Diamonds! Where you Least Expected Them!

I was reading about Mount Edgecomb in the Sitka Alaska area, and found that there had been a Diamond rush back in the days of the Gold Rush! As early as 1895, folks were finding Diamonds as they panned for gold in the Mt Edgecomb area. There was an article in the Tacoma WA newspaper about prospectors waiting for snows to melt on Mt. Edgecomb so they could scour the lava fields in hopes of finding more of the brilliant stones. This image Copyright 2002 by Michael A. Kyte.

Mt Edgecomb is an inactive volcano near Sitka AK, and has not erupted in over 10,000 years. It and its sister volcano, Crater Ridge, are part of a complex of several volcanic vents in that part of southeastern Alaska. There are few volcanoes in that part of Alaska due to the lack of direct subduction of the ocean crust.
Finding this out made me consider how many other "Diamonds" we might have in our lives. Even in out of the way places where you might least expect to find a "Diamond", there might be one waiting to be discovered.
Look around you today and see if you find any "Diamonds" waiting for the snow to melt around them so they can be discovered and converted into prosperity and fulfillment.
These diamonds may be an opportunity to help a family in need, or to start a new business, or to start a mentoring group for your local high school students, or to teach English as a 2nd Language or whatever else might be out there. That "Diamond" might have the power to lead you on a new adventure in these new times! So as we are waiting for the snows to melt, start planning to find those "Diamonds"! Challenge yourself to new growth and activities that are new for your personal health as well as the betterment of the neighborhood.
Enjoy the Journey! The adventure is only just begun.

Caddies and Learning, Keeping Your Brain Healthy

At the end of summer we start thinking about going back to school and embracing learning again. Well, as I grow older, I realize that learning never stops! I try to learn something new each day. Keeping my brain active and curious is important for a healthy life.
Today I read Donald Trump's blog and learned something new! Mr. Trump was writing about how the game of golf got Caddies! I have been around the game of golf for over 35 years and never thought about the origin of caddies. Turns out the origin was from a visit of a young Mary, who later became Queen of Scots, to France and Louis, King of France. Seems Louis knew that Mary loved the game of golf and he wanted to make her visit memorable. So he had a golf course built especially for her visit. Now that is a nice touch.

However, Louis was concerned about her safety while she was on the course. To allay his concerns, he assigned Cadets from a military school to accompany Mary for protection as she played. Mary liked the idea and carried it back to the home of Golf, Scotland and the Caddies became a integral part of the game. Cool!

So now that you have learned something new too, continue the practice each day to help keep your brain healthy. The AARP website has many options for a healthy brain. Some suggestions include good nutrition with Omega 3's ( and you know I am into good nutrition!), participating in social activities, exercise and more.

Brain health. It is what keeps us going!