Variety!

Variety is the spice of life! I am sure that most of you have heard this idiom before. Did you know that it can lower blood pressure, enhance memory retention and add years to a person's life?
The word variety is a noun. It means, "the state of being diversified or varied."
We are the state of being. Each day we are in a state. A state of mind, body and spirit. Our lives need variety to remain healthy. For example, say that every morning for breakfast you have cream of wheat or oatmeal. At lunch its a ham sandwich and an apple. Dinner time rolls around and we have turkey with all the trimmings. Doesn't sound too bad right? But maintain that kind of diet for a month and see how you feel!

In order to have a healthy body, we need a varied diet. In the same way our mind must be challenged! The brain thrives on being challenged with new experiences. Your brain interprets new ideas as a form of exercise. This is why a person feels elation when they learn something new. This creates new neurological pathways in the brain. This "stimulation" causes the brain to secrete a chemical called endorphins.
Endorphins are a group of peptide (amino acid) hormones that bind opiate(stimulant) receptors which are found mainly in your brain. These hormones REDUCE the sensation of pain and affect your emotions. So much for the science lesson! When you learn something new, eat healthier, or pray it affects your entire brain!

Doing things differently such as taking a walk, driving a different way to work, reading a new book, or traveling to a new state or country gives your body, mind and spirit a fresh outlook on life! It gives HOPE. Now are you ready for some fantastic news? This slows down the aging process and inhibits disease! Great information for those who have a family history of health problems or have an illness.

This revelation is not new. The Bible describes it plainly in Proverbs. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when desire comes it is a tree of LIFE."
(KJV)13:12. "A MERRY heart makes a CHEERFUL countenance: but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken." (KJV) 15:13.
"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,sweet to the soul and HEALTH to the BONES." 16:24.

Start today by making a list of small but significant things you and your loved ones can do to add variety to your lives! Don't forget to celebrate each new discovery!