A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that helps reveal how your tissues and organs are functioning. A PET scan uses a radioactive drug (tracer) to show this activity. This scan can sometimes detect disease before it shows up on other imaging tests. The PET technique allows researchers to study the normal processes in the brain (central nervous system) of normal individuals and patients with neurologic illnesses without physical/structural damage to the brain. The scan captures images of the activity of the brain after radioactive “tracers” have been absorbed into the bloodstream. When a region of the brain is active, it uses more fuel in the form of oxygen and sugar (glucose).
compassion, courage, humility, peace with oneself and with others. All that we do should be in service to the Light in some way, large or small, magnificent or mundane. This is not a single accomplishment or realization that you achieve and then are done. There may be moments of realization, instants of blinding clarity and understanding that enhance our foundation and inspire us to continue, but we are never done. Living in service to the Light is a process, a constant striving to always create more Light and to continue striving even, or especially, when we blow it. Easy to say and one of the most difficult tasks we will ever face on a daily basis. The fundamental tools for living this kind of service to the Light are Mindfulness and Love.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness, or living consciously, is a hard-won skill and requires unceasing practice and refinement. Mindfulness means not going through life on “cruise control,” but being truly aware of ourselves and our environment – the people, the physical and spiritual circumstances surrounding us – as close to 100% of the time as we can manage. Some days the percentage will be higher than others, but the point is not to be perfect, but to strive for the highest percentage we can reach on any given day (hence the practice and refinement).
The components of Mindfulness are self-honesty, observation, evaluation, insight and integrity. Self-honesty is the lynchpin without which the other components fall to pieces. If I cannot be honest with myself about my feelings, my motivations, my needs and my desires, I cannot be accurate in my observations or evaluations, I cannot trust the insight I receive to be untainted, and I cannot interact with myself or others with integrity. If, however, I am honest about and with myself, I am better able to compensate for my biases, faults and w
