In an excerpt from Feeling Great: Creating a Life of Optimism, Enthusiasm and Contentment by Dadi Janki, Peter Vegso, and Kelly Johnson, the authors write: Optimism opens a door in difficult or hopeless situations. Optimism knows that there is always a way, no matter how many doors have been shut, and it believes that there is always a good alternative. No matter what the crisis, an optimistic outlook will tell you that the situation you are facing is a sign that you need to find a different way of thinking or a new way of doing things.

Last week Reuters reported that home improvement chain Lowe’s Cos Inc will stop selling a type of pesticide suspected of causing a decline in honeybee populations needed to pollinate key American crops, following a few U.S. retailers who have taken similar steps last year. The class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, are sold by agrichemical companies to boost yields of staple crops but are also used widely on annual and perennial plants used in lawns and gardens. Scientists, consumer groups, beekeepers and others say bee deaths are linked to the neonic pesticides.

The April Newsletter is out! Merlian News is now translated into over 50 languages. Just go to www.merliannews.com , upper right hand corner to Google Translate and use the drop down menu. Also, don’t forget to check us out on Facebook & Twitter and please take a look at our Website of the Month!

Q: Li Chen, can you help to resolve the emotions of anger and grief peacefully? A: Dear One, painful emotions are always difficult. This does not mean it is necessary always to resolve them peacefully. This may be a surprising response, so let us look at these two powerful emotions. Grief is an expression of loss of those who are beloved. It is an expression of honor in this sense. The passing of someone who has been important to you can be a sustained grief — there are many religions who suggest that a period of time be set aside to allow for grieving…

Officials in Greenburgh, NY are looking into designating park area into organic composting site. The Town proposal aims to reduce waste by as much as 30% and save taxpayers money. “…If the Landmark creates an organic recycling compost site on their property for their tenants it could generate significant momentum that could encourage more organic recycling throughout Westchester! If schools encourage source separation–if major land owners encourage their tenants to source separate –if major businesses and governments do the same —we will be able to REDUCE our waste and save significant taxpayer dollars. ”

Stephen Thomson and Michael Guarino have done readers a real service in Retreats In Print. Based on years of notes and anecdotes from their live workshops and retreats, Volume 1, “Spirit Guides and Invisible Influence,” is a treasure trove of knowledge about our guides, their purpose, how to learn more about them and how some may move into or out of our lives over time based on our interests and what’s happening in our lives.

Dr. Vivian Goldschmidt just reported on her website www.saveourbones.com about a “new” breakthrough in the treatment of osteoporosis — not using drugs!! Of course, this is something she has been advocating and educating about for years. Readers of her website and emails will be familiar with her ground breaking work using diet and exercise to reverse and reduce the effects of osteoporosis on bone health. She writes that “t his is the first time ever that the WCO, which has been meeting for 17 years, has focused on a non-pharmaceutical protocol for osteoporosis.”

The Large Hadron Collider, or LHC, as it is known, has restarted this week in Switzerland after a two year hiatus for rebuilding and refitting. The facility conducts particle beam experiments and is famous for identifying the Higgs Boson particle, or “God particle,” in 2012, thought to be the source of the universe’s creation… some of the things that the Large Hadron Collider will be looking for during its next round of experiments will be more information about the Higgs boson and how it works. Scientists at CERN will also be trying to create the particles that are hypothesized to make up dark matter as well as evidence for the first supersymmetric particle .

Visiting the Institute’s website, I am reminded again of what a remarkable resource the Institute of Noetic Sciences has become. They offer cutting edge research into healing, consciousness, and world transformation as well as books, teleseminars and education materials. In addition to a marvelous online store, there are lively discussion boards and community groups with which to participate.