Was it Designed?

BONE - A Marvel of Strenght!

Bone has been described as "an engineering masterpiece of tensile, compressive and elastic strength.

Consider: The human skeleton consists of approximately 206 bones and 68 joints. The longest bone is the femur, of thighbone; the smallest is the stapes, a bone inside your ear. As skilled gymnasts clearly demonstrate, bones, muscles, cartilage, and joints can give a healthy body an astonishing degree of flexibility and range of movement. "The thumb alone would convince anyone that the architect of  our body (whoever that may be to each one of us) had to be genius!" says the National Space Biomedical Research Institute.

Bones can also take an incredible pounding. "[They] are constructed in exactly the same way that reinforced concrete is constructed," states the institute. "The steel of reinforced concrete provides the tensile strength, while the cement, sand, and rock provide the compressional strength. However, the compressional strength of bones is greater than that of even the best reinforced concrete." "We only wish we could mimic it," said Robert O. Richie, a professor of materials science at the University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A.

Unlike concrete, bone is an essential part of countless living organisms. And it is dynamic. It is able to repair itself, respond to hormones that affect its growth and development, and even play a key role in the manufacture of blood cells. Also, like muscle, it slowly grows stronger, as the load on it increases. Hence, athletes have heavier bones than do so-called couch potatoes.

What do you think? Is bone a product of chance? Or was it designed?

Secrets of Family Success

Secret 1- The Right Priorities

Having the right priorities requires that each spouse puts the other's needs ahead of self, possessions, job, friends, and even other relatives. Both are willing to make sacrifices for the interests of the family. Spending more time with each other and with the children.

Yet overtime, a person's priorities may change. Many seemed more focused on career than on family? Yes it is easier to say that we put family first than to show it.

Rate your sense of priority:
1. When my spouse or child needs to talk, do I give that person my attention as soon as possible?
2. When talking to my boss or others about my activities, do I consider first, the things I do with my family?
3. Would I turn down added responsibility ( on the job or elsewhere) if my family needed time?

If you answered YES to the above questions, you might assume that you have the right priorities. But how would your spouse and children rate you? How we see ourselves is not the only yardstick by which our priorities are measured.

Lastly take note,

A winning parent, places high priority on spouse and children. Why not share your resolves with your family? When one member shows willingness to change, the others are more likely to follow.


 

Change Your Life

The Benefits of getting to know Our Parents Better!

Have you been in this situation or something similar?

Nathan and his parents are having dinner with friends. Then one colleague professed to Nathan's mom, "You'll never believe it! I saw Sean- the boy you dated in high school!."
Nathan drops his fork on the table. He's never anticipate that his friend Sean and his Mom has relationship before!
"Wow, Mom, you dated someone else before Dad? I had no idea!"

If you've been in similar situation, perhaps that made you wonder what else you didn't know about them!

What benefits could come from learning more about your parents? And how can you do so?

Consider FOUR benefits you'll likely gain:

1. Your parents will probably appreciate your interest.
- No doubt they'll be pleased that you care enough to ask about their life. And who knows,
they may even respond with greater empathy for you and your feelings!
2. You'll gain insight into your parent's point view.
- For example, did your mom had failed actions in the past? This might explain why she
is very watchful on you.
3. You may become more comfortable talking about your own life.
- Did your Dad told about the first time he fell in love and how great a feeling that was. And
even told you about the day he broke up with his girlfriend and how bad he felt? That will
surely encouraged you to tell him more about your situation.
4. You might learn something!
- Your parents' life experiences can help you deal with your own frustrations and challenges.
There must be some important lessons there.

Take the Initiative

If you like to get to know your parents better, how can you do so?

Ask you parents questions such as the following:

About Marriage:
Dad ( or Mam) How did you meet? What first attract you to each other?

About Childhood:
Where were you born? How well did you get along with your siblings? Were your parents strict or lenient with you?

About Education:
What was you favorite subject? What was you worst? Did you have a favorite teacher? What made that teacher so special?

About their Interest:
If you could visit any place in the world where would it be? What hobby or skill would you like to develop?

About Values:
What do you think are the mos important factors in a good friendships? in a happy life? a successful marriage? What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Things to Remember:

1. Choose the right setting - aim for casual conversations.
2. Ask questions - your parents just might tell you such things if you ask!
3. Be flexible- often the answer to one question will lead to some other stories or topics.
4. Be discerning- before you ask your dad about the sort of embarrassing mistakes your
dad made when he was at your age, you might say, "Dad, do you mind if I ask
about....
5. Be tactful- whatever you do, don't ridicule or insult your parents for what they've just shared.

Happiness- everybody wants it. But you will undoubtedly agree that desiring happiness and even pursuing it are not the same as experiencing it.

So whether you live at home or have moved away, it's never too late to get to know your parents!