Volume 1 Issue 1
Welcome The pandemic has not been easy on one. Many of us have lost a loved one or has battled Covid-19. Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered because of this pandemic. This magazine, along with our company GreenLeaf Health LLC has been born out of the pandemic. Being healthy has always been a fundamental goal in our lives, but now with this virus looming over us, health became a top priority. At the time, there was no vaccine and no known effective treatment. Naturally, I fell back into my upbringing on herbal health. I researched and came up with my blend of herbs to take, and soon after, we began to notice significant improvements in our health. Our discoveries became the spark for our company Greenleaf. In our debut issue, you will learn about some fantastic people and businesses. We hope that you enjoy this issue, and we look forward to bringing you more.
Sincerely, April Jim John W. Bennett Jr.
Table of Contents Why Healing Feels Impossibly Hard
9
I DON’T WANT TO BE SELFISH
16
3 Ways to Fight Depression
17
Spiritual Health: Seven Ways to Boost Our Spiritual Immune System
18
3 ISSUES THAT SLOW OR STOP HAIR GROWTH
23
CHECK UP ON YOUR GIRL
24
Book Debut: Forbidden
27
9 Reasons to Avoid Processed Foods
32
Do you have a book inside of you?
36
5 Tips to Small Business Development
38
The Red Ballon
52
Behind The Book
55
Like a Chameleon
58
You gotta try this recipe!
59
Hoping for a holistically healthy world.
60
better than no contact. The same computers that we use to work on, we can now call anywhere in the world and actually see someone in real-time. We have phones that are mini-computers that fit in our hands, and we can do the same thing on multiple platforms and applications. Phones can call a person, and you can hear their voice on the other end. There is also the old-fashioned practice of writing a letter by hand to someone that you love if you don't want to email them. This pandemic has challenged the way that we feel and think and let's face it. It has taken away our ability to connect. Yet, there are so many ways that we can still connect and strengthen our bonds with friends and family. If your family lives close by then you can have a drive-up visit where you wave to each other from your house to their car. Or you can wave between porches if you live especially close. If the weather is warm where you live you can meet up at a local park and visit outside while social distancing and wearing a mask. I did that twice this year, and it worked out well. However, if the weather is cold and not hospitable for outside activities then utilize the technology available to you to reach out. Place a call to hear a comforting voice, use video calls to see a friendly face, text messages give words that encourage, emails paint a story, and a handwritten letter evokes memories of the past and visions of the future.
Forty years ago, there were only three ways to connect with someone, and that was to write a letter, place a phone call or go and visit someone. People endured. The Great Blackout of the early 2000s taught us to be still and help out our fellow neighbor. People shared food, beverages, and watched over each other while a dearth of electricity settled over the east coast. This pandemic is a little different because we need to keep separated
to minimize the spread of Covid-19. Although there are some similarities like respecting each other by wearing a mask, checking up on those that you love, which includes checking up on your girlfriend and even yourself. Remember, you have a right to be at peace. Do what you need to do to guard that peace even if it means finding a therapist for yourself or scheduling some time to talk to an old friend.
