gathering data, updating probabilities, and considering interventions. 

Nutrition Care Process: Addresses the immediate and long-term dietary concerns. The NCP consists of Nutrition Assessment, Nutrition Diagnosis, Nutrition Intervention, and Nutrition Monitoring/Evaluation. 

Staff Skills Teaching and Training: Expanding and updating as to how we approach continuing education occupations is critical. This is where Peyton's four-step method of demonstration, deconstruction, comprehension and performance come into play.
 
Each of these "four step procedures" provide a structured approach to improving patient care, enhancing skills, and ensuring effective decision-making in medicine.
There are many other meanings associated with the number four. There are four cardinal points, namely North – South – East – West. There are four winds. There are four phases of the moon. There are four seasons. The ancient Greeks believed that there were four elements that everything was made up of: earth, water, air, and fire. The number four provides us with a foundational approach that is applicable to multiple situations. It has significance across various domains, symbolizing stability, structure, and grounding in both practical and spiritual contexts. The numerous applications and meanings behind the number "4" reflects its importance to us. It is a part of our human experiences, culture, and belief systems. Embracing the principles associated with the number four can guide us in creating a balanced and fulfilled life.

THE FOUR CLIMATE SEASONS: ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

Perhaps modern society, its technologies and advancements have both compromised some of our innate abilities and spoiled us. All of nature operates seasonally. Animals, insects and plants all bloom, consume, grow, mate and procreate based on time and tide. Our bodies react to temperature and climate which has an influence on our overall health. The warmth of spring and summer can have a relaxing effect. While the cold of fall and winter might cause us to retreat indoors. There are exceptions but temperature is not the only factor. The timing of seasons and their effects are different throughout the world. Winter and summer solstices, the astronomical events that mark the shortest and longest days of the year have different dates. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 21st, whereas the summer solstice falls on June 21st. The situation is reversed in the southern hemisphere. We are all interconnected with nature. The realization of such should guide us in the ways that we interact with sleeping and rising, light and darkness, eating and exercise, in respect to winter, spring, summer and fall. Being in and participating with nature works in tandem with our body's natural God given abilities to adjust to conditions and maintain homeostasis.

