TIP: Be a Thought Leader by pioneering your New ideas. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are Thought Leaders

Harvard Business Review, "How to Become a Thought Leader in Six Steps," marketing consultant Dorie Clark emphasized that in a globalized economy employees and executives alike need to build their reputation as a "singular expert" who not just participates in the workplace conversation but drives it. She recommends that people follow these six steps to launch their thought leadership:

1. Create a robust online presence.
2. Flaunt high-quality affiliations.
3. Give public speeches.
4. Appear on TV.
5. Win some awards.
6. Publish a book.

TIP: Hard Power Leadership invest in Organizational Capacity and Political Skill to manage the structures and reward system

Research has shown that a calculated loss of temper can be useful at times as it shakes people out of complacency and provides an adrenaline rush. Two other skills are closely related to hard power—organizational capacity and political skill.

• Organizational capacity refers to the ability to manage the structures and reward systems of the organization to shape and to implement a strategy. For example, aligning hiring, firing, and compensation with the organizational strategy is critical to achieving the strategy. Especially important is effectively managing the flow of information relating to both the inputs and outputs of decisions taken to achieve the strategy
• Political skill is crucial and complex. Politics can take a variety of forms. Intimidation, manipulation, and negotiation are related to hard power, but politics also includes inspiration, brokerage of new beneficial arrangements, and developing networks of trust typical of soft power. Politics can involve success in achieving goals not just for oneself and a narrow group of followers, but also building political capital for bargaining with wider circles of followers. 

 http://www.business-leadership-qualities.com/hardandsoftleadership.html

WELLNESS TIP: Soft Power Leadership invest on Emotions to create Emotional Inspiration and Charismatic Attraction

Vision, Emotional Intelligence and Communication are the skills needed to develop. Learn how:

• Vision is the ability to articulate an inspiring picture of the future. A vision has to be attractive to various circles of followers and stakeholders, and also sustainable within the organization. One can judge the quality of a vision in terms of whether it creates a sensible balance between realism and risk, and whether it balances objectives and values with capabilities.
• Emotional intelligence is the self-mastery, discipline, and empathic capacity that allows leader to channel their personal passions and attract others. Emotional intelligence must be authentic to be lasting. Because humans focus their attention on the leader, leaders must successfully manage personal impressions through emotional discipline. The success of financial results may depend on the leader exuding the most effective emotion—optimism, tenacity, determination. Mirror neurons in the human brain cause people to imitate the mood of the leader, therefore success may dictate that the leader create the proper emotion because that emotion will cascade throughout the organization.
• The leader has to have the capacity to communicate effectively both by words, symbols, and personal example. If a leader lacks strong public speaking skill, then at least the inner circles of followers needs to be attracted and inspired. Leaders who lack great rhetorical skills can also communicate effectively by example, symbols, actions and organization. A good story is a great source of soft power
• Read the Source:  http://www.business-leadership-qualities.com/hardandsoftleadership.html

WELLNESS TIP: If you are emotionally sensitive, strive to be Mentally Strong to balance everything

Monitor your emotions. Practice Realistic Optimism. Solve own problems. Practice self-compassion. Set healthy boundaries. Manage time wisely. Strive to fulfill your purpose. Seek to grow stronger everyday. Monitor your progress.

Doing whatever it takes to improve can help you reach your greatest potential. It starts with acknowledging your weaknesses and having a "no excuses" approach.

 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/9-things-mentally-strong-people-143500092.html

TIP: Distance yourself from people who drives you into madness to maintain your patience

TIP: As part of getting ready, plan ahead. That way, you’re not over-stimulated with details when it’s time to leave

I find that if I can start packing a day or two ahead, I’m much calmer. I feel confident that I’ve covered all the bases. I make a checklist of important items, including a travel kit. I also arrange to leave extra time in my work schedule before I depart and when I return.

