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When María Branyas Morera died in 2024 at the age of 117, she left more than memories. She left science a gift: samples of her microbiome.

Researchers discovered her gut was as diverse as someone decades younger: rich in beneficial bacteria linked to resilience and longevity. Her daily yoghurt habit and Mediterranean diet may have helped.

While we can't all inherit "lucky genes", nurturing our microbiome may be one way to support lifelong health.

n a recent paper in Cell Reports Medicine, researchers presented what may be the most detailed scientific investigation of a supercentenarian (a person aged 110 or older). Before her death, Branyas agreed to participate in research aimed at uncovering how she lived such a long and healthy life.

When scientists compared her samples with those of people who had not reached such exceptional ages, the genetic results were unsurprising: Branyas carried protective variants that guard against common diseases.

But they also looked at something over which we have more control – the gut microbiome.

This microbiome is the vast community of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that live in the intestines.…

A group of birdwatchers arriving at a nature reserve on the New South Wales Mid North Coast has spotted one of the country's rarest birds before even leaving the car park.

The group had just got to Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park in the Queens Lake Nature Reserve recently, when an eagle-eyed twitcher spotted a critically endangered regent honeyeater.

According to BirdLife Australia, there have only been five reports of the bird in the Port Macquarie area in the past decade.

Hastings Birdwatchers conservation officer Peter West was one of the few people among the group of about 20 who had seen the species before.

A Conservation-Bred Regent Honeyeater and Chick
(Supplied: Lachlan Hall)

"We got out of the car and the first thing someone said was, 'There's a regent honeyeater,'" Mr West said.

"To be honest I didn't believe they were telling me the truth, but it was true.

"The lady who organised the morning had a plan, which went out the window, and I don't think we got very far from the car park at all."

Mr West said they saw two regent honeyeaters in the reserve south of Port Macquarie, feeding with other types of honeyeaters in the trees.…

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As a Passionate Natural Health Researcher and CEO of Several Websites and Creation with a Passionate Care and Concern for Others Health and Happiness,
I was so into everything of long hours duration on a daily basis including many half nights and weekends. I do find my Work of Creativity and Research VERY INTERESTING to the point where I could “Live on Air” so to speak, neglecting meals often when I start a Project and work right through till I finish it – regardless of my Own Personal Health Needs, so Vital in Life for ALL of Us, not some of us.

PLEASE CARE FOR YOUR EYES!

Funny thing is, as an Inspirational Writer and Spiritual Writer, I really believe in “Practicing what I Preach” that for me is the Golden Standard – and I will not Compromise with that, as like many of you out there, I dislike Hypocrisy in any shape or form, be it religious, political or other. Yet when it comes to Health, I do Practice what I Preach – when it comes to things which are Vital and Essential – but looking back now, I wasn’t Fully practicing my Beliefs as a Researcher when it comes to My Own Health really.…

HEY THESE ARE REALLY GOOD. YOU SHOULD GIVE SOME A TRY.
SOMETIMES WE ONLY NEED THE SIMPLE THINGS - NOT COMPLICATED.

You don’t need a weekend retreat or hours of meditation to calm down.

According to Science, just five minutes of small, intentional actions can help your body relax.

Take Five Deep Breaths

Your breath is directly connected to your Nervous System.

Deep, slow breathing can lower blood pressure, calm your heart rate, and reduce cortisol - the stress hormone linked to poor sleep and brain fog.

Try "coherent breathing": inhale for six seconds, exhale for six - steady and slow.

Hug Someone Or Hold A Hand

Touch releases oxytocin, the "love hormone" that helps to regulate stress.

A 20-second hug can lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Self-touch works too - place a hand on your heart, rub your arms, or gently touch your face.

Step Outside In The Sunshine

Natural light helps reset your body clock, boosts vitamin D, and improves heart rate variability.

Just two minutes outdoors can improve your mood and reduce inflammation. Even standing on a sunny balcony counts.

Take A Brisk Five Minute Walk

Movement boosts blood flow to the brain and activates the "default mode network", which supports daydreaming and creativity.…

Life can be a wild ride, throwing experiences at you that reshape and redefine you in unexpected ways. And guess what? Many of these experiences, according to psychology, are quietly making you a better person.

Let’s get personal. We’ve all had moments that challenged us, made us grow, or changed our perspective.

But did you know that these very experiences might have been subtly improving you as a person? Now that’s food for thought!

Let’s dive in and explore ten life experiences that psychology says have been quietly transforming you into a better version of yourself.

And remember, it’s not about the big, monumental changes – sometimes it’s the quiet ones that make the loudest impact.

Wiser and Brighter through
Struggles and Triumphs

1) Embracing failure

Failure is a fact of life. It’s unavoidable. But how we react to failure is what truly defines us.

Psychologists have found that those who see failure as a learning opportunity, rather than a setback, exhibit higher levels of resilience and personal growth.