THE UNDENIABLE DILEMMA

There is always an emotional element that should not be overlooked behind change. As we age, men in particular are more susceptible to social isolation and hidden depression. The old saying "Man up" means not crying, feeling or showing that something is bothersome. From avoiding checkups to refusing medical attention and/or advice, men seem to have more difficulty navigating change. Remember things amplify with age. Changes can be sudden and drastic. Changes at certain ages and stages can become chronic, last and linger longer than ever before. Rejecting adjustments and lifestyle changes are the key causes behind difficult stage to stage transitions. Whether we fight the power, or go with the flow, we will be challenged with making definitive choices. There are stages to come that can only be successfully navigated by taking the "Red Pill" and abandoning the deceptive "Blue Pill" life shows us; as was in the movie, The Matrix." The "Red Pill" and "Blue Pill" are metaphorical terms representing a choice between learning an unsettling or life-changing truth by taking the "Red Pill" or remaining in the unquestioned experience of an illusion that appears as our ordinary "Blue pill" reality. As we age, eventually everyone gradually slows down. The changes in our metabolism are indicative of the age and stage we are in. We don't have to wait till we get old and feeble to relax and adjust our lifestyle in line with where we really are. When we enter the stage of adulthood it is advisable to put away childish things. There are some of us that will be facing the grim discovery that we are sitting on top of a ticking time bomb. The age and the stage to defuse the bomb may have unknowingly passed and now all we can do is attempt to mitigate the damage. The wakeup call may have been heeded late, not to mention the damage done through bad habits, diseases and bogus vaccines. Our body and spirit can only bear but so much abuse. Once they can no longer reconcile, regenerate or repair the continual damage inflicted on them, they slowly deteriorate. Life, when recognized through the perspective of ages and stages is a constant cycle of awakening and evolving to understanding ever blossoming and emerging truth. This growth never contradicts previously learned laws, precepts or principles. The enlightenment and revelations of God are never juxtaposed to the laws and prophets. They do not contradict, destroy or diminish the law, they fulfill it!  Fact can never contradict truth. Cognitive dissonance allows many of us to believe narratives that suggest differently through our lack of wisdom and ignorance. "With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age just comes alone." Practical truth can be discovered by the homogenous blending multiple truths. We all should know that perception influences direction. CRITICAL THINKING allows us to hear and homogenously blend together multiple truths. Knowledge is an ever-growing pool of interchanging information that is shared across multiple sources. Knowledge can be homogenously consolidated into and with any other available information added to and allowed within that pool. Most people of the "blue pill" will not have read this far. It's easier to listen to the summary and get the gist of these posts without understanding the universal applications of their principles. Still with humanity, somehow our "confirmation biases" tend to suppress what we interpret to be contradictory information even if it appears to only slightly disagrees with what we buy into, sell or believe. Any "Red Pill" people who have made it this far should know that the unpopular true gospel has many unconventional channels for delivery. Readers, followers and patrons of this blog know that we are no strangers to dealing with unpopular or controversial topics. If our gospel be hidden, which it is not, it is hidden to the "blue pilled" people of this world who are lost in today's deceptions.  Our posts are specifically designed to combine facts, information, principles and spiritual applications that can enhance "critical thinking." CRITICAL THINKING ENABLES US TO DECIPHER THE TRUTH FROM WITHIN THE FACTS. NO ONE CAN HAVE THEIR VERY OWN "PERSONAL TRUTH." TRUTH is NOT exclusive! CRITICAL THINKING BASICALLY ALLOWS US TO HEAR AND HOMOGENOUSLY BLEND MULTIPLE TRUTHS. Some truths may appear to be contradictory. Many "spiritual truths" tend to fall into this category. Many of these are just inconvenient truths! Our posts always contain multiple quotes and references from the Bible and other reputable and spiritual sources. We did NOT write them, as an aggregator we just recite them. If what we present causes discomfort, we are doing our job or fulfilling our calling. Thinking outside of the box in spite of our beliefs and feelings can be difficult. Enlightenment has a spiritual dimension and often includes some level of revelation. Think it through and challenge GOD for guidance. In the mouth of two or three witnesses GOD will confirm what we think we know to be truth or not!

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CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE!

THE DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN DISPARATELY DEFINED SYSTEMS

​When our dietary intake naturally and/or spiritually no longer meets our nutritional needs and requirements it creates deficits or excesses, and we get sick. The connections and harmony required to maintain the equilibrium of our bodies eleven (11) major organ systems can be delicate. Thankfully, most of the balancing is done autonomously. However, we can create malfunctions of excess or lack by our lifestyle unwittingly. This is a list of systems in no certain order and just a few of their intersecting functions. The Circulatory System, responsible for transporting blood, oxygen, and nutrients, includes the heart and blood vessels. However, the circulatory system won't have anything to carry if it does not get it from the work of the digestive and respiratory systems. The respiratory system is composed of the lungs and airways. It is responsible for taking in oxygen and removing the carbon dioxide pumped around the body by the heart. However, all of this would be vain if the digestive system, which breaks down and absorbs those nutrients carried in the blood was compromised. The stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs work within the digestive system to do its job! After the delivery and consumption of nutrients there are waste byproducts produced by the body eating and using them. This is when the excretory system, composed of the kidneys and bladder, working in conjunction with the muscular system specializes in getting rid of waste. Our nervous system, composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, helps us to control the energy and timing behind intake output and all body functions and responses. This is what our muscular system stimulated by the nervous system and supported by the skeletal system uses. This encompasses all of our muscles that enable us to move and maintain posture. The skeletal system which consists of bones and joints provides the structure and support that the muscular system needs for movements. All of these coordinated activities cause growth and development which also must be controlled and regulated. This is where the endocrine system uses its glands to release hormones and regulates processes like growth and metabolism. The endocrine and reproductive systems are intricately connected. These are the two systems that work together to regulate sexual development, function, and reproduction. Messing with this extremely delicate managing process is dangerous. It is like playing GOD! This is where gender and identity form and operate. Here is where a complex interplay of hormones occurs through a connection that is primarily facilitated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The name alone says it all. Our procreational quiver resides within the reproductive system and involves organs like the ovaries and testes which facilitate the formation of new LIFE. This is as close as we can come to being like the GOD that made us. The birthing process from fertilization to formation is miraculous! It is closely guarded and regulated. Protection is provided by our immune system and lymphatic systems. These systems are composed of a network of vessels, nodes, cells, tissues and organs including lymph nodes and the spleen. These organs are involved in regulating and removing waste while defending us against pathogens that evade our first line of external guards and must be eliminated at an adaptive internal level. However, the integumentary system provides our skin and mucosal membranes an innate response that assists the immune system before germs can get deep inside of us. This integumentary system, composed of skin (the largest organ in our body), hair, and nails, protects the body and regulates temperature. All these systems work together to maintain homeostasis, regulate bodily functions, and enable interaction with the environment. Each and every system individually, in a collective interdependent way, plays a crucial role in the overall health and functioning of the human body.

