Category: Manny Kagan

Fridays with Manny

  

Nature and Us

In the story of creation in the Torah, in the first five days God was busy with manifesting the natural world. On the fifth day, “God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, and every creeping being of the ground to its kind. And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 12:25). And then as if referring to his creation, “…and God said, “Let us make Man (Adam) in Our image after Our likeness.” (Genesis 12:26). 

Since we do not physically look like animals (unless you are a dog owner), we have nonetheless adopted certain qualities from animals; which I observed during our recent trip to Maui, where I encountered two toads, who clung to each other, like we do, and a large snail who was attached to its possessions, as humans act, and a Gold dust gecko, whose coloration both helped it to be recognized and to blend in the surroundings. 

However, what animals cannot do is to laugh. Unless of course in the joke, which you can find in my photo book “42 Encounters with Laughter”. 

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Fridays With Manny

  

Where to Find Love

Sunday, February 14th, thanks to the marketing efforts of the Hallmark company, is the official date when we are reminded that there are people in our lives to whom we say “I love you” or “Be my Valentine”. But what happens during the rest of the 364 days of the year? This depends on your ability to love and how to express it. 

My wife Elfa taught me a valuable lesson, which I gladly will share with you. Years ago, our daughter was dating a man whom I considered to be a wrong guy for her. This made me upset, and I was complaining to Elfa. Her response was a question, “Is your feeling coming from your brain or from your heart?” When I comprehended what she was asking, I connected my thoughts about our daughter with my heart. The upset was gone, since I only could feel love.

To express their feelings, people often buy red roses, I give you mine to share my love. “Where there is love, there is laughter, and where there is laughter, there is love”. “42 Encounters with Laughter” might help you to laugh and love. If you get your copy, please send me an e-mail at mannykagan@comcast.net.

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Fridays with Manny

  

The Mood

I woke up later than usual on Thursday morning. It seemed that my body needed the extra rest. It was still dark outside. Usually, I do my stretches first thing in the morning, but that day I was not in the mood, and didn’t want to force myself. 

While I was following my morning routine of browsing through a photography book, the light started to fill the sky. I looked through the window. Everything was grey, corresponding to my mood. And then, when I went back to the bedroom, I noticed that the sun was bursting through the grey clouds above our neighbors’ roof. I instantly knew that it was going to be another beautiful day, and my mood immediately improved. After I took a shower, the bedroom was lit with the rays of the sun, illuminating the photograph from our wedding day, taken over 53 years ago. 

I felt happy, grateful and blessed and in the mood to go to work to help other people improve their mood. If you are not in the mood, just read a few jokes in my new photo story book “42 Encounters with Laughter”. Your mood will change, I guarantee it.

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When Positive Can Be Negative

  

When Positive Can Be Negative

A son comes from school and tells his father, “I have negative feelings about passing my test.” “Son, you have to be positive.” “OK, Dad. I am positive that my test results are negative.” Since this is a joke, this is the punchline, and you are supposed to laugh. However, a negative result of the Covid-19 test is the positive outcome. 

72 hours before arriving in Hawaii, we had to take the test and get a negative result. And then, after having a good time for a week on Maui, we took another one 5 days after our return. And I was positive that it was going to be negative. During the first days of being there, I felt my tiredness leave my body, like air from a balloon. And of course, getting vitamin D from the sun helped. And not only for me, but the beautiful hibiscus flowers, as well. 

The yellow hibiscus is the official flower of Hawaii. It is beautiful and has many color variations. I am positive that you are going to have a positive reaction seeing three of my picks.

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Where to get Vitamin D?

  

Where to get Vitamin D?

If your answer is anywhere where vitamins are sold, you are partially correct. Vitamin D is nicknamed the sunshine vitamin because our body produces it after sun exposure. I found a website with this article online: 17 Benefits of Vitamin D.

For me, the most important thing I get from it is that it helps to build my immune system. To get sunshine and to celebrate my birthday, we went to Maui. Life here, in my opinion, is a sample of how to keep living during the pandemic.

We had to get a Covid test prior to coming here, keep our masks on when people are within 6 feet away, and spend as much time outside as possible. And of course, we enjoyed good food in restaurants (when not covering your face). Whenever we looked around, there were parents and grandparents with their children, who for their development definitely need portion of the Vitamin D.

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