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Page 30
January 2006
The AC Phoenix
IT’S NOT T
Wrious
Minorities More Likely To Use
Home Remedies
Mercedes L Miller
By Mercedes L. Miller
Agitation, aggravation, irritation, frustra
tion and a half dozen other “ations” can
most likely be avoided if we willingly accept
that some things just aren’t that serious.
The lessons in life often come to us in the
most unexpected forms. As a person who
studies communication and loves words
and language, it is fascinating to me to
observe my youngest nephew, Dominic, as
he develops his own speech patterns and
verbal and non-verbal cues. By examining how he interacts and
processes the most uncomplicated notions, it becomes apparent that
as adults we often make situations and circumstances more complicat
ed than they need to be.
The wisdom of Dominic the two year old genius; Lesson Two.
At an early age Dominic was determined to be allergic to eggs and
peanuts. Because of this many of the delightful treats his brother and
sister are allowed to indulge in are off limits to him. As a substitute, he
was given lollipops to coddle his taste buds. At a stage in his life where
he was determined to do as much for himself as he could, Dominic
started the process of opening that which gives him immense pleasure.
As he struggled to remove the wrapper from the candy, his little
chubby fingers did not have the physical strength to get the paper from
around the bottom of the candy where the paper meets the stick. After
trying diligently to remove the plastic wrapping, taking licks in between
his attempts, Dominic brought the sticky mess to me and shoved the
lollipop in my face. His gesture clearly implied he desired for me to
complete what he had started.
I kissed his sticky cheeks and asked what it is he wanted. He
instructed me to “open.” In a voice that suggested he did not already
know, I said, “Dominic, you have already started opening it.” Very
curtly he replied, “And?”
“And?”
Insightfully I chuckled. What a powerful lesson in a one word
question. “And?” How many times do we make something so
monumental out of what should be minimal? Sometimes a task can be
handled in just a few minutes, a question can be answered with clarity
and preciseness without a great deal of dialogue and discussion, a
problem can be solved with minimal effect on large numbers of people.
Yet, our simulation to making more of things than they actually are
detracts from our ability to be peaceful, respect time and accomplish
our goals.
Think back to the last time you allowed an annoyance to infiltrate
your spirit. Was the driver ahead of you not making the light really that
detrimental? Is the little lady in front of you driving 10 miles under the
speed limit honestly that damaging? Is your child knocking over their
drink at the dinner table truly so ruinous?
When you find yourself about to engage in potentially volatile
exchanges either with yourself (in your own mind) or with another,
pause long enough to determine if it is even worth the energy it takes to
become irritated and upset. If not, simply answer the question, perform
the task, eradicate the situation or wait a few minutes longer.
If you can get past the wrapper, what lies beneath will be so much
sweeter and enjoyable. Don’t allow yourself to get caught up in the
routine of questioning and challenging when it is not merited. When
you are unsure if you are jeopardizing your peace by perpetuating this
useless behavior, do like Dominic. When situations arise, raise your
eyebrows, shrug your shoulders and tilt your head to the side and ask
- “And?”
Mercedes L Miller is a speaker, writer and consultant Her life changing
Meditation CDs are now available. Contact her at PO Box 25451, Winston-
Salem, NC 27114 or visit www.mercedes-empowers.com
Older blacks and American Indians tend to use home remedies
more often than older whites, researchers at Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical Center have found.
But, the researchers said, the difference in the use of such
products is cultural and has little to do with access to health care,
economic hardship or health status.
For the study, researchers looked into the use of two kinds of
home remedies: food-based remedies, including teas, plant
extracts and baking soda; and nonfood remedies, such as over-
the-counter creams and ointments, including petroleum products
and aloe.
The 698 participants in the study all lived in Harnett and
Robeson counties, both of which have large concentrations of
minorities. About 43 percent of the white participants reported
using food remedies, while 59 percent of the blacks and 60
percent of the American Indians used them, the researchers said.
About 45 percent of the whites reported using non-food
remedies while 65 percent of the blacks and about 68 percent of
American Indian said they used such products.
“Home-remedy use is wide-spread among elder adults regard
less of ethnicity, suggesting that older adults find some benefit in
these practices and they play an important role in elders’ overall
strategy for health management,” said Joseph G. Grzywacz, an
author of the study and an assistant professor of family and
community medicine at the medical center.
Goodwill Baptist
Church Inc.
Rev. P.A. Samuels,
Pastor
Prophetess Gloria
Samuels, First Lady
548 Goodwill Road • Arcadia Community • North Davidson
County • Clemmons, NC
website: www.goodwillbaptistchurch.org
Sunday Morning Worship: 1Q:45am
• Sunday School 9:45am
Wednesday Bible Study: 9:45am and 7:00pm
We invite you to our
“Writer's Wortehop"
on Thursday, February 2,9,16, and 23 from 7-8 p.m.
The Writer's Workshop will focus on helping students in grades 4 and 7 with the North Carolina
Writing Test which will be given in early March. The workshop will also benefit students in
grades 3 and 6 as they prepare for next school year.
Leadership Workshop;
Workshop Facilitator: Pastor Philemon Samuel
When: February 4,2006
Time:9: 00a.m.toll: 00a.m.
Pastoral Honorarium Celehration
Pastoral 16th Hororarium for Pastor Philemon A. Samuel
Wednesday Feb. 8, @ 7: 00 p.m. Family Night
Friday, Feb, 10, @ 7:00 p.m • Sunday, Feb, 12, @ 5:00
Speaker for Pastor Philemon Samuel Honorarium on Sun. Feb. 12, @ 5:00 will be Pastor Greg
Hargrave of Gospel Tabernacle United Holy Church in Burlington NC.
”k Ministry That Is Running with Vision and Ministering with Excellence"