November 24, 2023

Overview for this week.

1. This week, we start with a mini review of the history of the Cradle of Civilization, the Middle East. 

2. Dr. Fox is always there for us. This week I am sharing with you the most recent post from his blog.

3. Now that we are in the holiday season, I've included some tips on keeping potentially sensitive conversations with family and friends mellow.

4. There is much more to Hawaii than Honolulu and Waikiki beach. This week, we look at some small town destinations in the islands that you shouldn't miss.

5. The Young Concert Artists have announced the 2023 audition winners. I congratulate them all.

6. In Tennis, Novak Djokovic has named who he thinks will be the next great triumvirate of players to follow himself, Federer, and Nadal. 

7. In Reaching High we follow a Polish climber who suffered a broken L1 vertebra only to climb a new route up Nepal's Chobutse peak just months later. 

8. We look at the volcanoes that have shaped Arizona's landscape, some still active.

9. Nature is fragile, but it is also unstoppable. When people leave, nature quickly takes over.

10. I want to welcome Masiki, a baby white rhinoceros into this world. Masiki was born on November 7th here in Arizona.

11. In wellness, I have some tips on staying healthy and fit through the holiday season.

12. In this week's Pet's Corner we have a story of tragedy and survival that illustrates the bond between man and dog.

Now, to this week's Flock.

Cacahuate, amendments by Globe-trotter and Joelf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Last week we covered the history of the Golan Heights, where I have many friends who I pray for daily. Do not worry, they are safe. Still, it is my duty to keep them close. This week I have chosen to do a mini review of the history of the mazing Middle East. It is where much of what we call the civilized world started. The Middle East is the starting place for agriculture, writing, and organized civil society.

From: Wikipedia

The Middle East, also known as the Near East, is home to one of the Cradles of Civilization and has seen many of the world's oldest cultures and civilizations. The region's history started from the earliest human settlements and continues through several major pre- and post-Islamic Empires to today's nation-states of the Middle East.

Dr. Fox is always here for me. I talk to him weekly and rely on his wisdom and insight. He continues to be here for all of us and this week I am sharing the most recent post from Dr. Fox's blog. I recommend giving his site a visit, I'm sure you will find something for yourself.

How to Be Free of the Ruminative and Worried mind

Declare

Whatever I think is either wrong or incomplete

And be no longer informed by baseless assumptions

— Written By Hayward Fox

We are in the holiday season and as we gather with friends and family, conversation can drift into sensitive and often uncomfortable topics such as politics. The article linked to below has some great advice on ways to broach these conversations thoughtfully and respectfully, leaving friendships and family relationships intact.

From: The Ethics Centre, By: Dr. Tim Dean, April, 21, 2022

There’s a reason our parents told us to steer clear of discussing politics (along with sex and religion) in polite company. Because as soon as politics is raised, there’s a very real chance that the company will become significantly less polite.

One reason political disagreements can be so divisive is that, unlike other contentious topics, like whether pineapple belongs on pizza, politics taps into our deeply held moral values and emotions: taxation policy isn’t just about the budget’s bottom line, it’s fundamentally about fairness; climate policy isn’t just about decarbonisation, it’s about the harm that our society is inflicting on future generations.  

Disagreements don’t have to be corrosive to our relationships or wellbeing. In fact, genuine disagreements give us an opportunity to learn, grow and share our perspectives with others. But they take time and effort to set up.

The good news is that there are ways to have fruitful conversations about political differences if you approach them with care.

Here's a nice etiquette primer from The British School of Excellence.

From: The British School of Excellence

Etiquette doesn’t have to be complicated. Good etiquette is all about making people feel comfortable and helping you navigate any situation smoothly. At The British School of Excellence, we like to compare the rules of etiquette to the traffic lights of human interaction. They guide us through tricky encounters and stop us from crashing into one another (metaphorically speaking of course!).

Why Is Etiquette Important?

Etiquette is important because it establishes a set of social norms and expectations that help individuals interact with each other in a respectful, considerate, and appropriate manner.

Etiquette provides a framework for courteous and respectful behaviour, which can help prevent misunderstandings, conflicts, and social awkwardness. It also creates a sense of decorum and professionalism in social and professional settings.

