Reflective Essay On Fasting

I believe the overall message of Henry David Thoreau´s “Solitude” is to differentiate solitude and loneliness which are totally different. It is more of a state of mind than something real. People around by other people would feel more loneliness than people who are physically alone. For Thoreau being in solitude is the best way to discover your mind and spirituality and is the best way to know yourself.

According to my three day diet analysis it seems like my eating habits are poor. Not necessarily that I am consuming too many bad foods but I am not getting the all around nutrients that I need on a daily basis. Sometimes not eating enough. Or ot finding time to eat at all is a big issue in this. Due to my job and the lack of time I have at home it is hard for me to get the nutrients I need on a daily basis. With the target that is shown of six oz. of grains two and a half cups of vegetables, two cups of fruits, two cups of dairy and five and a half oz. of protein foods I fell short in most of the areas that were targeted for me. My biggest two areas of consumption was refined grains and protein.

“The Virtues of Isolation”, written by Brent Crane, states that under the right circumstances being alone can provide significant psychological help. The article stated that scientists often associate isolation with negative outcomes due to it having adverse effects on the minds of children. However, when it is voluntarily pursued, it can be shown to have significant befits—some would even say its therapeutic. That temporarily isolating yourself gives you a chance to take a step back and take a good look at yourself. It alleviates the stress on our everyday lives and lets us relax. That the difference between solitude as therapy and solitude as misery depends on the quality of self-reflection that a person experiences, and the ability to reintegrate into social groups when their ready.

The most significant period of suffering I have gone through was when I lost my grandfather. I remember we had celebrated his 50th birthday never did imagine it would be the last. That horrible news impacts my life forever realizing that we don’t count for a tomorrow. His death was suddenly due to an embolism. His death caused me a lot of suffering because he was not sick and we had made a lot of plans. I did not know how to deal with his death because I was heartbroken. I wonder and questioned if maybe only God had given us a warning. I did not know how to manage my grief and mourned for him because I was angry with God. It took me time to understand that it was God’s will and that his soul had returned to God. I learned that his death of the body was not the end of his life (Rubin & Yasien-Esmael, 2004). I found comfort in the midst of suffering by finding acceptance in God. Also, I found praying for him and sharing my suffering with others helped me console my pain. I learn that “the lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” which help my relationship with God grow as my pain slowly vanished.

I find that after spending time in solitude, I am able to serve others better. The inner solidarity borne out of a heart of solitude lessens my frustrations and enables me to accept others where they are.

1. Define Mineral: Any naturally occurring inorganic solid that possesses an orderly crystalline structure and can be represented by a chemical formula.

Bonhoeffer makes a good point when he talks about the importance of being alone, and being immersed within community. He summarizes the idealistic situations in which people are interacted with certain groups- whether that be living in a small home within a larger family, and also finding time of quiet to regroup and provide clarity to freshen your ways. Although being in solitude can be beneficial, Bonhoeffer also reveals that it is not healthy to always be alone. In this chapter Bonhoeffer mentions three important purposes for which the Christian needs a definite time when he can be alone throughout the day: Prayer, Scripture meditation, and intercession. Together, these practices all have their place throughout the day of meditation.

My daily diet should contain a balance of proteins, carbohydrates (carbs), and lipids (collectively called macronutrients). According to Kirby (2011), micronutrients are substances such as vitamins, and minerals that are essential for healthy growth and developments. The body only requires small quantities of micronutrients and without them serious problems can arise. The role of each micronutrient makes proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids equally important in my diet. Proteins are important for repair and tissue growth, helps the body to make enzymes and hormones, as well as preserve lean muscle mass and is a source of energy. Carbohydrates are the body main source of energy and are easily broken down into glucose

“Hunger”, by Lan Samantha Chang, is a cautionary tale of an immigrant Chinese family in this complex story about unrelenting hunger, oppression, love and loss. Narrated by Min; the deeply unhappy and obedient wife of Tian, a gifted violinist, finds work as a music teacher in New York, but ultimately fails to land a permanent job at the school. Driven by personal failure and his unrelenting hunger for the violin Tian cruelly forces his two daughters, Anna and Ruth to play the violin, so they can follow in his footsteps. Tian’s inability to separate himself from his violin ends up destroying his family. Chang uses Tian’s obsessive hunger for the violin as a symbol of his identity, showing us that we must be careful

What happens if you eat too few carbohydrates? What happens if you eat too few lipids?

Growing up I have always given my dad a hard time for his weight until about four years ago when he pulled out his wedding tux and I tried it on and could not fit in it. I am currently six foot four inches and weight approximately one hundred and fifty pounds so you can share my amazement when I found out that I couldn’t fit into my two hundred and fifty pound father’s tux. My dad got married when he was twenty two and I just turned twenty two, so I believe that it is about time to start being more a wear of what I eat. Being that I am currently underweight, I haven’t had to discipline myself when it comes to eating too much. My

Through solitude, we have the opportunity to retreat and be alone with God. We are away from the hustle and bustle of our chaotic days. We are not concerned with work, school, or family, which allows us to rid ourselves of the noise pollution that effects “the sacred within.” During times of solitude we can readjust our focus and thoughts on love for ourselves and our love for God. We can center ourselves and as Narsinha Mehta writes, “They are pure in thought, word, and deed. Free from greed, anger, and fear, These are the real lovers of God.” (Easwaren, 1982. P. 148). This time in solitude allows us the ability to confess our faults and motivates us to seek God.

The journey through life is certainly not an easy one. As Madonna brilliantly sang, “Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone;” I believe we all must experience on our own. Although our family and loved ones may of tried to shelter some of us as children, facing our own obstacles was inevitable. I believe silence provides us with the tranquility we need to adhere to our beliefs; the world is filled with distractions, by eliminating the diversions in our lives, we are able to concentrate more on our spirituality. I feel people's surroundings play a big role on their perception of life, being around people is healthy, we are designed to socialize. Although, being one with nature allows us to divide ourselves from mingling with others, and appreciate the blessings God has offered us, such as the sense of sight and all of its wonders. I believe imagination and faith go hand in hand; Since God can not be physically viewed, we must imagine the Lord's presence. Through the combination of solitude, silence, imagination and nature, we are able to develop a sense of respect for our spirituality, and truly find the sacred within ourselves.

Fasting is a period of absentness from all food and drinks. Many people around the world have their own reasons on why they are fasting. Some of them fast because it’s a must according to their religions, while some of them fast because they want to have better health. Fasting can give a lot of benefits to individuals such as a great physical health, reduces stress, improves mental clarity and focus and also cure diabetes.

How does healthy eating affect your life? Many people really pay attention to the food they put in their bodies, until we get sick and need medical attention. I know that many of us love to eat fast food, but it catches up with us in the long run. While eating healthy would stop you from getting sick, and lower the cost of health care, healthy eating can enrich your body and prevent you from getting high doctor bills.