Create a Travel Kit

When traveling, plan to pack a few extra items to make yourself extra comfortable. I suggest you develop a kit filled with essential travel gear to have ready to grab at anytime for those unexpected trips that can arise. Here are my tried and true goodies for plane travel:

• Eye shade
• Ear plugs
• Travel pillows and/or neck support
• Big bottle of water
• Protein snacks like nuts, seeds, or cheese, along with fruits and veggies
• CD player with comforting music

Additionally, I ask for a blanket once I'm onboard the plane because I am sensitive to the varying temperatures. I also dress in layers and bring a scarf.

Consider Creature Comforts

Be sure to give yourself permission to bring along what you need to feel deeply contented once you arrive.

I do work to balance this with weight considerations; heavy suitcases are a form of stress I choose to live without. The key here is to experiment with what best supports you and then allow yourself the gift of bringing it along.

Along with my plane kit, I bring Epsom salts for baths or foot soaks. Also, I bring essential oils such as lavender, which I use in my baths or directly on my feet (a trick I learned from a fellow coach for a great night's sleep).

One of my clients allows herself a pair of lightweight sweat pants; she needs them to unwind in a hotel room at the end of the day. She also permits herself to ship home travel purchases so that she can feel comfortable filling up her suitcase with "Linda things." For long term stays she goes the extra mile and cleans her hotel room thoroughly and gives herself permission to buy items that will support her stay, like a humidifier for dry hotel air.

Sleep Well

For many Sensitive Souls, one of the greatest travel challenges is getting adequate rest. Many aspects of traveling can make sleep difficult, such as unusual textures, noise and light, and the vibrations in large hotels, not to mention the excitement of being in a new place and wanting to see it all. Here are a few thoughts:
 

• Get a good night's sleep before you leave.
  As mentioned, I pack ahead of time so I'm not running around at the last minute fretting over details that get my mind racing and prevent sleep. I also go to bed early if I have an early departure.
   
• Consider staying at a bed & breakfast or small hotel.
  The ambient building vibration is significantly less or non-existent, and the comforts of a more home-like environment are immeasurable. Staying with a friend or family member offers similar benefits but may have other drawbacks!
   
• Bring your own bedding.
  It may sound over the top, but I find that when I bring my own quilt, I can get a great night's sleep in a new place.
   
• Take naps and plan a realistic schedule.
  When I overbook, it's hard for me to sleep. When I plan to rest midday, I sleep better later and I am able to fully appreciate my travels. I also strive to be realistic in what activities I undertake.
   

Eat and Drink Well

Plan to eat well and drink plenty of water. While traveling, I make sure to have water and protein snacks available for excursions. I try to drink plenty of water, especially if I’m consuming alcohol, caffeine, or sweet beverages. I find that those keep me awake and water helps to balance their effects. Also: The more water I drink, the better I feel.

Give Yourself a Chance to Fully Come Home

When you come home, give yourself a chance to settle in. Unpacking and putting away your travel items is a way of re-grounding and settling back into your home. I find that the amount of time I need is directly proportional to the length of time I've been away. For example: After my last 5-day trip, I needed about one day to unwind and fully arrive home. I gave myself permission to spend my first morning back just tidying the house, going through mail, and watering plants, which I find centering. It allowed me to re-enter my routine with a fresh outlook and clear heart. 

 http://healing.about.com/od/empathic/a/HSPtraveltips.htm

TIP: Higly Sensitive People: Here are Flower Remedies to Manage Your Emphatic Tendencies

Incorporating the use of specific flower essences can help ease feelings of overwhelm or anxiousness associated with empathic natures.

Empaths or hypersensitive persons are intune with vibrational frequencies. They are vulnerable to taking on emotional "gunk" belonging to others which can cause them to feel anxious, fatigued, overwhelmed, or hurt.

Below is a collection of flower remedies intended to help sensitive people release emotionally-charged energies and also shield themselves from picking up foreign energies in the future. Some of these essences can also help the empath work more effectively with their empathic gift.