THE SIGNS THAT ACCOMPANY DIFFERENT AGES AND STAGES

​As we matriculate through the classrooms of life, learn lessons and become more accustomed to its flows we tend to relax more and more over time. The one thing we'll discover as we age and mature into our retirement years is that we have more time. Not that we actually get more in quantity but that we have more available to manage, deal with or waste! This is not a leisure time for relaxing; it is a time of reckoning. This is a time to evaluate, review and reevaluate our posture, rationale, reasoning, stances standards and understandings. Most of us create our own mental comfort zone and stay in it. It is easy to get stuck in our ways as we age. We should continue to evolve in our thinking gaining higher understanding through new revelations. Often, we find it very difficult to adjust our perspectives without compromising our principles. We naturally tend to stick with what we know has worked in the past. When its all-new territory and it's difficult to know what to expect it can cause us to remain set in our thinking and reasoning. While we are in this position of introspection and reflection it is a good time to accurately evaluate and update them! This is a good time to observe the principle to question everything. Sometimes new and/or unexpected challenges must be met with fresh ideas that address these situations without compromising our standards. We can now evaluate and question ourselves in the same manner we do for everything else. Whether we examine the principles in this post from a business, family or personal perspective they can apply to us all. ​In the same manner by which we follow signs of maturity in adolescence, so can we also list tell-tale signs of different ages and stages. Too many of us are getting trapped within cycles we unwittingly perpetuate ignorantly or through our stubbornness. 

BATTLING THE SEDENTARY SPIRAL AND CYCLE

If only "ACTIVERCISE" and sunshine were recommended for all! "ACTIVERCISE is a concept, practice and program we have been working on for years and hope to present sometime in the near future. "ACTIVERCISE" will be founded upon the principles of movement and developed from the theory that no matter the state a person finds themselves in, that some manner of purposeful physical movement is mandatory and therapeutic in their well being. This is more about consistency rather than strength and intensity. There are at least five abilities or tasks that serve as a good measure of an older persons fitness and health. They are (1) standing up from sitting in a  chair without using arms and hands. (2) Walking backwards at least 10 steps in a straight line like in a police sobriety test. (3) Touching our toes after warming up by leaning over without bending the knees. (4) Standing on either leg one following the other individually for at least 30 seconds. (5) Going down and getting up off of the floor without using the hands and arms. Having the ability to transition to standing up from sitting on the floor unassisted and back down again; stands as one of the best measures in the realm of both balancing and stretching.   

THE STIFFEN, PAIN, SUFFER, IMMOBILIZE, STIFFEN, LIMIT, SUFFER, STIFFEN CYCLE 

OTHER EVIDENCE SIGNS AND WITNESSES

* When putting on or pulling off our shoes becomes more of a task that we no longer look forward to dealing with; that's a sign of a different stage.

* When we hear a conversation or listen to something we disagree with, and it initiates an emotional response we might be at a stage and age of rage.

* When we grunt or make a noise whenever we bend over, bend down, sit down, stand up or lift something awkward and heavy it's most likely the sign of a different stage. 

* When we have a difficult time exercising patience and utilizing tolerance without the ability to tactfully know when to give assistance and when not to give a damn, it's the age of indiscretion.  

* When hearing becomes more challenging and conditions like presbycusis emerge certain sounds at higher frequencies decline as a natural result of the aging process that's another stage.

