The Talking Parrots

Talking Parrots

A lady approaches her priest and says, “Father, I have a problem. I have two female talking parrots, but they only know how to say one thing.”

“What do they say?” the priest inquires.

“They only know how to say, ‘Hi, we’re prostitutes. Want to have some fun ?'”

“That’s terrible,” the priest exclaims, “but I have a solution to your problem. Bring your two female parrots over to my house, and I will put them with my two male talking parrots whom I taught to pray and read the bible. My parrots will teach your parrots to stop saying that terrible phrase, and your female parrots will learn to praise and worship.”

“Thank you!” the woman responds. 

The next day, the woman brings her female parrots to the priest’s house.His two male parrots are holding rosary beads and praying in their cage. The lady puts her two female parrots in with the male parrots, and the female parrots say, “Hi, we’re prostitutes, want to have some fun?”

One male parrot looks at the other male parrot and exclaims, “Put the beads away. Our prayers have been answered!”

One Day at a Time

You”ll Get Through This… One Day at a Time.

There is a country song entitled, “When You’re going through Hell, keep on going, don’t look back , just keep on going”. There is a lot of truth in this, when times are tough the tough get going and they don’t look back!.

This is the time to keep your head up and your nose to the grindstone.

Try not to worry. Worry never accomplished anything, it just delays us finding a solution to the challenge.To achieve objectivity, look at the problem as a challenge instead of an obstacle.Imagine looking down on it from high above the earth thereby detaching yourself from it, imagine you are in an airplane high above the earth and you are observing it from above the clouds.

 Often times challenges are presented to us as a way of developing patience,remember everything happens in it’s own time. Take the time to think out the perfect outcome and release the situation to the universe, then let God take care of it. That doesn’t mean to forget about the problem and not do anything, it just means that one should have the faith it will turn out for the highest good of all concerned ,release it and be done with it.

Be confident in knowing you can change your attitude, often times a change in attitude will change the situation and thus give you a more positive attitude. They kind of work hand in hand.

Embrace your problems, befriend them and learn from them. That is why the universe presented the circumstance to you in the first place. It is a learning experience and the situation will be presented in various forms until the lesson is learned, better to learn it sooner than later.

As soon as the lesson is complete, life goes on , and you move on to the next life lesson.

Remember,God never gives you more than you can handle, you are a survivor. If it doesn’t kill you , it makes you stronger. On some level of consciousness , we all volunteer for these challenges , so if you volunteered, just know you wouldn’t volunteer for something you didn’t have the knowledge and resources to solve.

In your own time and way, you’re going to solve this. In the process you going to find strength you didn’t know you had and grace to deal with what ever comes along.

Soon , you’ll be on the other side of the problem, and it’s just  a matter of time until you will look back on this time in your life and draw strength from the knowledge that even though the road was rocky , you persevered and carried on.

Now you can follow me on Kindle.

 Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

Your comments appreciated

There is an extreme shortage of common sense in today’s world,
I often think back to what my parents and grandparents believed and said, at the time I thought they were totally out of their mind and ignored it. I now wish I would have listened and followed their advice more often.
It is in this light I have decided to publish some of my random thoughts based on the views of our ancestors.

 

Common Sense and Changing times

This day and age all we hear about is change, it has gotten so we are making changes, based not on if the change is good, but rather or not someone just thinks we need a change. Change is occurring constantly in the climate as well as life as a whole, if it weren’t for change everyone and everything would cease to exist.

The problem as I see it, common sense has been completely abandoned, just for the sake of political correctness. We have become so concerned about offending anyone, we are in jeopardy of sacrificing our own safety and security as a country and society all in the name of being politically correct. As a result the people everyone rushes to defend are using our naivety to attack and  defeat us.

