Tag Archives: health

Happiness is… a bit of work, but worth it

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…or, says Tal Ben-shahar who teaches the world to focus on the good, “Positive emotions are key elements in the development of a resilient psychological immune system based on optimism and self esteem.”

“Attaining lasting happiness requires that we enjoy the journey on our way toward a destination we deem valuable. Happiness, therefore, is not about making it to the peak of the mountain, nor is it about climbing aimlessly around the mountain: happiness is the experience of climbing toward the peak”

Tal Ben-Shahar is an author and lecturer at Harvard University. He taught the most popular course at Harvard on “Positive Psychology” and the university’s third most popular course on “The Psychology of Leadership”—with a total of more than 1,400 students.

Ben-Shahar consults and lectures around the world to executives in multi-national corporations, the general public, and at-risk populations.

Six tips to help YOU get happy:
Advice from Tal Ben-Shahar.
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Superbowl Sunday: Just Calm Down!

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Heart Attack Awareness

I’ve put together some health tips that will work for you during Superbowl Sunday, the World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Kentucky Derby (here in my home state, I’m proud to say), and all the days in between, in fact. Read on for information on healthy hearts as well as avoiding domestic violence/anger issues on the big day. We want you to be healthy enough to enjoy the party when your team brings home the win!! And if the score doesn’t go your way, well, all the more reason to read on…
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Options in childbirth

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“If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any…”
From A Good Birth, A Safe Birth

The Bradley Method is one of several forms of childbirth education; another well-known option is Lamaze, which promotes a vision for the future “a world of confident women choosing normal birth. A normal birth is one that unfolds naturally, free of unnecessary interventions.” I think, having had six babies (so far?), that the main factor in maintaining confidence and preserving normalcy (I was always “high risk” but I was able to avoid the unnecessary, including avoiding pain-reducing drugs) is the personal touch. My friend Angela, who I know very well, is an amazing, confident and beautiful friend, wife, mother and community volunteer. She’s also a doula!
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Riders…for health

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It’s that time of year– when New Year’s Resolutions unfortunately start to tarnish in their appeal. But I have an inspiring report on a serious way to get moving while helping yourself get/stay healthy like you may have resolved to do a few weeks ago at the beginning of January AND helping others at the same time.

If we all lived like this, maybe we could even eliminate entropy!

This humanitarian project is like the original Iditarod Trail race to deliver essential medicine to a remote locale. But instead of being cold, this new project races in the heat of the continent of Africa. Barry Coleman and Andrea Coleman, a British husband-and-wife team, “saddled up” motorbikes, which are perfectly suited for travel in the harsh African landscape, where roads are often practically impassable or nonexistent. In a few years, the Riders for Health project took on larger tasks to meet the medical needs of rural Africa.

What does the project say about itself? “We are working to make sure all health workers in Africa have access to reliable transportation so they can reach the most isolated and vulnerable people with regular and predictable health care.”

What did the Times (UK) say about Riders for Health? YouTube features this story showing some of the workers, riders and clients. Riders for Health trains doctors, nurses and health workers to ride motorbikes safely and has developed a system for self-sufficiency within each locally-run program module. The ‘preventative maintenance’ system maintains the bikes in Africa’s harsh environment.

Fast facts about Riders for Health
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Wear your hat. and scarf. and mittens.

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Shawl

Can you get a breath of fresh air indoors as well as outdoors? The Environmental Protection Agency says “yes” if a few guidelines and reminders help us along. From their online booklet:

People also react very differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants. Further research is needed to better understand which health effects occur after exposure to the average pollutant concentrations found in homes and which occur from the higher concentrations that occur for short periods of time.

But Mark Palmer asks in his article Too hot for your own good if overly warmed air indoors detracts from overall well-being. Reading the article, I am inclined to agree. In his case, it began with a “he said / she said” debate about the bedroom thermostat! Next, we begin to realize that humans adapted first to cold weather by wearing clothing – layers of clothing. (Mr. Palmer also says we can layer our favorite but unsightly clothing pieces deep underneath where no one else will be the wiser!)

There is something immeasurably satisfying about living in a big city, as I do, and experiencing the weather more or less as it is.

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Horse therapy

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Thunderhoof designs

I never met a horse I didn’t like. My father grew up on a farm with horses – I’ll get him to share a fond memory. I love a good horse story, too. I’ve been told that horse is a strong “power animal” according to shamanic tradition.

For all native peoples the arrival and domestication of Horse shortened the distance of journeys making travel easier. This made it more possible to visit with distant clans and communities, which increased the ability to communicate and to strengthen relationships. It also enabled people to experience the world beyond their immediate environment.

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Health patio of the north

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Ice Road, Barrow, Alaska (USA)

A delightful and interesting garden of the north- way north- the tundra itself – Barrow, Alaska (USA) was graciously shared with us by Jessica Damiano, of Garden Detective (blog.) The catchy tag line of this blog? “A garden blog by Jessica Damiano that gets to the root of things.” (literal LOL)

I learned all about Anne Brygger from Barrow, Alaska, her blog, Tundra Garden, and it was a lot of fun. Thanks!
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Tonal language

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Are you tonedeaf? Does it matter? [Well, it does to these people.] Music therapy is beneficial to health, if you are an active (musical) or passive (nonmusical) participant, according to a Los Angeles Times article today. It goes on to say not all studies on music therapy are clear, but brain studies show that the “ancient” part of the human brain that governs basic drives such as hunger, thirst and sex also ‘lights up’ to music.
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