October 2006

Volume 2, Issue 8

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Welcome to all our new subscribers, and I extend my appreciation to everyone who forwards this newsletter to friends. One friend telling another is how we grow, and I deeply appreciate your support. If you know anyone who might enjoy reading this newletter, please forward it to them.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Greetings from the Editor
2. Article--Effective Problem Solving Leads to Solutions
3. Article--What are the Two Types of Hybrid Cars?
4. Article-- Change Your Thinking. Change Your Life.
5. Article--Lower Cholesterol Naturally With Diet and Exercise
6. Zen Center of Denver's Prison Dharma Program
7. Articles & Web Sites Worth A Look - - Take a few minutes and check these out - there are some real gems.
8. Subscribe

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Dear Compassionate Friends,

Saturday, October 7, 2006, was a beautiful summer-like day in Denver. Though the leaves are changing color and many are littered upon the ground, it was warm and sunny all day long. What a difference a day makes. I awoke on Sunday morning to a damp coolness in the air that lingered throughout the morning during the running of the Race for the Cure and the rest of day. Later in the afternoon, upon hearing music coming from the alley, I looked out the window in my home office. To my utter surprise and delight, I saw that the neighbor’s rose bed was full of colorful blooms; another sight of summer that won’t last much longer. This morning is wet and a threat of snow for Denver today was reported last night.

As for the Race for the Cure, it was magnificent; with 65,395 participants. The course was well attended by onlookers and musical acts for the entertainment and encouragement of all. I found myself running stronger as the music came to me and tended to slow down or walk between musical numbers. All in all it was a successful day for everyone. Denver retained the title of largest Race for the Cure in the country and we raised $939, 807.14. I am sure the grand total will be closer to the goal of one-million dollars since more money will be coming in from supporters who haven’t yet sent in their pledge.

I want to thank all of you who supported my efforts for the Race for the Cure. I made both of my personal goals: to raise a minimum of $500 and run/walk the 5k in less than 45 minutes; I did it in just over 38 minutes. It was my honor to run in celebration of Joyce Stimson, a breast cancer survivor and the mother of my friend Jenny.

I hope that you enjoy this issue of the newsletter and will share it with your friends and family.

The Two Compassionate Hands Newsletter, like the website, is dedicated to healing the planet one person at a time. This and future issues will contain articles on physical, environmental, spiritual health - and more. We look forward to bringing you relevant information that will aid you on your path to optimal health and peace. Please let us know what would be most helpful to you and your family.

In your health and the health of our planet,

Jann Griffiths, MS, CMT

September/October 2006 Two Compassionate Hands Massage Newsletter

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Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contibute the best that they have and all that they are. Hafsat Abiola

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Effective Problem Solving Leads to Solutions

by: David Idle

Problems are a part of life. They have accompanied us since birth, and will continue to do so until the twilight of our lives. But this is no reason to get upset. In fact, the thought that problems happen to absolutely everyone should come as a welcome relief.

Problems are not the result of being a bad or good person. They happen to good and bad people alike. Sometimes, even despite of our best judgments and careful planning, problems still meet us in the most unexpected circumstances.

Here are some tips to conquer your problems:

Trace the root of the problem.

The best way to start finding a solution to a problem is to try to figure out how the problem started in the first place. If you find yourself lost in the middle of the road, the chances are that you took a wrong turn somewhere along the way. This is why you need to go back, retrace your steps, and discover where you have gone wrong. This way you would be able to figure out which way you should go, which roads to avoid, and how to get there.

Don’t sweat the little things.

Little problems are best dealt with by giving them a shrug of the shoulder. Having a bad hair day or breaking a nail is not reason enough to break into fits of hysteria. Sure, it is annoying; but get over it! People will be surprised how a little change in their attitude can go a long way in solving their problems.

In fact, a lot of problems people are facing will dissolve if they only change their attitude. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of their lives, and being so cynical, they should instead try to make the best out of every situation. If you are not satisfied with the situation you are in, you should strive to make some positive changes in your life.

Confront your problems.

Not confronting problems can lead to bigger issues. Before problems can be solved, they must first be dealt with. For example, a person pretending not to be sick when he very well knows that he is suffering from an illness will not help him solve this problem. In fact, this will only make the situation much worse, if he refuses to seek out the medical attention that he needs.

The problem with choosing to ignore problems is that they can lead to bigger problems. Some who choose to escape their problems may turn to alcohol, drugs, or other self-destructive behaviors simply because they want to avoid the problems they are encountering. This, in turn, becomes a part of the problem. Instead of finding a solution, they find bigger problems.

Ask for help.

