watercress words by Dr Aletha

Please read this new updated post at this link

A Shining Spirit- Kayla Mueller

Today I am reposting a piece I wrote in February this year about Kayla Mueller, a humanitarian aid worker who was murdered while working in the Middle East. New information has come to light about her treatment while in captivity that makes her story even more tragic than it already was. And even while she was being subjected to such horrors, she was concerned about the teen-aged girls with her and “was like a mother figure to them.” If any of us are ever in such a horrible situation, we should be so blessed as to have someone else care about us . Again, my sympathies to her family.

(the post from 2/11/2015)

I cannot think of anything else worth saying today other than to express my sadness for and sympathy to the family of Kayla Mueller. On the evening news last night I heard Kayla’s aunt describe her as “noble beyond her years.” I had never heard of Kayla until a few days ago, but her story touches my heart. I have a son about the same age; and like her,his work and passions have taken him all over the world. I cannot imagine getting an email like the one her parents received confirming her death. At only 26 years old, Kayla had already traveled to India, Israel, Palestine and Syria on humanitarian endeavors and in Arizona worked at a women’s shelter and with AIDS patients, according to the news reports. And in a letter she wrote to her family from captivity, she expressed regret that she was causing them pain. I hope the memory of this beautiful young woman brings some comfort to their grieving hearts.

updated July 17, 2024

Blogging

When I started this blog in 2015, I knew little about blogging. I thought you just sit down at a computer and start writing. So I did.

Once I realized how much was involved, I did what I do when I need to know something. I searched for information and learned. And I am still learning.

Blogging is much like practicing medicine-there is always something new and different to learn. It is an enjoyable challenge and I have tried to improve this blog with each post I write.

The most important thing I have learned is a blog needs two things- a writer and a reader. Today I want to thank you, my readers, for making this possible.

Whether you have been with me from day 1, or this is your first time reading, I appreciate your interest and hope you come away blog informed and inspired .

Stethoscope on the keyboard of a laptop — affiliate link from LIGHTSTOCK, stock photo site

Waltzing

As a thank you “gift”, I am sharing my favorite flashmob video. It is a “flashwaltz” which happened, where else? in a hospital (after all, this is a health blog).

Music students played The Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky at the Hadassah Hospital.

This is a Viennese waltz, with a meter of 6/8 timing rather than the 3/4 timing of a slow waltz; being so fast, it is more difficult and fewer people dance it.

Besides blogging, I ballroom dance, doing foxtrot, rumba, chacha, and waltz well. But I had not learned the Viennese Waltz. and didn’t think I could do it.

But my dance instructor prompted me to try, and with his patient instruction, I learned to dance Viennese waltz and love it.Just like I learned to blog.

There is something almost magical about twirling around the floor to beautiful classical music and now it’s one of my favorite dances.

The Waltz of the Flowers by the Boston Pops is available at Amazon (this blog earns a small commission if you purchase from this link)

It wasn’t a waltz but I danced with my son at his wedding

Exploring the HEART of Health

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