Manage Your Empathic Tendencies

Empath Essences

• Olive - Revitalizer. Olive is a good remedy for anyone who is feeling the effects of fatigue or struggle. Olive can help the soothe the sensitive person who takes on more than his share of suffering.
• Yarrow - Energy Shield. Yarrow is a stablizing remedy. It can help to shield anyone who is extra sensitive or vulnerable from energies that could deplete their personal space.
• Beech - Beech remedy can serve as an energetic buffer, protecting sensitives from emotional attacks. Helpful essence remedy for anyone who feels socially vulnerable.

• Mountain Pennyroyal - Moutain Pennyroyal remedy is a protective agent that gives clarity of mind and blocks negative energies. It can also assist the empath cleanse and purge energies that have already been picked up. Expels negativity and psychic attachments.
• Pink Yarrow - Pink Yarrow remedy helps anyone needing to create emotional boundaries. It allows a person to remain compassionate to the needs of others without taking on their burdens.
• Dandelion - Dandelion remedy serves as a laundering service for washing away painful emotions. It allows emotional sludge to move through the body and get tossed away much like how dirt gets removed from clothing when it is laundered.
• Borage - Borage is a heart healer. Sensitive persons are often heavily burdened with the emotional hurts of many. This make borage the "go-to" remedy to ease the strain on the heart chakra. Borage lifts any burdens, offering energetic "lightness" and "healing."
• Heather - Heather is normally prescribed for the self-absorbed personality helping him to learn how to step outside of the self and become more feeling of others. For this reason, the suggestion of heather for the empath may seem to be at odds. However, heather can also help an empath sort out his own emotions from adopted emotions that are not his. It helps a person recognize emotional energies in the body that do not belong.
• Fawn Lily - Fawn Lily essence helps reintroduce the "reclusive" personality back into the world. This remedy is an excellent aid for the empath who has kept himself locked away from others as a protective mechanism, but who wants to begin to mingle with people on his own terms in a controlled environment.
• Mallow - Mallow remedy helps break down self-protective walls an empath has built around himself. The problem with a solidly built energetic shield is that it not only blocks hurtful emotions, but it will block good emotions too, such as love and compassion. Mallow can help the isolated empath release fear and open up his heart so that he can begin feeling again.
• Yellow Star Tulip - Yellow Star Tulip is an excellent remedy for the empath who wants to use his empathic talents in the role of a healer. This remedy will help to enhance the empaths natural ability. This can be of great assistance to the healer in helping identify the needs of his clients. Refines inner truth and knowledge.
• Manzanita - Manzanita is a remedy for the individual who has over identified with his spiritual nature, choosing to ignore his human side. Empaths sometimes have difficulty embracing their physical bodies because of the emotional-body connection. The spiritual body has a natural detachment from the emotional body. However, earth incarnation requires having a body, and ignoring the body is not healthy. Manzanita essence helps to integrate spiritual and physical, helping the sensitive soul to view the world in a more balanced way.

Balance is a gift that flower essences offer. They assist us in creating gentle energy shifts, easing any imbalances back into check.

More Flower Essence Formulas

Reference: Flower Essence Repertory, Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz

"Traits of an Empath

Empaths are often quiet and can take a while to handle a compliment for they're more inclined to point out another's positive attributes. They are highly expressive in all areas of emotional connection, and talk openly, and, at times, quite frankly in respect to themselves. They may have few problems talking about their feelings.

However, they can be the exact opposite: reclusive and apparently unresponsive at the best of times. They may even appear ignorant. Some are very good at blocking out others and that's not always a bad thing, at least for the learning empath struggling with a barrage of emotions from others, as well as their own feelings.