Strength comes in numbers. One of the best ways to quickly solve a problem is to ask for help. This is where friends and family come in. Not only will they be physically able to help you, they can also be a source of emotional help as well. Not only that, they would be able to throw in some ideas that just might be the key to finding the solution to your problem!

Having some problems does not mean that it is the end of the world. It just means that you are going to have to work hard at finding the solutions to your problems. By going through this process, not only will you solve your problems, but you can gain a lot of knowledge and wisdom along the way!

About the Author:

Discover How to Fully Enhance and Revolutionize Your Self Esteem, In Fact Your Entire Life, Using Effective Foolproof Steps for Attracting and sustaining Innovative Changes in Your Life. Just visit: http://www.improvementtower.com

What Are The Two Different Forms Of Hybrid Cars?

By Jackson Porter

Currently, there is a lot of interest in hybrid cars due to the gas prices of recent years. There are two forms of hybrid cars. The first is a parallel hybrid, where there is both a gas and electric supply attached to the transmission of the car and the car is able to use both sources when running. The second is a series hybrid, where the gas portion powers a generator and the generator supplies electricity for the motor to run. These both improve the efficiency of the car, which is why hybrids are favored today. The only drawback for some consumers is the size.

The reason for this is that smaller cars help maintain the efficiency of the car. With a big car the engine is heavier and so when speeding or traveling up an incline, more energy is needed. Further more, because of the size, the hybrid car has an engine that requires less energy to perform its tasks. Then there is the cylinder displacement, which in a large vehicle takes more power. And in terms of cylinders, the smaller hybrid car doesn’t need as many to perform.

The Honda Insight is one of the smallest hybrid cars on the market. It was designed to carry two people. There is hardly any space for cargo or luggage. This design improves the fuel efficiency considerably, but the lack of space is a drawback.

The Toyota Prius has more space than the Insight. It can fit more than four people and the hatchback trunk can carry more cargo or luggage. This design has won Toyota awards and honors but for a family car, today’s consumers are used to having much more room.

Then there is the Honda Civic Hybrid. This car is the same size as a regular Honda Civic. The compartment spaces are maximized as much as possible in this model. Again, for the consumer who is used to driving an SUV or a minivan, this may still be not enough.

And for those consumers, there are some SUV and minivan hybrids available, however they don’t perform well. The efficiency has been compromised by the size. The price tag of these cars is a couple of thousands of dollars more than the regular models so in the end it may not be worth it in terms of gas mileage. So if you are buying a hybrid, it is best to go for the smaller cars and if you are looking for something larger, a hybrid may not be worth it.

About the Author:

Jackson Porter is a staff writer at Automobile Enthusiast and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Environmental Central.

Change Your Thinking. Change Your Life

By Sherry Frewerd

Have you ever given up on a dream because you've listened to that 'little voice' in your head that tells you that you 'can't do it' or 'what's the point?' That inner voice is the critic inside of everyone that causes many bright futures to come to a screaming halt. Just like the mommy who freaks out when little Johnny runs with a stick, your inner 'mom' worries and frets over new challenges that arise, very often creating enough doubt to make you believe you can't do it, whatever it may be.

There are times when listening to your 'gut' comes in handy, but for the most part, what is perceived as a gut reaction is simply fear of failure or rejection before the event even takes place. How can you squelch your inner critic so that you can move on and build the business that you dream of?

According to Jennie England's article 'Make Friends With Your Inner Critic' from the direct sales resource 'Build It Big', there are steps you can take to transform your critic. First, listen to your inner voice and make a list of what you hear, elaborating on how you feel about each. Ms.England says that you should choose a response to what your critic tells you, and make a choice to ignore the negative. Remember to reaffirm your best qualities daily and you will 'reprogram' yourself to take your critic's suggestions as positive messages rather than constant negatives. (Build It Big. http://mydswa.org)

There is a concept that is finding a huge following with work at home moms or women who simply desire to create a positive life of abundance. Although this idea is in no way new, the Law of Attraction is changing the lives of people in amazing ways. Whether you're a religious person or not, the basics are simple, you attract what you think. This theory too is another direction to follow for achieving your dreams and not allowing negativity to lead your life.

Choosing to challenge your 'little voices' and change your negative thinking will have an impact on every aspect of your life, creating positive habits that even your worst inner critic can't bring down.

About the Author:

Sherry Frewerd publishes websites on various subjects from recipes to mineral makeup to toddler learning. Stop over to http://websitebuildingmom.com for some helpful tips and resources for building a successful home based business and website.

Lower Cholesterol Naturally With Diet and Exercise

By Jane Wyvern

Lower cholesterol levels are something everyone needs to be concerned with. For some people it is easier to do than for others. It may be necessary at least for a short time to take prescription medication to get your cholesterol under control. Unfortunately, cholesterol prescription medication can have some pretty serious side effects. That’s why everyone should know how to lower cholesterol naturally. It may help prevent the need for prescription drugs and may even be able to get you off them if you take them now. Of course when it comes to such serious matters as elevated LDL, you should follow the advice of your physician as to how to treat it.