We continually admit people into this country, both legally and illegally who mean to do us harm , in no other country can anyone come into and move about as freely as in the United States . On a visit to Australia several years ago, I was welcomed to Australia at customs  by a nice smiling Aussie, his next question was , “When are you leaving?” If I hadn’t had  documentation with my departure date, I would have left that day. Even Mexico, who is constantly criticizing our immigration policies would not tolerate the things they expect us to do.

We give free educations to foreigners, especially Arabs, when our own citizens can’t afford a college education. The fact foreigners are getting so much assistance drives up the cost of education thereby making it less affordable to our own youth.It’s a matter of supply and demand.

Why are we still training Arabs to fly after 911? We have Muslims attending flight school at Lackland Air Force base.  We need to change this! This would be like the U.S.  training Japanese Kamikaze pilots during World War 2.

As a country we have become extremely tolerant of other peoples beliefs and customs, this isn’t all bad, we need to be tolerant. However this is the United States, when people come here they should be expected to conform to our ways and customs, not the other way around.
We are in danger of tolerating ourselves into oblivion.

English is spoken here, immigrants need to learn the native language and assimilate  into our culture.

 If they want to make America like their homeland, why are they coming here? If it is so good where they came from , why not stay. If our country becomes like theirs, where are we going next?

There is nothing wrong with change, but don’t change for the sake of change, and make sure that the change will lead to a better life, not one of government control and loss of freedom.

Now you can follow me on Kindle.

The Chicken or the Egg Mystery Finally Cracked

The Chicken or the Egg, Which Came First?

British scientists believe they have found the answer to an age-old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Scientists cracked the puzzle after discovering that the formation of eggs is possible only thanks to a protein found in chicken’s ovaries. That means eggs have to be formed in chickens first.

The protein — called ovocledidin-17 (OC-17)– speeds up the development of the shell. Researchers from Sheffield and Warwick universities in England laid out their findings in the paper”Structural Control of Crystal Nuclei by an Eggshell Protein.”

They used a supercomputer to zoom in on the formation of an egg and realized the protein is vital in kick-starting the crystallization process. It works by converting calcium carbon ate into the calcite crystals that make up the egg shell.

Dr Colin Freeman, from Sheffield University’s Department of Engineering Materials, said “it had long been suspected that the egg came first — but now we have the scientific proof that shows that in fact the chicken came first.”

“The protein had been identified before and it was linked to egg formation, but by examining it closely we have been able to see how it controls the process,” Freeman said.

“It’s very interesting to find that different types of avian species seem to have a variation of the protein that does the same job.”

It is hoped the discovery leads to the invention of new materials.

Glad the Brits spent their tax dollars on this and not the U.S.

Interesting? Follow me on Kindle.

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

Improve your health, Increase your wealth

Each generation from the beginning of our country has contributed to what our country has become. By the same token, no one is perfect. Consequently, each generation has done and will continue to perform acts that it would have been better if some other course of action was taken.
The baby boomers have contributed much and have been blamed for the decline of America. What is the true story?

The Power of Purpose

I thought this was good.

You can only become what you dare to imagine .

Purpose goes way beyond intention. It embraces the inner picture you have of yourself and your sense of what’s possible.

Purpose gives your life continuity , while supporting you to be alive in the present moment.

No one else can ”give” you purpose ; only you can discover and live it.

Purpose lets you know :

What kind of person you are and want to be.

What kind of life you want to live.

What”trace” you want to leave behind.

Discovering your purpose is your journey.

Discovering your purpose is central to the great adventure of living.

Discovering purpose is also about discovering love : what you love to do ; what makes you feel most alive ; what brings you most easily into connection with others what brings and gives happiness.

                                 A brand -new day.

Focusing on your intention each morning is a powerful way to begin your day.

Even when your intention is familiar ,experience it as  though of thought itself was newly born this morning.Stephanie Dowrick.

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Obama's Policies Not Working

Two years ago, the majority of American voters supported freshman U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for president. Today, neither he nor his party seem that popular. Why?