Empaths have a tendency to openly feel what is outside of them more so than what is inside of them. This can cause empaths to ignore their own needs. In general an empath is non-violent, non-aggressive and leans more towards being the peacemaker. Any area filled with disharmony creates an uncomfortable feeling in an empath. If they find themselves in the middle of a confrontation, they will endeavor to settle the situation as quickly as possible, if not avoid it all together. If any harsh words are expressed in defending themselves, they will likely resent their lack of self-control, and have a preference to peacefully resolve the problem quickly.

Empaths are sensitive to TV, videos, movies, news and broadcasts. Violence or emotional dramas depicting shocking scenes of physical or emotional pain inflicted on adults, children or animals can bring an empath easily to tears. At times, they may feel physically ill or choke back the tears. Some empaths will struggle to comprehend any such cruelty, and will have grave difficulty in expressing themselves in the face of another's ignorance, closed-mindedness and obvious lack of compassion. They simply cannot justify the suffering they feel and see.

People of all walks of life and animals are attracted to the warmth and genuine compassion of empaths. Regardless of whether others are aware of one being empathic, people are drawn to them as a metal object is to a magnet! They are like beacons of light.

Even complete strangers find it easy to talk to empaths about the most personal things, and before they know it, they have poured out their hearts and souls without intending to do so consciously. It is as though on a sub-conscious level that person knows instinctively that empaths would listen with compassionate understanding.

Here are the listeners of life. Empaths are often problem solvers, thinkers, and studiers of many things. As far as empaths are concerned, where a problem is, so too is the answer. They often will search until they find one--if only for peace of mind."

Written by Christel Broederlow Copyright (c) 2002 Christel Broederlow Shortened Version from The Empath Report 101

About this contributor: Christel Broederlow is a natural born empath and author of numerous articles about empathy through personal experience and continual research. Her Web site, The Empath Report, previously hosted at Geocities is no longer active.

TIP: Comfortable Gardening: Regrow Veggies with water & sunshine and its ready to eat! Read how

Here are four vegetables that only need one week of water and sunshine to regrow to a point where you can use them. You should change the water when it gets cloudy, but otherwise, this method requires barely any effort. Just chop, regrow, repeat:

Romaine lettuce

Reserve about 3 inches of the butt of the lettuce. Place, bottom down, in a a cozy mug or bowl that will allow the lettuce to lean without falling over, will hold enough water to cover the bottom half of the lettuce, and will allow sunlight to reach the lettuce. Fill with water until the bottom half of the lettuce is submerged. Put the container in a sunny window. You should see growth by the next day, and you may even have enough to cook with in one week. What’s more, bok choy and celery can be regrown in a similar fashion.

Scallions
Chop off the green part of the scallion, using it however you’d like, but leave about an inch of the white bottom intact. Put the stubs in a narrow drinking glass or shot glass so the scallions can lean without falling over. Make sure the container you choose is clear, allowing sunlight to hit the scallion roots. Fill the glass with a bit of water, and place the container in a sunny spot. You should see some exciting growth after a couple of days. One blogger said she bought a bunch of four scallions and has been regrowing and reusing them for two years. Leeks will regrow just as easily as scallions when treated the same way.

Fennel
Fennel has such a strong taste that you don’t need more than a few snips of fronds from the bulb to add to salads, dressings, and stocks. Therefore, keeping a bulb on-hand in your kitchen windowsill works perfectly. Place the bulb in a mug or bowl that can hold enough water to cover the bottom half of the bulb while still allowing light to hit it. Fill with an inch or so of water. After one week in a sunny spot, green shoots will sprout from the top.

Carrot Greens
You can reserve the tops of carrots and regrow greens from them. Just chop off the tops of the carrots, leaving about a half-inch to an inch of the top. Place in a shallow container, add water, and put in a sunny spot. After a week, you should see some strong carrot greens. And really, all members of the turnip family (beets, turnips, parsnips) can regrow their greens this way, not just carrots.

Photos by James Ransom. 

