Junk Food and the Ideas Labyrinth By Bea Augustine New years usually start with new promises

for undertaking a new habit or letting go of an old one. Promises are certainly to keep, like the special memories that we have stored in our minds, while the variety of new emotions entangles us in its dazzling labyrinth. Yes, we all know how bad habits can be harmful, yet, sometimes, it appears, this is not the case. What we need is new research on a multitude of topics to let us into the facts that we need to know, e.g. shall we eat that so-called junk food or not - sometimes, of course, just on the spur of the moment, for instance when you`re just passing by that McDonalds restaurant, where tons of people make their appointments or just meet to spend a few hours. I will not give here details about socalled junk food experiments that led to better cholesterol levels and weight loss, I think you could find these yourselves if you would like to. My point is why should we be so rigid towards our diets, e.g., when we simply do not know all those facts and figures that make a healthy living? Do you actually know which food is gluten-free, e.g. do you know that risotto and buckwheat are? We could be just a bit more conscious of our own ignorance, which should take us on the road to better knowledge on what to choose and what to avoid, knowing the pros and cons of each option. Then, you will certainly know that you are on the right track, which with time will expand into more and more opportunities. Challenging one`s own beliefs is quite unordinary and I think, we could be sometimes consciously asking questions about the veracity of something that we truly believe to be true. I mean the things that we accept as a norm, like our standards and our views on the climate, the economic situation, the financial crisis, the debt situation, etc. Then, when you question your own beliefs and try to search a new viewpoint, you will be able to get a broader glimpse of the topic and comprehend it in a better way. I am not sure whether that would be an immediate opportunity for someone to quickly thrive on, however, it looks as all but an opportunity to grow up. Yet, do we know when we see an opportunity? Probably, it happens all the time that we simply miss out on something new that could later make us feel better and only later jump up to embrace the possibility. Developing notions into action agenda is just not something that happens so intuitively, we need those brainstorming sessions and a bit of a research around, to make points more feasible and encompassing. Feasibility studies then make us see whether this course of action will be the success that we want to see achieved, be it the simplest project that one would like embark on. There still are so many things that each of us wants to achieve and taking care of oneself and one`s close ones is probably a good thing to do. Starting simple is not just common-sense, it could be our way to be better informed and more open to new ideas for our living. And making promises still stays valid, when we want to attain our goals, as well as keeping to the agenda of continuous improvement that is now focal for anyone in our interfacing with the world around us. Then, I could just wish you to embark on your journey for this new year and get closer to the benchmarks that you have set for yourselves, while enjoying the new notions that will come your way.