Gracie Rios Morales

Kindness and Friendship

gracierios — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:28:35 +0000

Good Morning Loves!

Here’s a thought to start this wonderful Tuesday morning.

“Right from the moment of our birth, we are under the care and kindness of our parents and then later on in our life when we are oppressed by sickness and become old, we are again dependent on the kindness of others. Since at the beginning and end of our lives we are so dependent on the kindness of others, how can it be that in the middle we neglect kindness toward others?” – Dalai Lama

Today, go out of your way to be kind to someone. Make their day!

Albert Einstein and Marriage

gracierios — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:08:02 +0000

Here is what Albert Einstein said about his wife on their 50th wedding anniversary.

“When we first got married, we made a pact. It was this: In our life together, it was decided I would make all of the big decisions and my wife would make all of the little decisions. For fifty years, we have held true to that agreement. I believe that is the reason for the success in our marriage. However, the strange thing is that in fifty years, there hasn’t been one big decision.”

Don’t Run!

gracierios — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:17:10 +0000

Some of the most painful experiences in our lives have provided us with the most profound and important lessons. So don’t run and hide from pain. Know that something magnificent awaits you on the other side of it.

Just a thought…

gracierios — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:07:55 +0000

Feeling sorry for yourself? Have at it. Bask in you misery for a solid fifteen minutes. But then get it together and cut the shit! Life is too short. Deal with what’s ailing you and put it behind you.

Love and light!

Wonders

gracierios — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:35:06 +0000

So it’s the evening after Christmas day. I hope all of you enjoyed the holidays! Here are some thoughts before going to bed.

Wonders

Man looks for wonders; if he only saw how very wonderful is the heart of man!

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There is no source of happiness other than the heart of man.

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He who makes room in his heart for others, will himself find accommodation everywhere.

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There is no greater phenomenon than love itself.

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Love develops into harmony, and of harmony is born beauty.

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In beauty is the secret of divinity.

The words of widsom by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Keep A Child Alive

gracierios — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:57:53 +0000

Keep a Child Alive (KCA) is dedicated to providing life-saving AIDS treatment, care and support services to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by directly engaging the global public in the fight against AIDS. KCA currently funds 10 orphan care and clinical sites in India, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa.

There is a profound difference between living and life. Living may extend time for another day. But life is far more than sleeping and waking. Life is more than merely existing. And, although it would be easier, life cannot be bought in a pill.That is why Keep A Child Alive buys more than just the pills needed to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. It buys the essential nutrition, shelter, support and education to help ensure those pills are taken properly and effectively. It buys the things we all take for granted, but that make all the difference. A bed. A roof. A ride. A book. A smile. KCA offers children, their families and entire communities a shoulder to lean on and a heart that beats for them. Because KCA believes we can do something far bigger and better than buy the ability to live. We can buy the dignity that is life. We can buy compassion. Buy love. Buy the cure. Buy life. Because the more you buy, the more you save. KEEP A CHILD ALIVE.

What is ART?

Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has transformed the lives of people with AIDS in the West, returning them from sickness to health. But only 42% of the 9.5 million people who so desperately need treatment have access to it. When children are infected, 50% die before the age of 2 and 80% die before the age of 5.

Keep a Child Alive provides first-class AIDS care through doctors, nutrition, testing, transportation and treatment for opportunistic infections, which are all necessary for anti-retroviral treatment to be successful. KCA also provides the care and support to keep orphaned and abandoned children safe.

15.2 million children have lost their parents to AIDS. These children will face enormous risks in their struggle to stay alive. They will often be forced into sexual exploitation or enrolled as child soldiers. Keep a Child Alive supports the children’s extended family and caregivers, and builds and sustains orphanages to keep the most vulnerable children out of harm’s way

For more information visit – www.keepachildalive.org

* Information on this post was taken from the official website.

So what can you do to help?

SocialVibe helps individuals make a positive and measurable impact for the charity of their choice just by completing branded activities. In just over a year, SocialVibe has helped many non-profits raise over $700,000! So, if you wanna help Keep a Child Alive click on the SocialVibe/Keep a Child Alive link to the right of my blog and complete a few branded activities. Free and easy!

War Child International

gracierios — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:27:29 +0000

DID YOU KNOW THAT:

A child is particularly vulnerable to the ravages of war. According to a United Nations study on children in war “The physical, sexual and emotional violence to which they [children] are exposed shatters their world. War undermines the very foundations of children’s lives, destroying their homes, splintering their communities and breaking down their trust in adults.”

