Hugging is the most beautiful form of communication

Hugging is one of the most amazing things that we could ever give another person. Hugging is essentially a form of therapy in itself.

When we receive hugs, it gives us a sense of comfort, care, love, understanding, and many other indescribable feelings. Having that said, wouldn't you agree that giving each other a hug every single day would be a good idea?

There is more to hugging than the surface appearance of it all. There is an actual science that happens within us when we are receiving a hug or giving one to someone else.

The physiological changes we experience deep within as we are being hugged could be described as one of the ultimate forms of being human and alive.

1. Balances the Nervous System

Just by giving someone a hug, you have already begun to balance their nervous system. 

Tiny egg-shaped pressure sensors referred to as Pacnician corpuscles found within the skin are linked to the brain through our Vagus nerve.

Essentially what this means is that they sense the feeling of being touched.

What happens when moisture and electricity hover over the skin during a hug can show a balanced state of your nervous system parasympathetic, something that is achieved by psycho-physiological coherence that is created when you are passionately hugging someone!

2. Reduces Stress Levels

Hugging someone can ease a majority of their stress immediately and effectively. Too often we underestimate the power of hugging. 

What happens is that when being hugged, the level of cortisol that is circulating throughout our body is reduced tremendously.

This means that our minds are able to calm down and think without stress. The next time you are with your significant other, give them the biggest hug you can summon!

3. Better Overall Mood

When you hug someone, you begin to increase the production of serotonin in your brain which is the essential chemical you need for a positive attitude/mood. This also boosts your self-esteem. 

Something to keep in mind when thinking about depression or those who are lonely, is that they are experiencing really low levels of serotonin.

When you hug someone, the brain begins to release more serotonin and endorphin into your blood vessels, creating pleasure and expelling sorrow.

4. Relaxes Your Body

Hugging can actually cause your muscles to relax in the best ways possible. When receiving a hug, our muscles begin to release tension all over the body. Seriously, why aren't we hugging each other more often? 

5. Heart Health Improves/Decreased Heart Rate

Hugging has the amazing ability to decrease our heart rate. 

A study brought to light by the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, suggested that the volunteers who had little to no contact at all with their partners had developed a much faster heart rate of 10 beats per minute, compared to the standard 5 beats per minute of those who were hugged by their partner all the time.

Essentially, the lower your heart rate is the less trouble you will have for cardiac illnesses.

In short, we need to be hugging each other every single day for our mental and physical health. More importantly, our happiness.

Do you want to stress less, sleep better, and feel abundantly happier... without drugs or anything crazy? 

God, Give me Strength to Fight Through it All

Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’ve been running in circles to no avail. Nothing seems normal anymore and my energy levels are running on fumes. Every night when I go to bed, I cry myself to sleep. I wonder when will the suffering finally come to an end. For each battle I win, there’s another fight around the corner. Sometimes, it seems there’s nothing else left to do but give up.

When I speak to my friends or family, they say “Have faith in God – he’ll show you the way”. God seems to have a lot of faith in me instead, testing me every day. But, I’m tired of fighting. I’m not sure how much more I can take. I understand that you have a plan for all of us, yet I sometimes wonder if I can go on. I’m not asking you to make it easy for me. Pain makes us stronger – I truly know that. I’m just asking you to give me strength so I can go on and finish my battles. The harder they are, the sweeter the victory.

The things happening around me have made me lose my course. I’m helpless and in crisis. I need a helping hand, God. Please hear my prayer and give me the strength I need. I need your help especially on the days when I can’t go on. I know you will hear me out. I know you’re not going to leave me alone. Things are hard right now, but I have faith in you. I come to you for strength and nothing else. Give me the strength to endure the hard trials and the energy to go on.

Give me strength, God, so I can live to see another day. That’s all I’m asking.

XOXO 

Considerations for securing your home

Considerations for Securing Your Home

Home Security topics are important to address because burglaries happen on a regular basis due to neglect from homeowners and renters. To prevent break-ins, people have to become familiar with ways on protecting their homes and be aware of the tips on how to deal and report a crime to the police if they get in such a situation.

We will cover different tips on preventing property crime. By controlling access, providing visibility, & maintaining your property, you are not only protecting your belongings and home, but also yourself and your family.

Unfortunately, burglaries are not the only things that pose danger to a home. Properties are also subject to fires. More often than not, they are caused by cooking or plain neglect and lack of responsibility. 

