Mia and Max were the best of friends, and they both shared a big love for history. They enjoyed spending time in the library at Crestwood Middle School, where they would read about the past and look at interesting things from long ago. One day, when the rain was pouring outside, they were helping the librarian organize the books when something amazing happened. They found a secret door they had never seen before. Curious, they decided to explore what was behind it.

The door led to a small room filled with all sorts of exciting things. There were old scrolls covered in dust, colorful pottery with intricate designs, and a huge object covered by a cloth that looked very mysterious.

"Hey Max, have you ever seen this room before?" asked Mia, her eyes wide with wonder.

"No, I haven't. It's like we've discovered a hidden treasure trove!" Max replied with excitement in his voice.

They moved closer to the mysterious object covered by the cloth. With a gentle pull, they unveiled it and couldn't believe their eyes. It was a clock, but not like the ones they were used to seeing. This clock had lots of gears, cogs, and shiny metal parts.

"Look at all these gears and shiny things," Mia said, her fingers gently touching the intricate designs.

Max pointed at the clock face. "And check out these special numbers and symbols. They look like they're from a magical world!"

As they examined the clock, Mia and Max reached out to touch its gears. Suddenly, the clock started to emit a soft, warm glow.

"Whoa, what's happening?" whispered Mia, her eyes wide with amazement.

"I think we made it do something!" Max said, just as surprised.

Their excitement was interrupted by a strange sensation. The room began to shake gently, and right before their eyes, a swirling portal appeared in front of them.

"Should we step into it?" Mia asked, a mix of excitement and hesitation in her voice.

Max's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I say we go for it! Who knows where this portal could take us?"

Hand in hand, they looked at each other, took a deep breath, and with a leap of courage, they stepped into the swirling portal, ready for an adventure beyond their wildest dreams.

At first, everything turned dark around them. It felt like being inside a cozy blanket. Then, slowly but surely, they found themselves standing in a place that felt different. The sun was shining brightly, and they could hear birds chirping. When they looked around, they realized that they were not in their own time anymore. They were surrounded by buildings that looked very old and different from what they were used to seeing.

"Max, do you see what I see?" Mia exclaimed, pointing at the big triangular structures in the distance.

Max's eyes widened as he grinned. "Those are pyramids, Mia! We're in ancient Egypt!"

Mia's heart raced with excitement. "No way! We're really in the past!"

As they took in the sights of the bustling city of Alexandria, they noticed people dressed in clothes they had only seen in books, market stalls filled with exotic goods, and, most impressive of all, the gigantic pyramids standing tall in the distance.

"I can't believe it. We're really here!" Mia said, her voice filled with awe.

Suddenly, a friendly voice called out to them. "Welcome, travelers! I am Ahmed, and I'm here to guide you through the wonders of ancient Egypt!"

Mia and Max turned to see a man with a warm smile, dressed in colorful robes that flowed like a river.

"Hi, Ahmed!" Mia greeted him with excitement, feeling like they were about to embark on a grand adventure.

"I sensed that you are not from this time," Ahmed explained. "So I came to offer my help. What brings you to our land?"

Max eagerly shared, "We found a clock at our school, and it somehow brought us here!"

Ahmed's eyes lit up with recognition. "Ah, the time machine! You must have stumbled upon Professor Montgomery's creation. It's a marvelous invention that can transport you to different moments in history!"

Mia and Max listened closely as Ahmed began to explain the magic behind the time machine. The clock, known as the Steampunk Chronometer, was made by a clever inventor named Professor Montgomery a long time ago. Using a mix of ancient artifacts and special technology, the clock could create portals that would take them to different times in history.

"With the Steampunk Chronometer, you have the power to travel anywhere in time," Ahmed said with a smile. "From the mysteries of ancient Egypt to the unknown future, the possibilities are endless!"

The idea of exploring different times in history made Mia and Max's eyes shine with excitement. But they also had questions about how safe it was and whether they could change anything in the past.

"Be cautious," Ahmed warned them. "History is delicate, and even small changes can have big effects. Professor Montgomery made sure that major events can't be changed, but it's best to observe and learn without interfering."

"We promise to be responsible time travelers," Mia assured him with determination.

As their conversation continued, Ahmed shared stories about Professor Montgomery. He was a brave and curious inventor who loved learning about the past. He had created the time machine to explore history, but he had disappeared after a mysterious trip through time, leaving the machine hidden away until Mia and Max found it.

"Some say that Professor Montgomery discovered something incredible during his travels," Ahmed said, a twinkle of mystery in his eyes. "But no one knows for sure what happened to him."

Feeling a mix of wonder and anticipation, Mia and Max knew that they were about to embark on an extraordinary adventure through time. With Ahmed as their guide, they started their journey with a sense of excitement and curiosity.