23 at 23

gracierios — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 05:08:08 +0000

As I grow older, the list of things I want to do in my life keeps increasing. I figured that if I focused on just a few then maybe I could actually be able to cross some items off the list. My goal will be to focus on 23 things this year.

1. Grow my own tomatoes

2. ~~Visit a new beach.~~ – Visited North Padre Island on 1/1/11

3. Tackle mindful eating, meditation and yoga – I am really working on this! I am happy to report that I don’t crave bad foods soo much. Update: 2/23/2011

4. Drink 3 cups of green tea a day – I am at 1 cup a day. Update: 2/26/2011

5. Exercise 5 times a week

6. Be a better friend, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, cousin, granddaughter, girlfriend, stranger

7. Lose 12 pounds

8. Get above a 165 on the LSAT – I’ve decided I don’t really wanna be a lawyer. Of course this can change again. I am looking into grad school.

9. Finish my senior year at Georgetown with a bang! – Returning to DC for Summer school!

10. Read more books for fun – Currently reading The Art of Loving by Eric Fromm/ Update 2/26/2011

11. Learn to cook 1 new thing every month – I have kept up with this one! Update 2/26/2011

12. Practice Russian so I don’t forget what I’ve learned

13. Put more energy in becoming fluent in Portuguese. A language I find more beautiful than roses!

14. Take a weekend trip to a small city in the Texas hill country

15. Take a dance class

16. Volunteer somewhere

17. Become an active member of The Georgetown University Student Investment Fund

18. Teach Nicolas a new trick. Nicolas is my beautiful cat. My pride and joy. I LOVE him soo freaking much.

19. Learn to forgive myself for my mistakes. Also, learn to let go of things I can’t change. I hope I can let go of the past. I want to live the rest of my life with great joy.

20. Learn to live in the moment. Not in the future or in the past. I want to be a more balanced individual.

21. Do well and learn as much as possible during my Spring internship. Get a summer internship in Capitol Hill (Yes, I loved it that much. I want to go back!)

22. Learn more about Buddhism

23. Learn more about wines

So there they are. 23 things I want to do while I am 23. I just want to learn to live in this world and enjoy its delights!

Ipligence.com – Interesting Website

gracierios — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:02:26 +0000

So I found this website that allows you to track what part of the globe your blog readers are from. I am trying it out. Jeje

9 Foods for Better Health

gracierios — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 03:02:15 +0000

Most of us know that good nutrition has HUGE health benefits. Unfortunately, many of us are to busy with our daily lives to worry about how today’s nutrition choices will affect our lives in 10, 20 or 30 years. The good news is that YOU can choose to turn your health situation around if you pick the right foods. Below are NINE foods that might help you a longer and more fulfilling life.

1. Berries – Excellent source of antioxidants! Important for the prevention of cancer and to maintain a healthy weight. The serving size if one-half cup of fresh berries.

2. Leafy Greens - Spinach, kale, chinese cabbage, mustard greens are all GREAT sources of vitamins and minerals. Many of them are also good sources of iron.

3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Best bets are salmon, albacore tune, herring and trout. If you are not a big fan of fish, fish oil capsules will help you meet your omega 3 needs.

4. Whole Grains – Excellent sources of fiber! Help with digestion and help maintain a steady level of blood sugar. Try eating whole-wheat bagels for breakfast or whole-wheat pasta for dinner.

5. Nuts - Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts are all good choices. They are a great source of proteins and monounsaturated fats. Just be careful because they are a very calorie-dense food.

6. Beans - They are a nutrient powerhouse! Great source of both protein and fiber. Word of caution – if you are new to the whole bean experience, add them gradually to minimize gas.

7. Yellow and Orange Veggies – Great sources of vitamin A! Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, red, bell peppers to name a few.

8. Tomatoes - Is it a fruit or a veggie? The answer is really not that important, but what is important is how rich in lycopene this little red thing is! Tomatoes are also rich in vitamins A and C.

9. Low-Fat Dairy – Calcium is extremely important! Girls, we don’t want to end up with osteoporosis in our later years, do we? So soak up that milk! I have recently discovered that drinking a really warm cup of milk right before bed time helps me fall asleep MUCH easier. Try it. Also, if you have never tried soy milk. Now is the time! Silk Vanilla Soy Milk is just the best! I drink it alone or sometimes even put it in my morning coffee. Yea, it’s that great.

Tomorrow is Monday. A perfect day to start eating the 9 foods listed above. Have a great week! A big muak!