Read full article at:

Use, Regrow, Repeat: 4 Vegetables that Regrow in One Week

Food 52July 24, 2015

By Jaime Brockway

https://www.yahoo.com/makers/use-regrow-repeat-4-vegetables-that-regrow-in-121606322280.html

TIP: Be Mentally Strong: Take Control.Be Flexible. Learn from Your Mistakes. Create Specific Goals, then Conquer them

A Harvard study found that students who set goals tend to earn twice as much as those who had no goals. So, write down that goal, then reap the benefits.Look for Acceptance from yourself, not others. Most of us want other people to like us, but strength comes from within. Ironically, many people don’t like you until you stop caring whether or not others like you. According toInc, that kind of strength is admirable, and your relationships become happier once you adopt that mindset.Keep your stress in check. Find out what helps you lower your stress level. Perhaps it’s tea, maybe it’s exercising, maybe it’s just setting aside alone time. But a study from New York University found that stress makes it harder for people to control their emotions.

Let the little things roll off your back. Stop sweating the small stuff. According to Inc, your mental strength is a finite supply. So, don’t wear yourself down. Although you should accept that you have control over your life, don’t turn into a control freak.

Read the Source: https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/7-things-people-with-emotional-toughness-do-122280480828.html

7 Things People with Emotional Toughness Do Differently

YourTango

July 25, 2015

Photo Credit: iStock

By Nicole Weaver

Not all of us are naturally strong. Some have anxiety or are insecure, which easily puts cracks in your armor. So, how do you toughen up to gain the utmost confidence? Here are seven ways to mentally toughen you up!

PARADIGM SHIFT: Old Person’ Brands Getting Millennial Makeovers

• What’s particularly tricky about the attempts of old-fashioned brands to remain relevant and in-demand today is that millennials are notoriously difficult to reach with traditional marketing

   

  KFC

  

  KFC KFC's Colonel Sanders

  You’ve probably noticed that Colonel Sanders has made a comeback. While the return of KFC’s white-haired founder-mascot may not seem to have anything to do with millennials, the goofball humor of the new Colonel, now played by SNL veteran Darrell Hammond, certainly seems aimed at a new generation of consumers who may largely ignore KFC’s “finger lickin’ good” food. What’s more, the revamped Colonel is part of KFC’s larger hipster makeover that includes a screwball online video game in which players make Colonel Sanders punch people in the face and bounce babies off of trampolines.
  


Pizza Hut



courtesy Pizza Hut Pizza Hut Hot Dog Bites pizza

If any group is intrigued with tasting fast food monstrosities like Pizza Hut’s new hot dog pizza, it’s millennials. They’ve come of age as full-fledged foodies who welcome spice and quickly tire of the same-old, same-old. In addition to wacky creations like the hot dog pizza, Pizza Hut has been shooting for a youth surge with a radical new menu featuring a wide spectrum of crust, sauce, and “drizzle” dipping options, as well as gimmicks like this funky pizza box that turns into a film projector.

 READ MORE FROM THE SOURCE:
http://time.com/money/3945074/millennial-makeovers-consumer-brands/

Stop Bullying at School. Know the Signs that Your Child is being Bullied. Read below:

1.  He’s having difficulties at home, in school, and beyond. When a child is struggling with his emotions, he tends to behave badly across the board  — say, by talking back to his teacher at school, hitting his siblings, and not listening to his coach.

2.  She’s suddenly isolating herself from friends. Friendships change over time and some kids enjoy larger peer groups than others, but if she’s avoiding friends it’s a red flag. Be on the lookout for statements such as, “Everyone hates me” or “I’m a loser” or “I have no friends.”

3.  He’s regressing. Here’s the thing: Kids tend to regress when there’s a major change in their lives, such as the birth of a new sibling, a move, or a divorce between their parents. But, things like bedwetting, clingy behavior, whining, excessive fearfulness, and tantrums that aren’t related to a change (or these behaviors are happening for more than a month after a big change) signal a problem.