Kimberly Batchelor Davis Check out the Kim B. Davis Show and never miss an episode by subscribing to the following platforms: Google, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts. http://www.kimbdavis.com
Book Debut: Forbidden by April Thomas
Chapter 1
A
mahle Jackson was engaged to Brody Dabney, a man born into great wealth and privilege. He was a politician, claiming to stand for women and those who were poverty-stricken, but his real focus was selfpreservation. “Get up!” he shouted at his girlfriend of three years. Her long, curly hair was matted with blood and tears. She had had enough. Since the age of eighteen, she had searched and hoped to find a love like her parents had—for a man to touch her with genuine love; yet all she saw were lies, pain, and betrayal. She truly believed she could love through the rejection and abuse, and one day, love would love her back. However, it had not happened. She had given up a lot for the hopes of being loved. Now she felt as if she had nothing left to give. She struggled to her feet. “I don’t care what you do to me anymore!” Amahle shouted, hoping that someone outside their penthouse suite would hear. Brody lunged toward her, using his fist to knock her to the ground. He then straddled her, wrapping his large hands around her neck. Amahle did her best to fight back. She clawed at his skin until the blackness took over and her body became limp. *** His amber eyes peered into the inky darkness of the night. Something just didn’t feel right. Tokoda could feel it in the sharp,
cool evening breeze. Although the air was colder this time of year in north Florida, there was a dark chill in the atmosphere that caused the pores on Tokoda’s arms to rise. As a warrior and guard, he used all of his seven senses to protect his people. Tokoda rose to his feet. His broad, sixfoot-two frame was impressive. He was known as one of the best hand-to hand combat warriors that his tribe had had in years. His long, thin dreads were neatly pulled back from his well-sculpted face, and his dark skin protected him like a cloak in the darkness. He sensed something was coming his way but could not understand what this could be. Stepping out of the shadows temporarily, he gazed at the full moon, peeking out from the forest’s treetops. Again the feeling of foreboding passed over him, and Tokoda knew that something wasn’t right tonight. He took in a deep breath. He could just about smell the stench of death floating in the air. The forest seemed to agree; it was strangely calm, as if the old trees knew something dreadful was about to happen. An unfamiliar sound came to his ears, and Tokoda slipped back into hiding but at a vantage point where he could quietly observe what the cause of the noise was. The crackling of dry, dead leaves beneath heavy boots could be heard. Tokoda peered through the branches and leaves of his hiding place and observed a man carrying a woman’s limp body through the woods. The stranger stopped at a clearing, just thirty feet away from where Tokoda stood guard. He dumped the woman’s body on the ground and
https://www.V2FosteringChange.org
Like a Chameleon
By Travis Carlise
I
t is rare you compare a person to a reptile that rarely gets noticed. And this reptile in particular can represent this specific group of people in more ways than just one. A chameleon often goes unnoticed but when found, is marveled and looked towards to adapt and define the environment they occupy. The same can be said of foster children throughout the country. Foster children in the United States are currently one of the most disenfranchised groups in the traditional American class system and are often overlooked like a chameleon.
The departments that uphold the system often are stretch too thin to truly provide the best resources for reunification between the families and children, while the toll is truly taken by the children that often grow out the system. Adversity and strife have a continuous effect to the lives of many foster children throughout the country, and while some would stumble, foster kids continue to rise above. Like a chameleon, they adapt to their environment and impacts that path they travel as they occupy their own habitat and sometimes others.
Like how a rainforest assists the living of chameleons, non-profits that choose to be an asset to the foster care system. V2
National Association of Foster Youth Inc is designed to serve -1ages 13-23 nationally and YOUTH locally through Mentorship, At A Leadership, Education, and Community Service for current Time and former foster youth rise above challenges of growing up in the foster care system. The support a chameleon needs is essential to their life span and quality of life and the same can be said with the foster care system/children and the nonprofits and public systems that uphold them.
If you would like to be part of the change please visit v2fosteringchnage.org or https:// www.facebook.com/V2fosteringchange/ community/?ref=p age_internal.
For additional information please feel free to contact Ms. Veda Brooks, CEO by email:
vbrooks@v2fosteringchange.org
-1- YOUTH AT A TIME
Email us anytime! info@V2FosteringChange.org 470 Commerce Dr., Suite 505 | Peachtree City, GA 30215
Follow V2 Fostering Change on Facebook, LinkedIn & YouTube
Email us anytime info@V2FosteringChange.org 470 Commerce Dr., Suite 505 Peachtree City,GA,30215
Follo
CARIBBEAN DELIGHTS
FOR EVER ONE!
CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD
You gotta try this recipe! This will be the hit of the week, if it makes it 24-hours. Please send in pictures to april@s2Live4.com and we will post it to our social media platforms and websites.
Ingredients overripe bananas cups flour cup sugar tsp cinnamon cups of melted butter tsp baking soda tsp baking powder tablespoon vanilla extract eggs cup chocolate chip semi sweet I cup added to flour mixture salt
Method Mash ripe bananas with a fork Add sugar eggs vanilla and butter Mix together and set aside Next sift flour baking powder and baking soda in a bowl combine the salt and cinnamon into the flour mixture Next add the flour mixture to the banana mixture and stir till well combined Do not over mix Pour in a greased baking loaf pan and bake for minutes at degrees degrees C Stick a toothpick in the center to see if it s done The oo h ick ho ld come o clean Take o f om he o en and le cool Enjo
Thank o Delicious recipes for the whole family from the caribbean