* The FDA recommends 2300 mg of sodium a day yet most Americans consume significantly more.... even up to 2 times the recommended amount!  For instance, a serving of a popular canned chicken noodle soup contains 890 mg and store bought Italian salad dressing 486 mg per serving.  It doesn't take long for excess sodium to build up! According to the Mayo Foundation over 75% of our consumed sodium comes from pre-processed foods.

* In recent years "adventure races" such as the Warrier Dash, Tough Mudder and others, have become more popular.  Remember when considering the type of event, that you want to be sure to properly train so as not to risk injury due to ill-preparation for the event.  Sometimes partnering with a friend or two can enhance the motivation and training prior to the event.  Just a reminder, we have the Purple Pumpers 31 this year for the MS 150!

*According to Thrivant, the average U.S. household throws out almost 25% of the vegetables and fruits which can accumulate to more than $500 of waste.  Means to minimize such waste include (a) buying what you need, (b) using proper storage, and (c) making an effort to eat what you purchase. Our church has in recent years started the Matthew 25 food giveaway- every Tuesday and Friday in the church and once a month outside the church. Part of this food giveaway is recaptured food from many grocers. Over the last 5 years we've given away over 5 million dollars of food.  If you know anyone in need, touch base with me for details. We too are always looking for volunteers!

*Many people use prayer as part of their personal faith and as a means to find balance, unity and connection with God.  According to Pastor Peter Brown, using a journal is often a way to enhance prayer life and devotions.  Journals can help us keep track of prayers, petitions, and praises.  Journaling may also be used for many purposes including personal reflections, tracking of exercise and eating, or to maintain a diary of significant happenings in our life.  I personally have written poetry and have kept hard copy and online journals for over 30 years. I too have studied the role of writing in the development of the self as well as the healing properties of writing for persons with mental illness. The first part of my research is published in the Journal of Poetry Therapy (Haertl, 2014) and the final phase of the research was republished in 2019 in Arts and Health (Haertl & Ero-Phillips, 2019). If you would like to see my articles let me know! ...  Happy journaling!

*Remember for those in mental health need, 988 is the crisis line!
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Have a blessed Summer! 

May we each consider how to make a positive difference!
Blessings!
Kristi