No one supported candidate Obama based on his achievements military, legislative, administrative, or creating jobs in the private sector. There weren’t any.

What they embraced was his vow to move past race and partisanship, to seek not merely Democratic solutions or Republican solutions, but bi-partisan solutions, multi-partisan solutions, American solutions.

If that Barack Obama had spoken at Aria in City Center Thursday evening, and then at UNLV Friday, one could easily imagine him saying, “You know, our economic policies of the past 18 months have not succeeded. In fact, many things have gotten worse. Here in Southern Nevada, your unemployment rate has skyrocketed from 4.4 percent to 14 percent, people have lost their homes, businesses have closed, 135,000 jobs have been lost. And it just might be that the tax-and-spend dinosaurs of my own party are part of the problem. So instead of making fun of Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, anyone with some fresh ideas, I’ve started calling in some of those ‘greedy capitalists’ who’ve created jobs in the past. I’m asking them what they think we should ‘change.'”

Instead, Mr. Obama was here to raise funds for one of those aforementioned graying partisans of the Senate, Sen. Harry Reid. And Mr. Obama continued to blame all his — and our — problems on the mess he inherited two years ago..

Change? While the president did not mention Mr. Reid’s front-running Republican challenger Sharron Angle by name, he did comment on her plan to let younger workers invest part of their Social Security with holdings in private accounts they would own, while Washington would continue paying promised benefits to older Americans:

“On a lot of these issues, she favors an approach that’s even more extreme than the Republicans in Washington,” said the “post-partisan” president, drawing laughter from the hand-picked, closed-door Democratic crowd. “That’s saying something. That is saying something. I mean, she wants to phase out and privatize Social Security and Medicare.”

Whereupon the president proceeded to set out his own detailed plan — and Sen. Reid’s — to save a Social Security and Medicare entitlement system that’s already spent all the money current retirees ever paid in, and which is thus headed for bankruptcy.

Well, no, of course he didn’t do that.

The fact is, President Obama once again left behind a sinking feeling that neither he nor Sen. Reid have a clue how to pull this country out of its current dire economic straits.

Oh, they want to spend more tax money propping up the jobs of unionized state and local government workers — the president bragged, “We fought to keep Nevada teachers, firefighters, and police officers on the job” — at precisely the time state and local governments should be slashing their bloated budgets.

And where will that money come from? Big tax hikes on the very people who would otherwise be out there creating real, productive jobs — private businesses.

Higher cigarette taxes. Carbon taxes. “Cap and trade.” A tanning salon tax. A “1099” tax that’s projected to siphon an extra $7 billion out of the private economy over the next decade to help fund Obamacare … which was supposed to “save us money.” They’re already talking about a national Value Added Tax, in addition to the income tax rates that will go up for everyone if the “Bush tax cuts” are allowed to expire in December.

The president nationalizes the student loan business — a precursor to forgiving tax-backed loans if graduates behave in ways he chooses,
destroying thousands of private-sector banking jobs — and brags, “We fought to eliminate wasteful subsidies that go to banks to act as unnecessary middlemen in administering student loans and make the repayment of loans more manageable for students.”

In a disconnect that seemed almost surreal, the president told his audience at UNLV Friday: “As I’ve repeated many times as president, I believe the greatest generator of jobs in America is our private sector. It’s our entrepreneurs and innovators, who are willing to take a chance on a good idea. … The private sector — not government — is, was, and always will be the source of America’s economic success.

“That’s why we’ve cut dozens of taxes for the middle class and small businesspeople, extended loan programs to put capital in the hands of
startups and worked to reduce the cost of health care for small businesses. And Harry is fighting right now to pass additional tax breaks and loan authority to help small businesses grow and hire.”

But businesses are afraid to hire precisely because of the unknown costs of Obamacare, while the aforementioned targeted tax credits to support “clean energy” jobs — 50 here, 50 there, according to Mr. Obama’s own examples — will collapse the moment federal support is withdrawn.