It doesn’t really matter how healthy you appear or feel, if you have elevated LDL which stands for low density lipoprotein or ‘bad cholesterol’, then you are at increased risk for coronary artery disease. You should begin to find ways to lower cholesterol naturally before your levels get too high.

Unfortunately, all too often, a person is not even aware they have elevated LDL in the blood stream until it is too late. A possible first symptom would be angina which is chest pain caused by lack of oxygen going to the heart. Angina can also be linked with other conditions but should never be taken lightly. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to any type of chest pains. And if you experience angina in combination with other symptoms such as dizziness, fast heart rate, pain radiating in one or both arms, or a heavy pressure in the chest, seek medical attention immediately.

There are many things which can lead to elevated levels of LDL in your blood stream. Some things you can’t control such as heredity and gender. But other causative factors you can control such as weight, exercise, and smoking.

Middle aged people who are overweight are particularly prone to health problems and high cholesterol is just one of them. The risk can be greatly reduced by bringing the weight to a more normal level through diet and exercise. Diet and exercise are two of the most important and beneficial methods to lower cholesterol naturally.

It may be necessary to go on a specific low cholesterol diet if you want to lower cholesterol naturally. Oatmeal has gained a reputation as a good food to eat on a low cholesterol diet and rightly so. It is high in fiber and experts say the fiber absorbs excess cholesterol from the liver and then excretes it.

Garlic is another popular food used to lower cholesterol naturally. Studies have indicated that sufficient amounts of garlic on a daily basis can lessen the risk of heart disease.

The three most important things you can to lower cholesterol naturally include eating the proper diet, getting plenty of exercise on a daily basis, and living a healthy lifestyle.

About The Author: Jane Wyvern is an established freelance writer. You can find more of her writings at
http://www.kick-cholesterol.com and cholesterol-zone.com.

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"Great is the matter of birth and death,
Time passes quickly.
Wake-up! Wake-up!
Don't waste a minute."

-on the wall outside of the Zendo at the Zen Center of Denver

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"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

— Mahatma Gandhi

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Zen Center of Denver's Prison Dharma Program

Lupe Rodriguez has been a friend of mine since the summer of 1998 when we started corresponding via the Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF). I wrote and asked for a female prisoner who was interested in learning more about the Dharma. Lupe's letter was sent to me. Though he didn't state his gender in the initial letter to the BPF, it was assumed he was a woman because of his name and the sensitivity in which the letter was written. It was three months before the subject came up and by then we were friends and didn't matter. I now consider Lupe my brother and visit him twice a year.

Lupe has been a serious Zen practioner since 1999 when he became the student of my teacher, Danan Henry, Roshi. Lupe is currently on the path to be ordained as a Zen monk.

In 2005 Roshi and several sangha members started working with an attorney in Texas to secure Lupe's release at his parole hearing in 2006. Lupe's hearing was in June, 2006 and was granted parole; he will be released in February 2007. Once Lupe is released in Texas, we will begin the process of having his parole transferred to Denver, CO. We look forward to his arrival in Denver for many reasons, including his participation in the sangha and the Zen Center of Denver's Prison Dharma Program.

You can make a 100% tax-deductible donation to the Zen Center of Denver to assist in the growth and development of the Prison Dharma Program

Note cards designed by Lupe Rodriguez are available at the Zen Center of Denver's store for a minimum donation of $5. All proceeds go to support the Prison Dharma Program.

Internet orders are available now check or credit card.

Prison is a cruel and selfish place filled with people who have failed in life.... But prision can also be educational. If one learns how to do their time, instead of letting time do them, one can become strong---in a good way.... In the past, I had added nothing but confusion, judgement and a horrible act of violence to the world.

Now, I try to add compassion, kindness and understanding to it, along with selfless service." - Lupe Rodriguez

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Articles and Web Sites Worth a Look

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If you would like to submit an article, or place an advertisement in this newsletter, or if you have any questions or comments, send them to the Editor.

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Disclaimer

The information in this newsletter is not intended in any way to be a substitute for medical advice. Always see your doctor before you begin any exercise routine or make drastic changes in your diet.

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Go to Two Compassionate Hands Website

October 2006

Volume 2, Issue 8

Effective Problem Solving Leads to Solutions

Denver Race For the Cure 2006

What Are The Two Different Forms Of Hybrid Cars?

Change Your Thinking. Change Your Life

Lower Cholesterol Naturally With Diet and Exercise

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