Fall-Winter 2018 Updates
The World Health Organization says that your "health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being (emphasis mine) and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Cheers, Marilyn Wilts Click on Read More below.
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QUOTE OF THE MOMENT
"Our most necessary preoccupations, obviously, ought to be taking care of one another, of every other person, and of the sweet world and discovering the joy of giving part of one's life away. How to proceed is the question."
--William Kittredge, from The Nature of Generosity, quoted by Mark Rozema in his book, Road Trip.
New resources include:
- Harvard researchers identify secrets to a happy life
On March 23, 2016, the *New York Times* published "The Secrets to a Happy Life, From a Harvard Study" by Anahad O'Connor. What Harvard researchers found, in studying factors across the years, is that you are best protected against chronic disease, mental illness and memory decline if you have strong relationships, even if your relationships have many ups and downs. Director Dr. Robert Waldinger, a clinical professor of psychiatry, recently gave a TED Talk in Boston about some of what researches have learned from this first generation Study of Adult Development. - For Sleep: Set the temperature lower
The *Wall Street Journal* includes an article: "The Best Temperature for a Good Night's Sleep; Light and time aren't as important as temperature, new research shows" by Sumathi Reddy. - Happy National Women's Health Week!
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a newsletter on May 9 that provides tips for women on screenings and preventive care, exercise, healthy eating, mental health, and healthy behaviors.
March 2016 Updates
QUOTE OF THE MOMENT "You've got to sing like you don't need the money,
Love like you'll never get hurt,
You've got to dance like nobody's watchin',
It's gotta come from the heart
If you want it to work."
--Old blues/folk song by Susanna Clark, songwriter
Come from the Heart (Youtube: Kathy Mattea, singer)
New resources include:
- Increasing Your Happiness Benefits Your Health
Dr. Vicek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General, has traveled to various communities throughout the country and has witnessed the unexpected benefits happiness can have on public health. - Letting Happiness Flourish in The Classroom
The *New York Times* includes an article, March 9, 2016, by Jessica Lahey, who reviews way a Stanford researcher says we can help children experience happiness. - Symptoms Outdo Diagnoses in Predicting Bipolar disorder in At-Risk Youth The National Institute of Mental Health has published an update on how certain identified symptoms may help predict whether a youth who has one parent with bipolar disorder will go on to develop this disorder
February 2016 Updates
"Life is choice. All day, everyday. Who we talk to, where we sit, what we say, how we say it. And our lives become defined by our choices. It's as simple and as complex as that. And as powerful. So when I'm observing that's what I'm watching for. The choices people make." --Louise Penny in Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
New resources include:
- With the New Year, the National Institute of Mental Health(NIMH) has new and updated information on various mental disorders available to order online for FREE!
- Stepping into Stillness: Maintaining Your Center of Gravity When Caring for a Veteran Loved One I find this handout, provided by the Veterans Administration for caregivers of veterans, useful in guiding my own self care and hope you may find it useful, too.
- Charles Sieber, in The New York Times, January 31, 2016, wrote an extensive article on “What Does a Parrot Know About PTSD? An unexpected bond between damaged birds and traumatized veterans could reveal surprising insights into animal intelligence.” Separating parrots from their social environment causes similar symptoms of PTSD as in humans, and a relationship between two species (parrot and human) suffering in the same ways can help both.
January 2016 Updates
QUOTE OF THE MOMENT "In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present."
-- Lao Tsu, philosopher and poet of ancient China
New resources include:
New resources include:
- Five Easy Questions to Assess and Increase Your Well-Being: a brief article I wrote on how you can use the WHO-5 questionnaire to assess your well-being during the past two weeks, and think about what will increase your experience of well-being.
- A new year’s resolution in a touching Facebook post: excerpts from an article written by Amy Kraft, CBS News, on what positive practice Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, says kept her going after the death of her husband, and her hopes for 2016.
- Six free ways to make yourself smarter in 2016 with online courses from Berkeley to Princeton to the University of Toronto: excerpts from an article written by May Warren for The *Toronto Star,* on free online courses that school you in everything from canine cognition to the financial crisis.
December 2015 Updates
QUOTE OF THE MOMENT
"Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that
can make the difference between damaging your relationship and
deepening it. That factor is attitude."
-- William James (1842-1910), noted for founding the field of psychology in the United States
New resources include:
can make the difference between damaging your relationship and
deepening it. That factor is attitude."
-- William James (1842-1910), noted for founding the field of psychology in the United States
New resources include:
- An excerpt from David Wiegand's review of “Born This Way,” a six episode docu-series, that is airing in the San Francisco Bay Area on Tuesdays, at 10 pm, starting December 8 on the A&E Network. Seven young adults with Down Syndrome (DS) are the real stars as they pursue opportunities for work, romance, and friendships.
- Excerpts from a New York Times article, "Tales of the Super Survivors." David Brooks reports that many people bounce back from traumatic events to be even stronger than before. People with such extraordinary resilience are able to tell new life stories that have two themes: optimism and altrusim.
- A video of an Ode to Joy flashmob, where I feel that the people watching, playing, singing, and listening are expressing their experience of an event that promotes joyous well-being.
November 2015 Updates
QUOTE OF THE MOMENT
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."
-- Julian of Norwich, an English mystic, who wrote the first book in the
English language known to have been written by a woman.
New resources include:
-- Julian of Norwich, an English mystic, who wrote the first book in the
English language known to have been written by a woman.
New resources include:
- Excerpts from an article by Michael Lipson. This article, from the November issue of "Harvard Business Review," describes how meditation works: "To Improve Your Focus, Notice How You Lose It."
- Links to nonprofit organizations in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area that provide meditation resources.
- A video of Alice Barker that makes me smile and shows how her friends care about her well-being: 102 year old dancer sees herself on film for the first time.
October 2015 Updates
"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering."
--Ben Okri, Nigerian Poet & Novelist
New resources include:
--Ben Okri, Nigerian Poet & Novelist
New resources include:
- links to the VA's Caregiver Toolbox with practical resources for caregivers;
- links from the International OCD Foundation on OCD at School: For Kids and For Parents;
- links to four recommended kinds of exercises at the National Center for Aging's webpage.
September 2015 Updates
QUOTE OF THE MOMENT
"Until we change our culture so that mental health is viewed in the same way we view physical health - as one of many important elements of being human - we will continue to fail those in need."
--Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder and President of Give an Hour
New resources include:
"Until we change our culture so that mental health is viewed in the same way we view physical health - as one of many important elements of being human - we will continue to fail those in need."
--Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder and President of Give an Hour
New resources include:
- a link For Teens from NIMH on teenage depression;
- links from DCoE on new suicide prevention tools for patients, families and providers.