This doesn’t mean that failure doesn’t sting; but it’s about shifting perspective and seeing it as a stepping stone to success.…

Do you like Nice Stories? I like Nice Stories and don’t have much time to read them often. When noticing this Title come up on my Mobile, I made time to read it immediately, even though I was about to do something that very minute, and decided to put other things aside for 15-30 Mins while I place it on Ours Australia for You to share the Joy of reading it. So forget Politics Squabbles and what-not for a while, would you like to join me?

This Essay is by Kris Ann Valdez from Business Insider

Neighbour Friendships At Their Best -
It Doesn't Get Bett
er Than This!

My husband and I found a sinkhole in our backyard. When we received a high bid to fix it, we decided to D.I.Y. the project following our contractor friend's detailed instructions.

The job required a few tons of dirt — more than our Subaru Forester could haul. My husband had eyed our neighbour's truck in the driveway. Even though we had lived next door to each other for 11 years, I really only knew that his name was Gary and that he was a retired bachelor.…

Naming Children is So Important because most times, they have these Names
for Life. Every name has a meaning that is being spoken when we call someone
by that name.

Some of us are happy with our names, some are not. Nicknames can come in handy when we would rather have a different name. For some people, a change of name becomes necessary when we are really unhappy with our name.

There are some really odd names being used these days like "Carr" for boys and "Atlas" for girls. Seriously, would you like one of those for a name?

I've also met a girl in her 30s whose mother called her "Bo" after a ship and a very nice young man in his 20s whose parents actually called him "Bratt" - that is his official name! Can you believe that!?

Some parents choose names like "Beverly" for a boy or "Charlee" for a girl.
And some websites encourage parents to super-impose a personality or a career on a child through choice of names?

At the end of this Article, I will give you Links for two Extensive Lists of Boys and Girls Names I spent about 4-5 months Researching: Elegant Names and Beautiful Names for Girls and Smart Names and Good Names for Boys.…

PREACHERS OR CULPRITS? LET THE WISE PERSON SHOW IF YOU FAIL
TO READ BENEFICIAL PROVERBS IN YOUR UNOPENED BIBLES.

Many Unsuspecting Church People are Bewitched by False Teachers and Preachers.

That Breed are FIERCE on the Inside and Not HUMAN.
And you are Playing into Their Hand.

Any Self-Respecting, Decent Living Person can Show you in their Character, the difference between a Godly Person and a Merciless Opportunist. They can Teach you the Principles of FAMILY FIRST and COMMONSENSE. They can Teach you the difference between Helping the Poor OR your Pain for Preacher's GAIN. There is plenty of that with Politicians in the World. So they're used to such Scavengers dressed up in Fancy Suits - they don't wish to take on more!

It actually grieves Jesus that you behave in such a way believing Everything they say. He did say things like "Watch out for Hirelings" not taking Preachers at Face Value. Yet in Spiritual Stupor, you Fail to Recognise them? He said things like don't let the Wise in the World be Wiser.…

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Learn how to cultivate happiness through mindful choices and healthy habits.

Have you ever looked at someone who seems to radiate joy and wondered, "Are they just lucky?" It's easy to assume that people who seem to have had easier lives—stable families, good education, successful careers—are simply fortunate when it comes to happiness. Conversely, we might believe those who have faced significant challenges are destined to struggle to find joy.

But is happiness just a matter of luck? After a lifetime of exploring this question, I've come to a different conclusion.

Learning from Life's Challenges

Throughout my life, I've sought out individuals who seem genuinely happy, regardless of their external circumstances. These aren't necessarily the wealthiest, most attractive, or most accomplished individuals. They are simply people who seem to be thriving, despite whatever life throws their way. And when I ask them about the turning point in their lives, the moment that led to their current state of well-being, the answer is always the same: challenges.

These individuals have faced difficulties, just like everyone else. But instead of being defeated by them, they learned and grew from their experiences.…

Learning the Beauty of Small Talk
It can be Beneficial

Whether it's at a party, a friend's wedding, or the workplace, some people just dread small talk. And while these events are great places to meet new people, it can bring more anxiety than excitement for some. They might worry that it will be boring, awkward, or that they'll run out of things to say. Then there are people who believe small talk represents meaningless and trivial conversation. But it doesn't have to be that way! In reality, increased well-being and positivity are some of the benefits of small talk.

Be interested in things

People with hobbies and interests always seem to have a topic or an opinion to share. Get inspired by them, and you'll have a launching point to get someone else involved in conversation.

Get your mind right

If you spend the week before the event anticipating and worrying because you know you'll feel uncomfortable, you're setting yourself up for failure. Try to remember why you're going, whether it's to celebrate a friend or connect with your coworkers.

Reduce anxiety

Some people may approach small talk with anxiety. To curb your anxiety, stay rational and positive.…