Having good etiquette shows respect for others and their cultures, values, and beliefs. By being mindful of others’ feelings, beliefs, and expectations, we can create more positive and harmonious relationships.

From: World Atlas

Hawaii is glorified for its beautiful island environments and native cultural heritage. The island state has also been a mainstay for tourism industries, as it encapsulates vacation leisure and the feeling of being one with nature, though typically tourists stick to the big cities of Maui and Honolulu. However, Hawaii is home to many small towns and significant landmarks, which attract much attention from casual and thrill-driven adventurists. Here are seven unforgettable small towns worth visiting in Hawaii in lesser-known regions of the island!

photo: YCA and Flock alumus Randall Goosby

I would like to congratulate this year’s winners of the Young Concert Artists' Susan Wadsworth International Auditions. We featured 2018 YCA Alumnus, violinist Randall Goosby in our July 15, 2022, issue.

From: Young Concert Artists

Young Concert Artists (YCA) announced today the winners of the annual Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, who will join the YCA roster as the inaugural YCA Jacobs Fellows. Hailing from around the world, these young musicians were selected from more than 150 applicants, and were assessed for their artistic excellence, technical mastery, stage presence, and performance potential. Read the full announcement here.

2023 YCA Jacobs Fellows are:

Ziggy and Miles, guitar duo

James Baik, cello

Michael Yeung, percussion

Oliver Neubauer, violin

Benett Tsai, cello

From: Express, By: Sam Smith, November 2, 2023

Novak Djokovic has predicted which three young talents will replace him, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Novak Djokovic has predicted that Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune will become tennis’ next great triumvirate. Djokovic is a member of the Big Three alongside Rafael Nadal and the now-retired Roger Federer, and fans have wondered which trio will follow in their footsteps once the Serb and Nadal have stepped away from the court.

The World No 1 defeated Sinner to claim a record seventh ATP Finals triumph on Sunday. He had previously lost to the Italian in the group stage of the tournament but recovered to claim the trophy.

Alcaraz, Sinner and Rune have been listed by Djokovic as the three tennis aces to overtake the Big Three. But Djokovic has vowed to “hang around” in a quest for further silverware and hinted that he wants to add Olympic gold to his array of honours.

Bocelli thanks Federer: "It was an even greater honor to stand beside him"

From: Tennis World, By: Lorenzo Ciotti, November 23, 2023

Fans were moved by the tears shed by Roger Federer for the Andrea Bocelli's concert, at the Hallenstadion in Zurich. Towards the end of the show, the Italian tenor, alerted to his presence, invited the Swiss champion onto the stage and dedicated to him Nessun Dorma, the very famous aria from the opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini.

Roger Federer gets emotional on the stage with Andrea Bocelli

From: rafaelnadalfans.com, November 22, 2023

22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is the protagonist of the new edition of the children’s collection “Pequeño & Grande” by the Alba publishing house.

This is a tale that recounts his journey from his beginnings in his hometown to becoming the world number 1.

The story is accompanied by illustrations by Rocio Ledesma and text by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vergara.

Given the upcoming holiday season, Spanish parents have a perfect gift idea for their kids. Die-hard Rafa fans would also hope for an English translation to have it in their hands.

Polish climber Maciej Kimel came back from a broken back suffered in a climbing fall to successfully navigate a new route up Nepal's Chobutse this month. It's what athletes do, they train and recover.

From: ExplorersWeb, By: Angela Benavides, November 20, 2023

This fall, Wadim Jablonski and Maciej Kimel of Poland opened a new route up the northeast pillar of 6,686m Chobutse, in Nepal’s Rolwaling Valley. It was a remarkable achievement, especially considering that a year ago, Kimel had more pressing issues to deal with — such as walking again. He told us all about it in an interview with ExplorersWeb.

“I had a climbing accident in Poland’s Jura in May,” Kimel explained. “I fell on a trad route, ripping out all gear (three Friends and one nut) from the wall, and hit the ground.”

The climber broke his L1 vertebra. Doctors told him he would need to rest for at least five months and of course, forget about expeditions that year.

From: AZ Central, By: Raphael Romero Ruiz, November 22, 2023

The state of Arizona and its picturesque landscapes have been shaped by a geological history of volcano eruptions across the region.

