Selenium is a nutrient necessary for good health. It supports reproductive health, the thyroid, DNA production, defense against infections, and more. Selenium deficiency can lead to heart disease, infertility, and arthritis and may be related to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive decline.

The Medical News Today website advises eating these foods that are rich in selenium: 

Brazil nuts, tuna, halibut, sardines, shrimp, turkey, beef liver, chicken, cottage cheese, brown rice, eggs, whole wheat bread, and baked beans.

A Zen master once gave his student a piece of silk fabric that had been twisted and tied into many knots. Yet he told the student it was a beautiful kite that he should fly in the garden.

The student took hold of the mess he’d been handed, unsure what to make of it. Then he carefully began to undo each knot and twist. With the fabric smoothed out, he attached the frame and tether.

He released the kite, and the wind carried it high into the air. The student admired the ease with which the kite sailed through the air.

At that moment, he understood that for his life to be as light and free as the kite, he would need to undo the problems that kept his heart knotted up and tangled into a hard lump.

A man was visiting the zoo one day. As he was passing the elephant enclosure, he suddenly stopped. The majestic creatures were restrained by only a small rope tied to their front leg—no chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break free, but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer standing nearby and asked why the elephants did not attempt to get away.

“Well,” the trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller, we use the same size rope to tie them.

 At that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they continue to believe they cannot break away. They think the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

 The visitor was amazed. These enormous beasts could break free from their bonds whenever they wanted, but they felt they were stuck because they thought they couldn’t.

 Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that restrains us simply because it held us back once before?

Well, it’s August which means it’s hot! Summer is in full swing, and the sun is burning bright. Burning, like fire. Every time I think about the fire, I think about transformation. Think about it, when you light a fire and place something in there, it turns into something else: ash. And it will never be what it once was. You cannot get it back. It’s been transformed forever.

We are evolving beings, so we change. My message for you this month is one of transformation. If you’re finding yourself in a middle of a shift, let it happen. It’s likely uncomfortable, but that’s okay. It’s supposed to be.

Imagine the classic visual of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. I’ll bet if that caterpillar could talk, it wouldn’t say that time in the cocoon was all roses. Sit with the discomfort of change, knowing that the benefits will soon outweigh the discomfort. And always remember to be gentle with yourself; you are a work in progress.

If you’re finding this change to be particularly challenging, I encourage you to look back at another hard time in your life. Without reliving the painful memory too much, ask yourself, “How did I overcome this? How do I feel about it now?” I can almost guarantee your feelings about something that once felt unbearable, in hindsight, doesn’t sting as much today. All things take time, including whatever you’re moving through at this moment. Always remember, this too shall pass, and just like the sweltering heat of summer… this too shall pass.

Warm Regards,

Gino Pezzani

World Elephant Day, Aug. 12. The elephant is loved, revered, and respected by people and cultures around the world, yet we are on the brink of seeing the last of these magnificent creatures.

National Nonprofit Day, Aug. 17. Nonprofits help awareness, research, and aid to the people who need it most.

National Nonprofit Day, Aug. 19. A day to honor humanitarian personnel for their efforts and to raise awareness about the crucial humanitarian work that is happening around the world.

Women’s Equality Day, Aug. 26. Commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote and calls attention to continuing efforts toward full equality.

Canadian GDP was essentially unchanged in May, with growth in services-producing industries (+0.4 per cent) offsetting declines in goods-producing industries (-1 per cent). GDP grew in 14 of 20 subsectors. Canadian real GDP is roughly 2.2 per cent above its pre-pandemic, February 2020 level. Preliminary estimates suggest that output in the Canadian economy grew 0.1 per cent in June.

Unlike the United States, which just experienced back to back quarters of negative GDP growth, the Canadian economy is on track to average a solid 3.5 per cent over the first half of 2022. However, the impact of a clearly slowing US economy and an aggressive Bank of Canada will likely start to slow growth toward the end of this year and into 2023. Indeed, bond markets are already beginning to price in the impact of slower growth (or even recession) with 5-year bond yields down more than 100bps in the last month. If that trend continues, 5-year fixed mortgage rates should follow, providing much needed relief to the housing market. With slower GDP growth, indications that inflation may be nearing its peak, and the fact that the bank's interest rate is now within its neutral range of 2-3 per cent, we expect the bank to begin slowing its pace of rate increases going forward.

Link:  https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-economic-growth-real-gdp-may-2022

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.