A Positive View of Life and Eating Healthy...
By Marja
@buenavida (9984)
Sweden
July 9, 2012 8:15pm CST
These two together can help us achieve almost anything. Johan Venninen is proof of that.
I looked today at movies about a Finnish man who was completely blind most of his life. He was born in 1909 and lived for 99 years. He was a masseur until about age 90 and loved to help people which he really did.
He was also an inventor and lived alone, constructed buildings, cultivated his garden up on a rock to avoid moles, constructed a lot of practical tools to make him able to live like others, go fishing in his boat and navigate on the sea.
He even used dynamite to build a cave with a sauna and a well, as he found a water varicose in the cave when he was building it.
Johan was never bitter, but looked at the problems he had as challenges in a positive way.
The movie is in Finnish, but you can still understand a lot just by looking at this man doing the most incredible things that could be difficult for someone who can see.. http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/artikkelit/johan_on_venninen_20788.html#media=20802
Does this story and movie make you think more positive thoughts??
Don't we have a lot to be grateful for even if our life can be challenging at times??
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Dominique25 (9460)
• United States
10 Jul 12
I definitely agree with you that we have a lot to be greatful for. There are so many people who are less fortunate than we are. We have to have a positive outlook on life. If we don't then we will spend a lot of our time being and feeling negative.
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
11 Jul 12
Yes, just think of what had happened to this man if he had been pessimistic all his life and felt miserable after he lost his sight. I doubt that he would have fulfilled his dreams like he did by being optimistic.
I learned a lot from his attitude and so many others have appreciated these TV documentaries too..
1 person likes this
@Dominique25 (9460)
• United States
12 Jul 12
We can learn a lot from other people like him. There are so many people who could be pessimistic and who are not. I do appreciate their example as well. It encourages us to be thankful for what we have and achieve all that we can.
1 person likes this
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
12 Jul 12
Yeah i second your thought. One should always be positive in his or her outlook and think for the betterment of others.
Besides it is also necessary to maintain a healthy diet in order to stay focussed to achieve your goals.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
13 Jul 12
Yes, both our thoughts and our diet have a lot of influence on how we feel.
This man is a great example of that. He decided to become a vegetarian when he was giving massage to an athlete and felt that his muscles were in perfect condition and learned that he was vegetarian.
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
11 Jul 12
It looks like those who have lived to their 90s have had a positive view on life. Optimism seems to be good for our health..we can all learn a lot from them...
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
12 Jul 12
Amazing! I had a similar breakfast of garden greens (romaine, mint, dandelions) and ten bananas. Am I eating too much?
I guess, germs don't bother him?
You should write an article about him. Yes, we have much to appreciate!
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
13 Jul 12
I guess you are not eating too much, as you are used to this kind of food and as long as you feel great, it must be OK!!
This man must have been immune to most germs, and he looks really healthy! In the first documentary he is almost 90.
Yes, I have thought of writing about him, and as I could not find any texts in English, I'll have to translate.
There are several movies about him so I will have plenty of material for articles. He really was a person who appreciated what he had and will probably encourage many who fight with health problems. 
@jricky1 (6797)
• China
10 Jul 12
I totally agree with you that we should be positive about life and be gratitude about what we have now.I think not too many people recognisize that every new day is a gift,at least we have health and we are able to achieve our dreams,thanks for your positive thoughts.@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
11 Jul 12
Yes, every day is a gift and we can make the best we can of it. We can use the resources we have available. Thank you for your response..
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
10 Jul 12
I'm very grateful for the life I have. Most of what is wrong with me is from a lifetime of smoking. No one to blame but me. I thank Gid fir allowing me to quit smoking without too much difficulty. Life is pretty good even though it's not the life I thought I'd have.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
11 Jul 12
Congratulations on quitting smoking! Our body has incredible resources to clean itself, if we give it the right tools.
The food this man ate, must have kept him healthy, as he never went to a doctor, except for his eyes.
Just that we can write to each other is a huge reason to be grateful for. We can see and read..
Our body has incredible resources to clean itself, if we give it the right tools.
The food this man ate, must have kept him healthy, as he never went to a doctor, except for his eyes.
Just that we can write to each other is a huge reason to be grateful for. We can see and read.. 