Taking active measures to keep your home safe from fires is important, as is having emergency contact(s) available in the event something unfortunate occurs.

This guide is designed to provide you with knowledge and tips on how you can enhance the security of your home and property. Please comment your thoughts in the comments section at the end of this post. We would love to hear from you!

First lets start understanding the mind of a Burglar....

Let's a take a look at how these thieves minds work...

Time, sound, and visibility are the three main factors that need to be considered when trying to prevent theft from a home. Some questions you might want to ask yourself include:

• Are my doors locked (and double locked if posssible) at the main entrance? 
• Are my other doors locked from access?
• Are my windows shut all the way?
• Is my property well-lit at night?
• Can I see any of my valuables from outside on the street?
• Are there areas in my neighborhood that could offer cover or leverage for a criminal to break in easily?
• Does my routine at home make it easy for a thief to know when is the best time to try and enter?

What are some things I can do by myself to prevent burglaries?

Thieves are always looking out for themselves, so it is crucial to do the same and be ruthless in protecting your own home, self, and family from any dangerous or unwanted situation. By staying aware and actively playing on the safe side, you will shoo off the bad guys. Here are some measures you can take to prevent burglaries.

Get a dog.

Dogs will often bark when they sense unfamiliar people coming to your doorstep, warding off potential criminals.

Be smart about who you let into your home.

Sometimes, even your gardener or maid might have ulterior motives and can't be trussted. With that said, it's crucial to keep a close eye on people you hire to work in your home, and keep your valuables secured somewhere out of reach. Keep in mind that anytime you let someone into your home, you are essentially giving them an opportunity to steal, scope out your valuables, and/or make plans to come back at another time to take your belongings that they've been eyeing.

Always complete a background check & ask for references on new contractors.

After workers leave, be sure to go through your valuables and make sure everything is still there.

Install a home security/alarm system.

A home security camera will be a great thing to have because it will essentially keep tabs on people, and help you keep an eye on unwanted visitors and behavior. If getting a dog is not practicle for you, then installing an alarm system is a must.

Get to know your neighbors.

A great way to ward off unwanted visitors and potential burglars is to get friendly with your neighbors so that everyone can help each other out. This is especially helpful when/if you go on vacation for an extended period of time and need someone to help you keep a closer eye. Burglars are a lot less likely to go through with their criminal activity if they think they might be watched.

Make sure your doors and windows are locked.

This step is the easiest way to keep burglarsand unwanted visitors out of your home. Easy access will invite bad news and people.

Don't accept unsolicited help.

Unless you call someone to come over and perform a service, don't let them in. Many thieves are con artists who put on a front, making themselves look like a plumber, painter, tree trimmer, etc. They will often come with one other person. One may lure you outside to talk about the service they are "offering", while the other may run into your house to go through your belongings while you are kept distracted and busy.

Install lights outside your doorstep area so that your home is well-lit at night.

Thieves will frequent dark areas because it's harder for them to run away and not get caught if there is plenty of light. With that said, having light around your home at night will keep your area well-lit and more likely clear of criminals.

Be careful with what you throw in the trash.

Some criminals will go through your trash to see what you've left behind. For example, if you recently bought an expensive TV and are throwing out the packaging, a criminal who sees that might use that as a clue and incentive to come back and find a way to get the TV. If you're trying to get rid of trash from any significant purchases, make sure to cut up the packaging and make it as inconspicuous as possible.

Keep your home well-kept.

By trimming your bushes and eliminating potential "hiding spots", thieves are a lot less likely to show up and try to steal from your home. Keeping your place well-kept also signifies that the home is lived in and that you're not away on vacation for an extended period of time.

Identifying & Maintaining Your Home

In addition to being aware of the general tips to keeping your home safe from criminal activity, it is also important to be able to identify and maintain your home. To do this, you will want to:

Write your driver's license number somewhere on any valuables that might be stolen so that they can be identified.

Take detailed pictures of items that you can't write on.

Make sure that you keep an updated record of your valuables. This record might include model, type, serial number, fair market value, and proof of purchase, to name a few.

Replace broken windows, locks, and doors when needed.

Fix broken fences and locks when needed.

Keep loose rocks away from the property to avoid vandalism and break-ins.

Keep your home in good condition: mow the lawn, rake the leaves, clean the litter, etc. to indicate that your home is lived in and not being neglected.

Make sure that your street address number is clearly visible from the street so that cops can find your home easily as needed.