TIME and THE GERIATRIC JOURNEY

At some point many of us experience a stage in life where it seems as if things are going along in a consistent and almost unchanging manner. This might be called the age of ignorant bliss. There are certain ages and stages where our awareness, association and assimilation about and with "reality" are narrowly defined and sometimes ignorantly and rigidly embraced. This is a time when as we connect the dots it seems to match our narrative or perspective in life. As we evolve, grow and mature we eventually need to get past this "stage of stubbornness" by embracing humility. There are changes that come with just about all aging. Like a fine wine, care must be taken to preserve its quality. There are cognitive, mental and physical changes we can and should expect. These changes are part of the natural aging process and can be managed with proper care and lifestyle adjustments. If we stay active and maintain a healthy diet it eases the journey. Never-the-less God continually and faithfully sends us witnesses of our condition. Pay attention to God's messages from unexpected messengers that could be angels in disguise. Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. He that hath an ear to hear can limit the extent of these blunders and rise in spite of the downfalls. They say time and tide waits for no man and its true. ​Much of what we're posting here may seem obvious, but it is usually not given as high a priority as what doctors say or the significance of the medications they give. There is both a physical and psychological component to every affliction, disease, illness or infirmity. Not talking about what's BOTHERING us, isolating or secluding ourselves is moving in the wrong direction. Learning to EXPAND our mission in life is one of the ways we can embrace change. We consider these steps to be important and vital practices. Although our calling and mission in life remains fixed, our purpose for being here can modify and change. What we concentrate on and prioritize must evolve as we age and move from stage to stage. What was once important to us as young adults shifts as we mature and form additions to our families. We usually begin to change some of our focus towards our children and then our grandchildren. Sometimes we forget to pay enough attention to ourselves. Many of us have gotten so used to taking care of everything else from business interests to hobbies, pastimes and other people that we neglect our own wellbeing at a time when it is more important to pay attention to it than ever before. It's time to wake up and redefine our purpose at this point. Sometimes we have to come to the realization that although we still have work to do, that it is also time to allow others to take care of us and do some of the work. 