Unfortunately, Spain already tried that, and a study conducted by Dr. Gabriel Calzada, an economics professor at Juan Carlos University in Madrid, reveals that every “green job” created with government money in Spain over the past eight years came at the cost of 2.2 regular jobs, while only one in 10 of the newly created green jobs became permanent.

President Obama admits government is not the answer — at the same time he’s growing government control over our economy at the fastest rate seen since the wartime emergency of 1942, while bragging how his administration will pick and choose which “startups” are worth taxpayer subsidies.

Problem is, it’s not working.

Now you can follow me on Kindle.

—
www.travelnsnap.com

 Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

Your comments appreciated

A narrative about what life in The United States was in our golden era, and how it became what it is, and offering solutions to enable us to once again travel the path to freedom and self reliance.

2012 and Beyond

2012 will see many changes in our way of life and the world around us. To the observant eye , it has already begun.

Much of the current unrest in the world can be attributed to these changes coming about. During this ascension process, the planet and it’s inhabitants will begin playing a new game of life. Many of these events were foretold in the ancient texts of many of our ancestors. The Mayan calendar for one, foretold of these events as long as 5,000 years ago.

As the earth enters a new era, many things will change, as well as some of the ways we have been accustomed. The advent of technology will help change many things. With instant communications , no longer will politicians be able to tell one group one thing and some one in another part of the country something else, with the internet we know instantly when some event occurs, no matter where on earth it happens. Politicians and for that fact no one will be able to lie because of the easy access to internet and video

The earth, as well as the universe and it’s inhabitants are constantly changing and evolving, ascending into realms yet unimaginable. As we ascend and evolve, some old games we have been playing with each other will be lost and new “games” will be remembered. We will finally be playing the “game” of remembering who we are, and where we came from.

During the past several thousand years we have forgotten who we are, where we came from and most importantly of all , we have forgotten that we are all connected to that Divine source “from whence we came”.

We have forgotten that God’s laws , or the laws of nature are unchangeable and if not followed will lead to a life of despair, not only on a personal level, but a community   level as well. People will begin to understand their connection to not only spirit, but the connection to people from other worlds and dimensions.

Many things will come to light as far as the connection of world governments and people from other star systems.

As I write this in 2010, there are many forces in our American government that would want to destroy our way of life, many people also want a more socialistic or Marxist Government, one who in their view would provide for them from cradle to grave. Sorry to inform you, but that Utopia doesn’t exist.

The human spirit doesn’t want to be taken care of, it only wants a playing field where it can grow, learn and achieve to it’s highest level. This will become more apparent as time goes along, people will be elected to government who realize this, not only in the fall of 2010, but also in the presidential election of 2012.

After 2012, there will be a more level playing field as some of the old corrupt ways of doing things give way to more honesty and openness. This has been brought on in part by the internet, which makes it harder and harder for public officials to get away with the shenanigans of the past.

Not saying these things will never happen, with human nature and karma being what it is,these learning experiences will always exist. Planet earth will always be a giant school house of learning and evolving.

Some things never change.

Now you can follow me on Kindle.

 

 Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

Your comments appreciated

In today’s world, many resort to abusing drugs and alcohol, why are so many becoming addicted and not only destroying their lives but the lives of others around them as well?

 

The Modern Dream Time

YOUR FAVORITE AUSSIE STORE

The ancient Aborigines living in the outback of Australia believe the life we visualize is only a dream, it is something we dream up as we travel along life’s path. They believe we are only observers of life around us.

I believe there is much truth in this philosophy. From my observation, every one lives in their own little world unlike anyone else and separate from any else’s reality.

Just the fact you have a body places you at a different perspective, even from the person sitting closest to you. Doesn’t this fact make sense to you that each of us would have a different perspective and inner view from which to view the world and its surroundings.

Because of this fact, it only makes sense the only one who can have a proper view on what is right for us, is us. Too many people look outside themselves for an answer, when common sense tells us all answers come from within, the God within.