Maybe you're starting to feel like your writing well has run dry. You've got the perfect title, but no content to fill it with. Or maybe you started writing your book and can't seem to get past chapter one. It's time for some inspiration! Check out these 9 steps that will keep your imagination flowing, and give you endless ideas for new stories!

Step 1

Make a list of your favorite books and movies. What made them so great? Is there something you liked in particular that could inspire an idea for your own writing or story?

Step 2

Join a community like Reddit (r/writingprompts) to get ideas from fellow writers and readers. These prompts can be inspiring and offer great ideas. I also provide writing programs to help, such as Journal Prompts for Writers, and a workshop for How to Build a Dynamic Character.

Step 3

Take a day off from writing to do something else you enjoy. Go for a walk or read your favorite book! Let your mind wander as it tackles another task, and see if interesting thoughts pop up about stories to tell. If they don't at first, keep them in mind and come back another day.

Step 4

Try writing a story from the perspective of someone with an opposite job or responsibilities than you have now. You could be a garbage man instead of a doctor; put yourself in their shoes to see how they might experience your own world. This is great for building characters that have a fresh perspective.

Step 5

Check out your local bookstore and take notes of sections that interest you. Then head to the library or a used bookshop and see what they have in those genres. You never know when inspiration will strike! If nothing grabs hold, research new authors who write similar styles to try something different from what you normally enjoy.

Step 6

Write what your characters want and then throw roadblocks in their way to keep them from getting it! This is a great trick for building conflict that can drive the plot forward. It's also helpful if you're stuck on ideas after writing chapter one - go back to an earlier point where they didn't get what they wanted and try to fix it.

Step 7

Take a look at your writing notebook or document files on your computer. If you've been jotting down ideas as you think of them for future use, check if anything sparks inspiration now! You can also go back through old work that didn't make it to your final draft or write a prequel for an old story.

Step 8

Try writing in the third-person point of view instead of the first-person if you normally use the latter. This will give you different insights into events and let you explore characters that might be more difficult from another perspective. You can also go all-out and try writing in a second-person point of view where you refer to the main character as "you" throughout. Think of how that might give a reader more insight into what's going on!

Step 9

People watch! Go to a cafe, bookstore, library, park, or restaurant and sit and watch the people pass by. If you can, listen in on some conversations. You'll be amazed at what characters you'll discover and the stories you'll find.

I've found that by simply giving myself permission to write about anything I want, whenever I want, I am more likely to just sit down and start writing. This has also opened me up to the idea of using this blog as a place for creative expression. You can get inspiration from just about anywhere! The key is making sure you give yourself the time and space (or permission) to explore your creativity. What's your favorite way to find inspiration?

Find more writing advice from author Kim Bartosch by visiting her blog Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's. Kim's debut young adult novel, ASK THE GIRL, is The Haunting of Hill House meets The Lovely Bones in this evocative and mind-bending psychological thriller following three teen girls solving a treacherous murder.

Children have less knowledge in matters of health, and pound for pound they eat more food, breathe more air and drink more water than an adult. Their hand-to-mouth behaviors and activities close to the ground increase their chances for exposure to hazardous substances. Children’s metabolic pathways are more fragile and immature, so they detoxify and excrete pollutants less efficiently than adults. In addition, children develop rapidly and their growth can be disrupted by hazardous substances. Because of today’s marked increase to toxic exposure, the behavioral disorders and the incidence of infant and childhood cancers in particular are rising at an astronomical rate.

Studies have shown that leading causes of today’s childhood disorders is a combination of dietary issues and environmental toxins. Children are especially vulnerable to toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and manufactured artificial substances, as well as to the processed foods and drinks pushed by the unconscionable food and beverage conglomerates. A substantial number of childhood allergies are attributed to an underlying toxicity and blood tests reveal deficiencies in many important nutrients. It has also been found that some of the drugs children are being given for their conditions actually further deplete some of these necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Leading causes of child poisoning are personal care products, cleaning products, medications, synthetic vitamins, topical creams, tobacco products, antihistamines, pesticides, hydrocarbons, batteries, drugs, alcohol and toxic plants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that every day 374 children up to the age of 19 are treated for poisoning in emergency rooms in the USA. At least two of them die every day.[i] Each year, more than 500,000 children under the age of 5 experience poisoning related to medications. More than 60,000 children are treated in emergency rooms due to accidental unsupervised ingestions each year.

Heavy metals like mercury, manganese, arsenic, aluminum and lead, even at low levels, are extremely harmful to children and can cause ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), autism, depression, spectrum disorder, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and other cognitive disorders.[ii] Heavy metal testing, including blood, hair and urine samples all have drawbacks and are often not conclusive. If metal poisoning is suspected in a child, a comprehensive detox program and elimination diet under the supervision of a highly trained professional is essential. Thankfully, researchers are beginning to uncover many of the causes of child maladies, such as the nutritional deficiencies, toxic chemicals, processed foods, GMOs, food additives, food coloring, preservatives, pesticides, herbicides, phthalates, refined sugars and junk food.