 DECLINEs INCLINATIONS & DECLARATIONS

Without notice and usually at a very gradual and unnoticed rate we discover unanticipated and startling changes. As some of our physical abilities decrease we are inclined to just accept that this is what getting older is all about. To some extent things do decline. The thymus gland which is a vital organ in the immune system gets smaller and smaller until it disappears. However, in many cases we intellectually gain an increased and balanced understanding of all things if we remain open minded as opposed to being stuck in traditional beliefs and our own way of doing things. When we are illuminated our duty is to pass this sage wisdom to the new generations behind us.
The recommendations we describe here can be applied in two ways. We can practice them ourselves, or as caregivers implement them in the daily routines of our loved ones and patients. This may not be as simple or easy as it sounds. Dealing with anyone who feels like they are losing their control or independence can be tricky. It is not uncommon for them to have bouts of depression and sadness. Even people of "faith" can mask or disguise moments of doubt. Sometimes their attitude, demeanor and the way they present themselves can fool us into thinking that they're OK. We have to stop and ask ourselves from time to time, how would we feel if we were in that same situation; even more so if it continued over an extended length of time. This is where we advance from "having" faith to "working" faith. Putting "first things first" exercises faith. We serve a God of order. God wants us to prosper and be in good health. God wants us to be examples, lights and witnesses for him among all nations. God wants us to live for him not die for him. Jesus already died for us! Just Represent... There are two acronyms to keep in mind. The first is D.E.S.P. and the second is L.S.S.W. The D.E.S.P. stands for diet, exercise, social, and purpose. The L.S.S.W. stands for laying, sitting, standing and walking. In addition to this we will stress circadian rhythms, music and light therapy as a part of the total plan. As a caregiver or someone doing this on our own, we must be careful, critical and wise. QUESTION EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING WHILE TAKING IT SLOW. In most cases this will be a lengthy journey to recovery and will continue as lifelong routines. Make sure that everybody involved is sharing at least one medication every day and that is a "CHILL PILL." The anxiety brought on by stress can work against us if we allow it to. Change, and the changes that come with it are unsettling even if we act as if it isn't. New experiences can be both enlightening and frightening. Like Moses we can question the purpose of following God's details and deal with the rock by striking it, or we can calmly speak to it obediently. God's methods, purposes and ways are unlike ours. Even though they had been revealed to Moses even he fell short. This is where the lessons from those who have gone before us and the comforting effect of faith, affects how we manage and remedy the new dilemmas we face. A village mentality should play major role. The first thing to attempt to do is to enroll as many family members and friends as possible into a "shared program." This may not be as easy as we think but let's gather whoever we can, in whatever role they can play and don't stress the rest. The mission remains the same with a new purpose in mind that focuses our attention on ways that involve looking out for "number one" first! Coming up with a plan ideally should be a joint decision-making process but in reality, most of us lack the managerial skill set, patience and thick skin to take advantage of this approach. Never-the-less, having any plan is better than no plan at all. Once a plan is in place this is when the real long-term efforts begin. The theme of the therapy should be shared participation. When we pray in faith for deliverance from the effects of sarcopenia, we must also act in works of movement and walking. The brain is an organ, and like a muscle needs exercise to remain strong. The brain spends over two thirds of its activity and energies processing motion and movement throughout the body. Without a meaningful workload the brain weakens too. Most people are unaware that the mental links to our physical abilities are integrally connected. This is why some athletes pick up just where they left off after recovering from an injury. Sometimes, when we practice or rehearse a physical task in our minds without being able to tangibly perform the movement, we can still improve at it. Accidents, disabilities, sicknesses, and anything that limits movement has a direct effect on our brain heath as well. We must learn how to shift many of the loads we carry from brawn to brain as we age through our stages. When we believe in our hearts that God will deliver us from the afflictions we face, it's reflected in our actions, energy and speech! Let's begin with simple repetitive movements. This involves no expertise, no weights, no specific type of instructions, no special training, just basic everyday functional bodily motions whenever and wherever possible. Getting our second heart involved is more important now than ever. This is where our posture (L.S.S.W.) comes into play. Even if standing or walking is limited or totally restricted, any form of consistent movement can be helpful as a routine. Even moving our mouths in conversation helps to fulfil the social aspect of the D.E.S.P. model. Diet, exercise, social and purpose hold the keys, maintaining them turns the lock. We can start with exchanging memories, telling stories and good ole conversation. Music is magical. This spiritual tool is often forgotten about or neglected for its therapeutic properties. Laughing, humming, singing and even competitive board games stimulate our bodies endorphins.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

​​Everyone has a mission and purpose in life. Just knowing that they are needed helps them to heal. Being sought out for advice, questions and opinions about anything from perspectives to politics make us feel significant. Purpose must be redefined. This is a time where we must make meaningful distinctions between our purpose and our mission. Our mission and calling should never change but our purpose at various times can. Moses was called from birth and began a great mission that included multiple purposes from challenging Pharoh and the gods of Egypt, to liberating and leading a people into that day's version of "Alice in Wonderland." Allowing God to repurpose us in ways that we may never have imagined is within the calling and mission of us all. It is shortsighted to refer to most of our enjoyable experiences in the past as the "good ole days." Some say that "everyday above ground is a good day." We believe that what makes a day good is the goodness and grace we both give and receive. As experienced and matured sages, we have more goodness to give than ever before. That's what makes the present our best "GOOD OLD DAYS" We have the transformative opportunity to live our best life right now! One thing that can discourage us as we age is the loss of control. When we lose some of the control of our bladder, our breathing or any other bodily function this can be somewhat discouraging. It's important to maintain some level of control. We must learn how to make adjustments to our control panel (the mind) and regulate our behaviors (the body). Caretakers should always earnestly endeavor to make the people they care for a part of every decision. In some cases, we must learn to be comfortable in knowing and accepting that we can no longer perform at previous levels of functionality. However, our diminished physical losses are not to be compared with our spiritual gains.