4.  She’s incredibly sad and worried. All kids have worries at times and all kids cry. That’s part of childhood. But, worrying isn’t normal if it’s interfering with her ability to go to school or take care of herself.

5.  His sleep habits and/or appetite has changed. Worrisome symptoms include trouble falling or staying asleep, nightmares, eating too much or too little, and excessive headaches and stomachaches.

6.  She’s developed self-destructive behaviors. This can be a difficult one, because sometimes kids do bang their heads against things without intent to harm themselves. Repeated self-destructive behavior, however, is an issue–like, if she’s digging her nails into skin to try to cause pain, or cutting or hitting herself.

7.  He talks about death, or thinks about it repeatedly. It’s normal if he talks about dying and how he might die as he explores the concept of death, but repeated talk about death and dying is a red flag.  Watch out for statements about suicide (in kid language, of course) or killing others. Any talk about suicide or killing another person requires the help of an expert…immediately.

Read more from the source:  https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/7-signs-your-child-needs-to-see-a-therapist-118499742280.html

TIP: Staying Comitted to Your Workout Rewires Your Mind to be Conscientious. It Helps You Discipline Your Mind to Finish a Task

The 'good habits' that you become skilled at and reinforce consistently through yoga, strength training, pilates, cardiovascular work... creates a mindset. This mindset becomes the way that you approach everything in life. The mindset of "The Athlete's Way" is transferable to any task or challenge that you need to accomplish on and off the court. One of the biggest drawbacks of being bored and careless is that your quality standard plummets. Once you become jaded, you no longer attack problems and challenges with enthusiasm and inquisitiveness. It's easy to get sucked into the ho-hum mindset of mediocrity. Having a blase 'been-there-done-that" attitude or cynical 'is-that-all-there-is?' response is the quickest way to find yourself trapped, discontent and at the back of the pack. Exercise is a way to turn this around--but it's easy to become bored and sloppy within your workouts, too. Remember to continually mix-it-up inside your workouts and to try different things at the gym. If you exercise outdoors, remember to stay adventurous and exploring new places and pursuing unfamiliar activities. Read more from the source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201112/curiosity-and-conscientiousness-more-important-intelligence

TIP: So as not to encourage abusive behavior, stop reinforcing self-destructive behavior and high emotional reactivity to friends and families

Our behavior is shaped by watching others in our formative years. Between the ages of 2 and 3, the predominant mode of responding to our social environment makes a switch. Before then, it comes from from watching our family, whose attention is essential to our survival, and following their model. This is the time when our mental models of how to behave - referred to by some therapists as schemas - are formed. After age 3, our social behavior depends mostly on previously laid down neural brain tracts based on our past experiences. We respond as if on autopilot and usually do not even realize that consciously. These neural pathways develop sheathes of a chemical called myelin, which greatly increases the speed of nerve impulse conduction. These automatic behavior tendencies can be over-ruled by the thinking part of the brain - the cerebral cortex - but are nonetheless very powerful.The behavior of primary attachment figures like parents are the most potent triggers for automatic behavior throughout our entire lifetimes. Read more on the source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/matter-personality/201503/empathy-child-abuser

TIP: Own up to Your Mistake and Apologize for it! Be a Person of Integrity. Be Responsible

For this to work, there are two characteristics that Apology should always have: First, be good-natured about your error. After all, you are only human. Be able to laugh at yourself. Say, "Gee, I sure did get frustrated with you that time." Second and most important, apologize only for what you actually said or did, but not for the feelings that led to it. Examples: "I am sorry for sounding so critical, but I just had the feeling that you were dismissing everything I said out of hand." "I'm sorry I called you a bitch. That was really out of line - but you sure were pissing me off." This sort of statement frames the former explosive interchange as a mutual problem that the two of you need to work on solving in a constructive manner. And after all, solving interpersonal problems is what effective metacommunication is all about. Read more from the Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/matter-personality/201410/responding-borderline-provocations-last-part