Some of the oldest volcanic rocks in the state are 1.8 billion years old.

More than that, much of the state’s deposits of copper stem from events from millions of years ago. Copper has become synonymous with Arizona, as the production brings in and provides a total impact of approximately $6.5 billion annually to the local economy, according to the Arizona Mining Association. 

Beyond the mineral resources that volcanoes have deposited across the region, they have had a hand in where we plant our crops, where we go hiking, and where we live. 

Stack Rock Fort, Wales

From: CNN, By: Arya Jyothi, November 20, 2023

Wildlife is under unprecedented threat from human activity, but research suggests that given space and time, even animal and plant species on the brink of extinction can bounce back.

A 2022 report commissioned by the non profit Rewilding Europe found many European bird and mammal species were making a comeback, “highlighting the propensity for wildlife to rebound and recolonize when given the opportunity.”

Sometimes, that opportunity can be as simple as humans leaving a place to be reclaimed by nature. All over the world, from temple ruins overrun with tree roots to former war zones bustling with new ecosystems, there are striking examples of nature proving that once humans move out, wildlife has the opportunity to move in.

From: 12News, By: Haley Williams, November 23, 2023

A white rhinoceros has been born in Arizona for the first time in decades, officials with the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park said.

“This is the most significant birth we’ve had in the history of our zoo!” said Kristy Hayden, Wildlife World's president. “This baby opens up a whole new bloodline that will play a key role in rhino conservation for decades to come."

The female calf was born on Nov. 7 at the zoo, which is in Litchfield Park, and is in "excellent health," officials said. She has been named Siki, short for Masiki, meaning ears.

From: University of Nebraska Extension

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to fall out of our normal routines and set our wellness and self-care aside. But in all reality, it is even more important to focus on your mental health and wellness during this busy time of year. Read on for tips to help you focus on your wellness this holiday season.



Concentrate on these areas:

• Make Time for Movement
• Maintain a Healthy Eating Pattern
• Consider Building New Traditions
• Manage Your Stress Level

From: Harvard Health Publishing, By: Patrick J. Skerrett, August 28, 2019

It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday season. This combination of religious and national celebrations can help keep the cold winter away. But the feasts and parties that mark it can tax the arteries and strain the waistline. By eating just 200 extra calories a day — a piece of pecan pie and a tumbler of eggnog here, a couple latkes and some butter cookies there — you could pack on two to three pounds over this five- to six-week period. That doesn’t sound like much, except few people shed that extra weight in the following months and years.

You don’t need to deprive yourself, eat only boring foods, or take your treats with a side order of guilt. Instead, by practicing a bit of defensive eating and cooking, you can come through the holidays without making "go on a diet" one of your New Year’s resolutions.

Dana Holby/ Archuleta County sheriff

From: Outside, By: Fredrick Dreier, November 16, 2023

These days, Dana Holby’s life revolves around Finney.

Like all Jack Russell Terriers, Finney is endlessly curious and energetic: she burrows for insects in the yard, barks at every bird or bug that flits by, and chases squirrels—and boy are there a lot of squirrels near Holby’s home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Finney’s appetite is insatiable, and most nights she wakes Holby up four or five times for a bowl of kibble. And then there’s the relentless attention Finney receives when Holby takes her on walks around town. Friends, neighbors, and even strangers will stop to see her, pet her, and ask is this really Finney the wonder-dog?

“She’s become a local celebrity,” Holby says. “People will tell me how incredible the story is. And then they will stop and see me and say ‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’”

These reactions spring from an improbable tale of tragedy and survival. On August 19, Holby’s husband, Richard Moore, and Finney vanished while hiking on Blackhead Peak, 12,500-foot mountain located 35 miles east of town. Their disappearance prompted a massive search and rescue mission, and for 16 days more than 100 volunteers scoured the mountain, to no avail. The search generated plenty of buzz in Pagosa Springs, where Moore and Holby are members of the local San Juan Outdoor Club hiking group. Volunteers hung up photos of Rich and Finney around town, and hikers continued to ascend Blackhead Peak in hopes of finding them.

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our second year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

520-818-4433

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