How Can I Keep My Home Safe While on Vacation?

Before going on vacation, it is important that everything in your home is in working condition. This includes your locks, security cameras, alarms, and doors. Prior to leaving, you should also do the following to ensure that you have a relaxing vacation and come back to a safe home. It is also a good idea to have some home security systems or even a doorbel camera so you can keep an eye on things while you are away.

What Do I Do In the Event I Get Robbed?

Have a list and photos of your valuables on hand and ready to report. If you come home and the door is unlocked or open, and things look like they're out of place, leave everything as is and call the police right away. Never confront a burglar to stay on the safe side, but if you spot him/her, be sure to take a good look at what they're wearing, what they look like, and what they have taken out of the house. It is also highly recommended to monitor your identity if someone has had access to your personal information.

Home Security Technology

Keeping your home safe is a lot easier now than before thanks to advanced technology. For example, remote monitoring cameras allow you to view activity in the home from work, vacation, or virtually anywhere outside of the home, on your phone. Even if you are miles away from home, you can still see in real-time what is going on in your home. Many security systems nowadays also allow you to arm and disarm them remotely. This means that even if you forget to arm the house before you left, you can still do so from your phone. In addition to remote monitoring, smart locks also exist to automatically lock doors once they sense that you have left the home, using bluetooth on your phone. Home sensors are great for detecting motion. When armed, motion triggers will be sent to your mobile device. This way, you will be immediately notified if someone is trying to break into your house. Of course, the types of technology are endless, but these are a few common ones found in many homes today.

Creating a Home Fire Defense Plan

In addition to warding off burglars from your home, it's also important that you have a home fire defense plan so that you and your family stay safe from any fires that might take place in the home. Some simple but essential steps to take include:

Conclusion

There are so many different ways to ensure home security. Some are common sense, everyday practices that we already do, while other techniques require more planning and awareness. Either way, this guide is designed to educate homeowners to take extra precautions to protect their homes. By being aware of all the different types of home security technologies out there and knowing how to create a home fire defense plan, for example, one will be ahead of the game in terms of protecting him or herself from potential danger -- whether it be as a result of a burglar or a house fire. Taking measures for home security may feel like a lot of work and may cost you a bit initially, but is well worth it to ensure safety and to prevent unnecessary stress later down the line. After all, a safe home is a happy home!

If you have any ideas on DIY home security, or tips on how to prevent home burglaries / safety tips please send your suggestions to crimebustersrsa@gmail.com and we’ll publish and credit the author. 

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY : 

Advertise on our blog from only R10 per month per advert per section your services would fall under across all our categories. 

To apply email Crime Busters RSA 

Crimebustersrsa@gmail.com 

I spend a lot of my time now reminding myself "I AM THE ADULT. I AM THE ADULT...."

Sorry if anyone doesnt like this post, but i suggest that you read it slowly, and understand each sentence and think of how we can make a change in how we react to our children. We can contribute very negatively to the way they act out, by how they have seen us act out when we are aggitated or had a bad day.  If you feel you dont think its appropriate now, please keep this link, and on a "bad day" in the home with your kiddies, please think of this article and read it! 

Lets put our pride in our pockets, put the ego on the table for a few minutes and read. Educate ourselves, empower ourselves to create a better living environment for all. 

Regards, Crime Busters Admin

Above : Some wise words I'd say! Quite applicable!

This one initially wants to poke at my "get all prickly and offended" nerve. I've thought these things in the past, and I've heard them many times from parents ....

"My kids are mouthy (or rude or lazy or....) and I'm just trying to show them who is in charge. They need to know how out of line they are."

You see, it is incredibly easy, when you've been raised with shame, mockery or belittling as parenting strategies, to try to "get back" at kids for their behavior, words, or actions. Give me chance... 

But the truth is ... they rarely listen to just our words.  They see 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦, and they model our attitude, our actions and behaviors.  

And so ...  I spend a lot of my time now reminding myself  "I AM THE ADULT. I AM THE ADULT...." because my kids' behavior (or misbehavior) is always  about something deeper, and it is MY job to help them discern and navigate  this.  

This is no different for us as adults. 

We often have a good reason (or at the very least a well-crafted defence) for the times when WE behave badly.

When tempers flare and things get heated, we have to stay outside of their energy, their fearful, narrow and confrontational viewpoint, and move as quickly as posisble back into the adult role:   Assertive about boundaries and curious about what is 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 going on below the surface.