IT'S TEMPLE TIME

The "building" (body) we live in must be maintained! It's considered to be and often called a temple. A temple is a building or place devoted to a specific purpose. The religious and spiritual significance of having a temple is so that we have a designated sacred place for ourselves and God. Why are we no longer taking good care of the temple? Why are we not concentrating on its upkeep? Maybe it's time for many churches to turn some of their Bible studies into body studies! Polluting God's temple with ultra processed fattening foods and not taking care of its maintenance misrepresents God. Our houses of worship look like dens gluttonous obesity and fragility. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” When it's "Temple Time" our priorities must shift along with some practices. There are many new challenges and opportunities ahead. We've only retired from working for money. Now we can work on "our" calling and mission for ourselves and God. We have a lifetime of experiences to give away and share. Friends and family members need to echo these sentiments. This is their opportunity to extract those nuggets of wisdom we've collected. As a matter of fact, at this stage of life we are obligated to pass them on! Whether we have to roll them out to eat as tender nuggets or hit them in the head with rocks is our choice! There are certain privileges that only come with age; take advantage of them! We can command all of the respect due to our era! Each new age, and stage will come with a new mission. The "new" mandate dictates that the primary job we have in this life, first and foremost, is LIVING! Everything else comes after that! Remember that concentrating on self after a lifetime of concentrating on others is another transition we must work at! Yes, there is a point in life when we must shift our primary focus to practices that prioritize self. We can engage the animal spirits in our pets and consistently stretch our bodies out just like they do every time we get up or move from a resting position. Some of the changes we make may include eating by gradual grazing throughout the day like a cow rather than eating three traditional meals. We may need to get our required nutrition in other ways that are conducive to the age and stage we are in. Babies don't eat three meals a day, we feed them whenever they are hungry. Who made up that rule anyway? Whoever said that we have to find or know our purpose in life to be successful. Who said that our duty or purpose cannot change. The answer and conclusion to these matters have already been established. The Bible says to fear God and keep his commandments is the duty of mankind. Purpose is the stuff of posters and speeches. Is our purpose what we are meant to be or do in life? Does that mean that the path be laid out before us? Is our job simply to find and keep following that vision with unwavering commitment. What does purpose really look like? Don't worry about finding or holding on to one purpose. There is purpose in many different areas of life. In fact, purpose isn’t something we find at all. Purpose is more of what we cultivate through deliberate action, reflection and more actions. Purpose can and will naturally wax and wane throughout our lives. Like happiness, purpose is not a destination, but a journey and a practice. It’s accessible at any age or stage if we are willing to explore what matters to us and act to become that person. Purpose finds us and we embrace it across our lifespan. We are able to revisit and renew our sense of purpose whenever we have the will to do so.  Remember things amplify with aging, so in the midst of taking all of those pharmaceutical pills, try popping a psychological "chill pill."

JUST C.H.I.L.L.L.L. That means Choosing Health In Light of Living a Longer Life!

​Some of this may appear to be controversial, but as an apologist this is the best we know how to approach this. What we present to followers and patrons on this platform is our calling. This is the job that GOD has assigned us to do. The work that we do outside of this forum called employment, is simply an occupation!

OUR FINAL STAGE includes OUR FINAL AGE

There is an age that aligns with the stage of departures. Rather than just moving to reside at one location or another, they will be moving on. Yes, friends and loved ones will pass and we will miss them. ​Our final act in "THIS" stage of life comes with an ending that cumulates all of our chapters into one story. The many transitions may become one long tale that can be told. Many people characterize death as a loss. We never really lose loved ones. We don't forget where they are or misplace them, we just miss them. For those of us anticipating an eternal inheritance, to die is gain. It is important to put decline, sickness and death in their proper perspectives. There is some glory in personal pain and suffering but that is not the best place to look for or find it. Some will say "for God I live and for God I die," in response to the inevitable. However, we should understand that God's will is for us to prosper and be in good health. God does not want us to "die for him." Jesus died for us! God wants us to "live for him" that other might see him through us. Leaving this realm and passing on to the next may be solemn for those who remain but it does not have to be sad. We cannot determine how long and old we live to, but we can determine how well we live here. Although our calling and mission can change and expand throughout our lifetime, our primary mission in life, especially in our prime, is to stay alive. 

​Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Refrain:
Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Trust in Him who will not leave you,
Whatsoever years may bring,
If by earthly friends forsaken
Still more closely to Him cling.

Covet not this world’s vain riches
That so rapidly decay,
Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures,
They will never pass away.

When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true,
Fair and bright the home in glory
Your enraptured soul will view.

TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS POST