When one looks outside of themselves for direction and guidance it is common to feel out of control and become fear based, it is only when one looks inward for guidance, that it becomes possible to look at life from a common sense and positive position.

The modern Dream time is all about making choices, you “dream up” your world  by realizing you always have inner and outer guided choices to make in every aspect of your life.

You must dream up or direct you self from either an inner or outer perspective, thereby orchestrating your life by the choices and thoughts you have.

We are all souls occupying a body, we are not a body with a soul. You have a body, but you are not your body. Just as one has feelings but we are not our feelings.

Just as we all have desires, attitudes, and beliefs and a mind. We are not any of these, we are a soul that occupies a body and has developed these attributes either from experience and learning or genetics. They are a part of us, but not us, all these things will change over a life time due to our experiences and learning.

You are a self, with a physical existence, observing all these different realms, but you are also removed and distinct from them.

”The experience of Self”, wrote Jungian analyst Marie-Louise von Franz ,”brings a feeling of standing on solid ground inside oneself, on a patch of eternity , which even physical death cannot touch.” 
Now you can follow me on Kindle.

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

At this period of time in the history of man, there is probably more individual searching being done into the theories behind the origin of the human race,what happens after death,the possibility of life on other planets, and what our relationship is to these life forms, if they do exist. There are millions of people who are questioning the existence of God, who he really is, and what is my relationship with him? Is he someone who mysteriously floats around on a cloud watching and judging us from above like some bigger than life Santa Claus, or is he, like many of the esoteric sciences claim, a part of our inner Self, whom we have constant contact with, someone whom we and everything in the universe are connected and are thus one? Each of us in our own way is experiencing what God is, and thus we are each a part of God, thus we are God! This book is a brief account of my search for my own truth as I know it today, everything stated actually happened, according to my own perception. It has been an exciting search, at times very frustrating, very rewarding, and above all, very fulfilling. My main purpose in writing this    book is to show that anyone, even a bashful unfamous country boy can have these awakenings, you don’t have to be rich or well-known to find your connection to Divine Source.

2012 and Beyond

YOUR FAVORITE PARANORMAL ONLINE STORE

2012 will see many changes in our way of life and the world around us. To the observant eye, it has already begun.

Much of the current unrest in the world can be attributed to these changes coming about. During this ascension process, the planet and it’s inhabitants will begin playing a new game of life. Many of these events were foretold in the ancient texts of many of our ancestors. The Mayan calendar for one foretold of these events as long as 5,000 years ago.

As the earth enters a new era, many things will change, as well as some of the ways we have been accustomed. The advent of technology will help change many things. With instant communications , no longer will politicians be able to tell one group one thing and someone in another part of the country something else, with the internet we know instantly when some event occurs, no matter where on earth it happens. Politicians and for that fact no one will be able to lie because of the easy access to internet and video

For about 50 years preceding 2010 the world has been in flux, many relationships have suffered, people were looking for that special someone, their soul mate for the coming millennium. As we approach the year 2012, many people who haven’t found that special someone will indeed find them and unite.

The earth, as well as the universe and it’s inhabitants are constantly changing and evolving, ascending into realms yet unimaginable. As we ascend and evolve, some old games we have been playing with each other will be lost and new “games” will be remembered. We will finally be playing the “game” of remembering who we are, and where we came from.

During the past several thousand years we have forgotten who we are, where we came from and most importantly of all, we have forgotten that we are all connected to that Divine source “from whence we came”.

We have forgotten that God’s laws, or the laws of nature are unchangeable and if not followed will lead to a life of despair, not only on a personal level, but a community   level as well. People will begin to understand their connection to not only spirit but the connection to people from other worlds and dimensions.

Many things will come to light as far as the connection of world governments and people from other star systems.

