Appalachian Medical Massage Associates

By Munyaradzi Chinongoza

Positive thinking has a lot of power and can do quite a lot when you put your mind to it. A positive mind anticipates as well as looks towards happiness, joy, health and of course success. Not everybody believes in positive thinking. The thing about positive and negative thinking is that they can both be contagious.

People can sense each others body language and are affected by their thoughts and emotions. You must train your mind towards positive thinking so that you can be a positive thinker. Using positive words when speaking to others helps even something as simple as smiling is more beneficial then you may think.

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Written by Maimah Karmo

Almost every living human being has a vision or dream of what he/she desires in life. I am sure that many of you, when you think of a vision, you imagine an apparition, a burning bush, a spirit of some sort, something celestial, or you think of a vision as an idea in your head that is “just” a thought, a fleeting idea of what life would be like, only if. Only if life were different, only if you were older, younger, taller, shorter, skinnier, had longer hair, straighter hair, a bigger butt, smaller thighs, were prettier, married, single, free, could walk, had money, had a job, had a better job, had a much better job, were not oppressed, if only things were different, if only you had not gotten raped, if only he had not mistreated you, only if you weren’t in a wheelchair, if only you were not sick, if only “people” didn’t have an attitude, if only the lights would all just turn green! If only your parents believed you, if only someone would listen, if only you didn’t stutter, if only you could be like her, if only you had a voice.

I am here to tell you that you do. You have a voice.

She whispers gently to you, lovingly. She is the voice that never leaves you, your comforter, your Higher Self. Listen to your inner voice. Through it, you will realize your vision.

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Written by Renita Kalhorn

Here in New York, holiday decorations had made their appearance before we had even celebrated Thanksgiving. Apparently time is not passing by fast enough for the rabid retailers.

Accordingly, the pace picks up as our days fill with additional seasonal activities – parties, shopping, travel – crowding already jam-packed schedules. But rather than savoring the specialness of the season, we rush along in a frenzy of activity, stressed and anxious about getting everything done.

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Written by John Groth

We’ve all seen the TV documentary where the scurrying ants are carrying portions of leaves and other vegetation back to their nest. Many loads carried by the ants exceed the ant’s weight. An almost similar scene is repeated every day at schools all across the county, and kids weighted down with overloaded backpacks trudging back and forth to school. Many only have to trudge with the heavy backpack from home to the bus and from the bus into school but the strain on their backs are obvious and could be damaging.

So book reports, various projects and science exams aren’t the only pressures on your kids at school. Wearing and walking with heavy backpacks, especially when wearing them the wrong way can lead to back pain, muscle strain and overall poor posture. In a recent study, almost 60% of students reported chronic back pain related to them.

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Written by Kathlyn Terry, ASD

Appalachian Sustainable Development is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Abingdon, Virginia, serving ten counties in upper east Tennessee and far southwestern Virginia. ASD’s mission is to help build a healthy, locally rooted economy, which meets people’s needs and sustains the environment. ASD was formed in October 1995 by a diverse group of farmers, loggers, entrepreneurs, community activists, environmentalists, and economic development leaders. We continue to work closely with this broad range of folks, both through representation on our board and through numerous joint projects.

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(Thanks to all who made this fundraiser a great success! Together, we raised $1312.50 for Appalachian Sustainable Development. We appreciate the help of all who participated!)

ASD at work

During the month of December, we are partnering with Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) to offer gift certificates for holiday gift giving. Half of the sales proceeds will go to support ASD’s work in the community and may be claimed as an end of the year tax deduction for the happy giver. Additional contributions are also appreciated. For more information, call us at 423-288-2662 or send an email to amma@ammatn.com.

About Appalachian Sustainable Development:

Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is a not-for-profit organization working in the Appalachian region of Virginia and Tennessee.

Formed in 1995, ASD focuses on developing healthy, diverse and ecologically sound economic opportunities. ASD’s work encompasses two broad areas: building a strong local food system based on organic and sustainable farming and fostering forest conservation through value-added wood processing and “green building.” ASD links consumers with farmers and producers and provides hands-on opportunities for learning, advocacy and civic engagement. Find out more at www.asdevelop.org.

Hot off the presses!

The first edition of our semiannual newsletter, “To Your Health,” is downloadable below as an Adobe PDF file. Considered by many to be the global standard for electronic document sharing, the latest version of Adobe Reader is available for free download at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Read the new newsletter here: To Your Health” - Winter 2008