It is normal for children to emit excess energy, get distracted, upset or argumentative, but when these behaviors are out of control and cause harm to the child or others, a diagnosis of a behavioral disorder is often made. Sadly, there is an epidemic of such disorders affecting children worldwide. Research indicates that one in six children in the USA alone is afflicted with developmental and behavioral disorders.[iii] In third world countries, no firm statistics are available, but the disorders are much worse as children are exposed to many more risks, including poverty, malnutrition, lack of education, lack of industrial controls, lack of health care, untreated infectious diseases and unfavorable home environments. One-third of children in low and middle-income countries fail to reach developmental milestones.[iv]

Unfortunately, many allopathic doctors and psychiatrists do not recognize these underlying causes and simply dispense pills and pharmaceutical cocktails to our children that artificially increase the level of chemicals in their young brains. These pills include Ritalin, allergy medication, Trileptal, Concerta, antidepressants like Prozac, painkillers, Adderall and a host of other pharmaceuticals. One in ten children are now on drugs, an increase of over 300% in the last few years. Of course, there may be an organic, underlying medical problem to some of the disorders and all possibilities must be explored, but there is also the potential that a child experiencing these issues is just toxic. These toxins, as we have noted, are everywhere, even in the mother’s womb.[v]

The brain is connected to everything in the body and brain disorders can be caused by what is in the body. Children exhibit a myriad of cognitive symptoms, generally coming from brain malfunctions or the weakest parts of their constitutions. Adverse symptoms can include sleeplessness, anxiety, autism, irrational behavior, hypersensitivity, pain, muscle spasms, cramps, fear, inflammation, a craving for sweets and the many psychological deficit disorders we have noted. For some of these children, the treatment can be relatively simple. We can discontinue their medication and address their nutrient deficiencies. We can also modify their lifestyle by adding natural nutrition and antioxidants, exercise, fresh air, proper rest, and most of all an effective detoxification program. In one study, conducted for at least three months, ADHD was reduced by 60% simply by switching to a healthy diet called a few-foods diet (FFD).[vi] There are a number of other studies that come to similar conclusions. [vii]

To reduce heavy metal toxicity and other toxins, it is imperative to clear and strengthen detoxification pathways, replenish natural vitamins and minerals and supplement the diet with probiotics, which several studies have shown to be effective.[viii] But before diving headlong into any treatment, and before stopping any medication for a child, it is imperative that a person consult a reputable and knowledgeable physician.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could find answers to your child’s infirmities and watch them experience a renewed vitality. What if you could find your child’s optimum level of health and provide them, as well as yourself, a way of living a longer, healthier life. Fasting Firepower provides a compelling overview of what we are all being subjected to and provides genuine solutions. NO ONE SHOULD LEAD A DEBILITATED LIFE FOR LACK OF THIS VITAL INFORMATION. Marjan combines science, history, spiritual wisdom, and over 50 years of personal experience in one of the most insightful books ever written on fasting, detoxification and natural healing. The straightforward answers may surprise you, challenge you, and quite possibly transform a life!

Maybe you don’t feel quite like yourself. Perhaps you are experiencing aches and pains, feeling down and your ailments are interfering with the quality of your daily life. You may simply be suffering from toxic overload, which can manifest anywhere in the body and in a multitude of debilitating ways. Toxins can be found in processed foods and beverages, in our water and soil, and in the air we breathe. A few common symptoms of toxic buildup include brain fog, shortness of breath, headaches, hair loss, fatigue, bad breath, nausea, depression and weight gain. Due to the thousands of chemicals that have been released into our environment, toxic symptoms can run the gamut from mild to excruciating.

It is quite possible that the root cause of your affliction is a toxic buildup in an organ or hidden in tissues deep within. Maybe you’ve been misdiagnosed or told that your discomfort is all in your head. Your doctor may have even prescribed you pills to cover up your symptoms and make you feel better. But left untreated, numerous chemicals and toxins can damage your organs and body tissue, which can lead to disease and possibly death if left untreated. Everyone is at risk.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could find answers to your infirmities and experience a renewed vitality. What if you could find your optimum level of health and live longer? Fasting Firepower provides a compelling overview of what we are being subjected to by the food, beverage, chemical and drug conglomerates and provides genuine solutions. NO ONE SHOULD LEAD A DEBILITATED LIFE FOR LACK OF THIS VITAL INFORMATION. Marjan combines science, history, spiritual wisdom, and over 50 years of personal experience in one of the most insightful books ever written on fasting, detoxification and natural healing. The straightforward answers may surprise you, challenge you, and quite possibly transform your life!