As I write this in 2010, there are many forces in our American government that would want to destroy our way of life, many people also want a more socialistic or Marxist Government, one who in their view would provide for them from cradle to grave. Sorry to inform you, but that Utopia doesn’t exist.

The human spirit doesn’t want to be taken care of, it only wants a playing field where it can grow, learn and achieve to it’s highest level. This will become more apparent as time goes along, people will be elected to government who realize this, not only in the fall of 2010, but also in the presidential election of 2012.

After 2012, there will be a more level playing field as some of the old corrupt ways of doing things give way to more honesty and openness. This has been brought on in part by the internet, which makes it harder and harder for public officials to get away with the shenanigans of the past.

Not saying these things will never happen, with human nature and karma being what it is,these learning experiences will always exist. Planet earth will always be a giant school house of learning and evolving.

Some things never change.

The author has been a writer/photographer for over thirty years. Specializing in nature and landscape photography, as well as studying native cultures.

His travels have taken him to most of the United States, as well as Australia, Belize, Egypt and the Canary Islands.

He has studied the Mayan culture of Central America as well as the aborigines of Australia. Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in various parts of the world.

He has published several books about his adventures.

For more information, please consult his website,www.journeysthrulife.com.

Your comments are welcome

 

At this period of time in the history of man, there is probably more individual searching being done into the theories behind the origin of the human race,what happens after death,the possibility of life on other planets, and what our relationship is to these life forms, if they do exist. There are millions of people who are questioning the existence of God, who he really is, and what is my relationship with him? Is he someone who mysteriously floats around on a cloud watching and judging us from above like some bigger than life Santa Claus, or is he, like many of the esoteric sciences claim, a part of our inner Self, whom we have constant contact with, someone whom we and everything in the universe are connected and are thus one? Each of us in our own way is experiencing what God is, and thus we are each a part of God, thus we are God! This book is a brief account of my search for my own truth as I know it today, everything stated actually happened, according to my own perception. It has been an exciting search,at times very frustrating, very rewarding, and above all, very fulfilling. My main purpose in writing this book is to show that anyone, even a bashful unfamous country boy can have these awakenings, you don’t have to be rich or well-known to find your connection to Divine Source.

West Texas Lawman

A young Texan grew up wanting to be a lawman. He grew up big –6’2″ — and strong as a longhorn and fast as a mustang. He could shoot a bottle cap tossed in the air at 40 paces. When he finally became of age he applied to the only place he had dreamed of working : the West Texas Sheriff’s Department.

After a big mess of tests and interviews, the Chief Deputy finally called him into his office for the young man’s final interview.

“You’re a big strong kid and you can really shoot,” the Chief Deputy says. “So far your qualifications all look good . But we have what you call an ‘attitude suitability test’ that you must take before you can be accepted.”

“Yes, sir,” the boy replied.

“We just don’t let anyone carry our badge, son.”

“No, sir!” he answer.

Then, sliding a service pistol and a box of ammo across the desk, the Chief says:

“Take this pistol and go out and shoot:
six illegal aliens,
six lawyers,
six meth dealers,
six Muslim extremists,
and a rabbit.”

“A rabbit?” the kid replies. “Why the rabbit?”

“Great attitude, son,” says the Chief Deputy, putting the pistol back in his drawer. “When can you start?”

 

 Gary has been a writer/ photographer for over 20 years, specializing in nature,landscapes and studying native cultures.Besides visiting most of the United States, he has traveled to such places as Egypt,the Canary Islands,much of the Caribbean. He has studied  the Mayan Cultures in Central America, and the Australian Aboriginal way of life.Photography has given him the opportunity to observe life in many different parts of the world!

 

He has published several books about the various cultures he has observed.

 

For more information and a link to his hard cover and Ebooks,and contact information: please check his website.www.commonsensejourneys.com

 

Your comments appreciated

In today’s world, many resort to abusing drugs and alcohol, why are so many becoming addicted and not only destroying their lives but the lives of others around them as well?