WELLNESS TIP: Apple Cider Vinegar Can Help Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes

Consistent ingestion of apple cider vinegar has been tied to moderate weight loss as well. “Some studies suggest the acetic acid in it can boost satiety between meals so you may eat less,” says Brian St. Pierre, R.D., a fitness and nutrition coach with Precision Nutrition. How To Try It: Stir a couple teaspoons into a glass of water and sip before meals. Some advocates favor the pungent tonic first thing in the morning, but pairing it with your starchy meals may be your best bet. “Research shows apple cider vinegar can help prevent blood sugar spikes because it interferes with starch and carbohydrate absorption,” SOURCE: https://www.yahoo.com/health/why-fitness-pros-are-obsessed-with-apple-cider-117776976733.html

WELLNESS TIP: Eat or Drink Your Fruits and Be the Fruit! Have a Fruitful Workweek ahead!

WELLNESS TIP: Cooked Mushrooms have higher amounts of niacin, potassium and zinc

TRY THIS RECIPE: Cooker Mushroom Barley Risotto Ingredients 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced 1 ½ cups pearl barley 4 sprigs fresh thyme 8 ounces carrots, finely chopped 3 cups lower-sodium vegetable broth 1 ounce Parmesan, grated (2/3 cup) 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Directions Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in the barley and thyme and cook, stirring, until the barley is just golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a 6-quart slow cooker and add the carrots, broth, 1 ½ cups water and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on high until the liquid is absorbed and the carrots and barley are tender, about 3 hours. Discard the thyme and stir in the Parmesan, vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Thin out the risotto with warm water for desired consistency as needed. Top with parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper.

WELLNESS TIP: Cooking Asparagus increased numerous beneficial plant chemicals, including quercetin, lutein and zeaxanthin

Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory antioxidant that may also help protect heart function and prevent certain types of cancer. The antioxidant lutein helps keep eyes, skin and heart healthy, and may also help protect against breast cancer. Zeaxanthin, also an antioxidant, may help with age-related macular degeneration, which causes loss of vision as we get older.

WELLNESS TIP: Heating Tomatoes at 190.4 degrees for 30 minutes boosted levels of absorbable lycopene by 35 percent

A landmark study published in 2002 in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry first showed that a powerful antioxidant called lycopene is released from tomatoes when they’re cooked. The study found that heating tomatoes at 190.4 degrees for 30 minutes boosted levels of absorbable lycopene by 35 percent. Lycopene has been shown to help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and macular degeneration, a degenerative eye disease. In addition, a study published in The British Journal of Nutrition found that folks following a long-term raw-food diet had low levels of lycopene .

WELLNESS TIP: Reduce dependency on beef by going Meatless on Mondays bec raising cattle requires enormous amounts of resources

To produce one steak, 28 times more land, 11 times more irrigation water, five times more greenhouse-gas emissions and six times more fertilizer are needed compared with the resources needed to raise other protein sources like pork and poultry, Live Science reported in 2014. Growing nutritious plants — such as potatoes, wheat and rice — requires fewer resources than raising animals does, according to the study, published in July 2014 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Eating foods such as fruits, vegetables and grains can help the environment, reduce the risk of heart disease and colorectal cancer, and keep money in your bank account, according to the NRDC.http://news.yahoo.com/happy-earth-day-5-ways-kids-help-planet-155320927.html

WELLNESS TIP: Students can encourage school administrators to approve Lunchtime Composting Program to lessen trash

Green schools Kids can take a proactive step by creating or joining a "green team" at their school. Once they have a parent or teacher adviser, the kids can take steps to create or promote the school's recycling program. If your city or county offers composting services, students can encourage school administrators to approve a lunchtime composting program. That way, food waste won't end up in a landfill but instead will be turned into a reusable pile of organic-matter compost. http://news.yahoo.com/happy-earth-day-5-ways-kids-help-planet-155320927.html