In this way, we can lead them to better understand the foundational issue, and help them develop the skills and meet the needs required to actually get at the root of the "misbehavior".

Our job as parents is never to get even, but to help our kids learn how to self-regulate and problem solve so that the "discipline" comes from within ❤

Please feel free to comment below. 

I hope this was helpful to someone who is ready to hear this. Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this one, you may read some more from Crime Busters Community Assistance Groups by going to our blog :   " crimebustersrsa.blogspot.com "

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY : 

Advertise on our blog from only R10 per month per advert per section your services would fall under across all our categories. 

To apply email Crime Busters RSA 

Crimebustersrsa@gmail.com

Brainfog... a harsh reality that makes sense to slow down!

Not feeling yourself lately? ...forgetting things? You think you going crazy now too? Gosh did i feel like this... and i can say reading this article now, i am convinced that about 90% of people today feel this way. So take a quick read through, adjust your lifestyle, and pick yourself up again... 'cos life aint waiting for you!

Brain fog can be particularly concerning for usually sharp-minded individuals, who suddenly find their days disrupted by confusion and memory loss. Is it reversible?

What makes understanding this ailment more complex is that brain fog isn’t technically a medical condition at all, but rather a symptom of other conditions. It can last anything from minutes to years, making people feel disorientated,
confused and generally mentally slower than they’re used to.

If you’ve ever had a spate of entering rooms and forgetting why, going blank on the directions to a place you regularly drive to, or being uncharacteristically unable to focus, you may be experiencing this unpleasant symptom. Brain fog can be quite alarming, often leaving sufferers wondering whether they’re developing dementia or some other cognitive disorder, which isn’t necessarily the case.

It usually manifests as:

• Confusion and disorientation.
• Difficulties with spatial awareness and information processing.
• The awareness that your faculties of thought, understanding and memory aren’t functioning properly.

Why does it happen?

There are a number of potential causes, which is why identifying the underlying issue is essential to tackling the problem. In most cases, treatment of the root problem will relieve or reverse brain fog. Common causes include:

Chronic stress

Stress has various physical effects on the body, including headaches, digestive issues, heightened blood pressure and a weakened immune system. It can also be mentally exhausting. This makes it more difficult to reason, focus and understand. Take stock of events in your life that may be raising your stress levels, incorporate stress-reducing activities like meditation and yoga, and allow yourself time to rest. Remember, too, that the more anxious you
become about your brain fog, the more you exacerbate it: like all other forms of panic, the key is to relax and trust that
this, too, will pass.

Incorrect eating 

Everyone reacts differently to different foods. Eating correctly means eating what’s right for your body’s specific needs. Foods that induce brain fog in some people include dairy, aspartame, peanuts and MSG, as well as a deficiency in vitamin B-12. Keep track of what you eat and how you feel following each meal, or keep a food journal to help you identify potentially triggering foods.

Certain medications 

Brain fog might be a known side-effect of a medication you’re taking, so tell your doctor how you’re feeling. You may be able to lower your dosage or switch to an alternative medication.

Illness and medical conditions 

Various medical conditions can cause brain fog, especially those associated with fatigue, changes in blood pressure
and inflammation, such as fibromyalgia. Others include diabetes, hypothyroidism, migraines, anaemia, depression and autoimmune diseases. Your doctor may order tests to determine whether you’re suffering from a condition that’s causing it. You might then be put on treatment like iron supplements for anaemia, or an anti-inflammatory for an autoimmune condition. As the condition’s managed, the brain fog will recede.

Lifestyle changes for a clearer mind

Besides seeking medical treatment, there are various changes you can make to tackle brain fog. These adjustments may be the key to sharpening your mind:

• Ensure you’re getting enough good-quality sleep – at least eight hours a night.
• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle and exercise at least three times a week.
• Overhaul your diet and include healthy ‘brain foods’, such as those rich in omega-3 and vitamin B-12.
• Cut down on alcohol and caffeine.
• 
  

Do you have an article that will UPLIFT the Community? Mail us! Crimebustersrsa@gmail.com 

FEATURE: CAITLIN GENG PHOTO: STOCK.ADOBE.COM

 Thank you to YourFamily.Com for this article!

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY : 

Advertise on our blog from only R10 per month per advert per section your services would fall under across all our categories. 

To apply email Crime Busters RSA 

Crimebustersrsa@gmail.com