THOUGHTS OF MONEY HURTS RELATIONSHIPS

Having the thought of money cross one's mind has a surprising effect only moments later on how a person will respond to an interpersonal situation, tending to make a person more solitary, self-reliant, competitive, and expecting the same from others.

A series of experiments involving staged human interactions, tested whether or not a momentary exposure to the concept of money (such as a mounted poster showing a large dollar bill) would affect how people would respond to others. Unwitting subjects who were presented with challenges and given opportunities to ask for help were much less likely to ask for help if the dollar poster was on the wall in the room. Subjects working on a task were less likely to respond to a request for assistance by a person entering the room if the dollar poster was present.

MEDITATION RESOLVES BINGE EATING

Among the clinical applications of meditation, working with eating disorders is a a new frontier. Researchers believe that meditation restores a harmony between mind and body. Binge eating, on the other hand, represents a disconnect between the two dimensions of the person. A combined research effort, by the Center for the Study of Health, Religion and Spirituality at Indiana State Uniersity, and the Center of Integrative Medicine at Duke University, has made progress reducing binge eating through training in meditation. The training involves both sitting meditation, yoga movements, and meditative breathing. They also train the participants in mindful eating using guided eating meditations. The results have shown positive indications of weight loss and reductions in binge eating.

ACCEPT MISTAKES FOR PROFIT

Sometimes when we make a mistake, it may be that creative part of ourselves has sneaked out. More than simply a "Freudian slip," mistakes can be a way our soul can express itself, free of the constraints of our conscious intentions. Try accepting a mistake, whether on the job, while cooking, or writing a letter, as a clue to a more creative, soulful approach to the situation.

That's the advice of Lane Arye, a voice instructor, in his book, "Unintentional Music" (Hampton Roads). He argues that if we pay attention to what is trying to happen rather than what we think should happen, we can open the door to self-discovery. Try looking at your next mistake with curiousity and love and see what happens.

BREATHE SLOWER AND LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a medical device called RESPeRATE, that trains a person in slowing their breath. Using this device in research studies at the Chicago's Rush University Medical Center, Dr. William J. Elliott found that patients who used the slow-breathing device for 15 minutes a day for two months saw their blood pressure drop 10 to l5 points. Dr. David Anderson is conducting research at the National Institutes of Health to test the idea that it is not relaxation that creates the effect, but that the slower breathing helps the kidney get rid of salt. He has found that people with high blood pressure exhibit what he calls "inhibitory breathing" as a response to stress, which in turn makes it harder for the kidneys to process salt, which in turn raises the blood pressure. The practice of slow breathing retrains these patients in a way that they can help themselves without medication.

So if diet and exercise won't lower your blood pressure, and you don't want to consume one of the many medications doctors prescribe for hypertension, you may wish to learn how to slow down your breathing. If you can slow your breathing down to 10 or less breaths a minute (about half the average rate) you can lower your blood pressure.

SMOOTHIES ARE FAST AND NOURISHING

We all love to share recipes - here is one of my favorites. If you've been out on ski patrol, double the numbers accordingly.

Celery - One stalk or more depending on family size
Carrots - One large or two small
Rainbow chard - One or two large leaves
Lettuce - Two or three large leaves
Pineapple rings - One dried ring soaked overnight in water
Dried cranberries - Soaked overnight in water. One Tbsp. or more. I keep dried fruits in water that has been boiled - another jar is waiting in the wings - add new water to keep it all fresh - you'll need the water or other juice required for blending. Any water left in the kettle after making tea can be kept for soaking dried fruit you keep handy in the refrigerator. For taste and extra health benefits, I add a few shakes of Tumeric and sea vegetables (like Nori or kelp) and a small shake of Cayenne - all are good for taste and digestion.

WARNING: Do not open the blender lid to add extra ingredients without turning it OFF first. I bought a new digital 18 speed Oster blender and decided to add some leaves that were already chopped up. The power of the fast blades shot most of the contents six feet in all directions and decorated walls, ceiling and everything. The spoon did not drop in the blender but was pitched in the middle of the kitchen floor. I included more details of this experience in yesterday's Blog under the headline "Gandkid's Gazette, January 26, 2009." Even more "fun" when the phone rings and you hear the words, "The kids have had their naps and we'll be over in 10 minutes for a visit." I believe I mentioned before that I publish the Gazette each month so the grandchildren can read about themselves in later life.

For alkaline pH balance - we need 20 per cent protein to complete a meal, and the rest can be vegetables or fruits. No processed foods of course.
I often choose pre-cooked brown rice or quinoa cereal for protein - today it was part of a can of Clover Leaf Salmon.
At this point any of the winter vegetables that are cooked (like potatoes with skins left on) squash, or turnips can be added. Then give it a new name and call it "Tasty Stew."

GRANDKID'S GAZETTE, JANUARY 25, 2009

Of winter weather, there's still more, Of falling flakes, and by the door,
Five sets of boots sit in the hall, "Please put me on, we'll have a ball."
We'll see some friends, and have great fun, With sun and snow 'til day is done.
Us three girls, Mom and Dad too, We'll have a visit and play with you.
We'll speed along on quilts of snow, With boots and coats, Away we go.
We'll spend time with GiGi too, With cheers and smiles, And hugs all new.

Our tires crackled over the snow. Off came our boots at GiGi's place. We tucked the stuffed animals in for their naps. Sunbeams danced on the ceiling and our little sister marched around and impressed GiGi who was amazed at how well she walked, especially as she held two of the stuffed animals, one in each arm. She is 13 months old, always full of smiles and GiGi said how kind we three were to each other.

GiGi had just finished making a smoothie. She wasn't used to her new l8- speed Oster Digital Blender. Her old one with just four speeds had worn out. She decided to add a little more of the Rainbow Chard since it was already chopped up. She opened the lid while it was still running on speed seven. That was a big mistake. It should always be shut OFF first. There was a bang like an explosion when the chard was dropped in as the contents fired at the spoon and splashed everything six feet in all directions, redecorating the kitchen. The spoon hadn't fallen in but banged other dishes on its way to its landing spot in the middle of the kitchen floor. She pushed her little stool to the corner to try to reach the ceiling with a long fork wrapped in a cloth to clean splattered spots. Feeling uneasy, trying to balance on the stool, she couldn't reach high enough and gave up. Her phone rang and Daddy said we were on our way for a visit.

The sun catcher hanging in the window that flashes sunbeams had fallen and our Daddy was tall and put it back up for her. The girls were playing princess and queen, and wrapped a fancy scarf around Mommie, to get her ready to attend a royal ball. Daddy looked at the ceiling spots and said he could reach them and sure enough, its all clean now. He noticed the waterfall fixture that GiGi wasn't sure how to hook up. He did that for her too. He also got the audio on the computer working. We're so proud of our Daddy, and our sweet Mommy. And GiGi is so grateful and thanked him many times. She hadn't known we were coming until Daddy phoned. Now is that synchronicity or what? It is also called God's grace. Love, TK with GiGi.

JUGGLING IMPROVES MIND-BODY LINK

According to Michael Gelb, author of More Balls than Hands: Juggling Your Way to Success by Learning to Love Your Mistakes (Prentice Hall Press), practicing juggling calms your mind as it balances your body. He claims that visualizing success while juggling takes advantage of the special mind-body connection by this particular form of relaxed concentration. While other approaches to success may get tangled up in too much thinking, juggling requires letting go of thinking.

It naturally creates what is called in Zen, "beginner's mind," which is totally present in the moment of "now," where visualizations can make their mark.

HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?

It's always interesting to pick up a science magazine that lists some real numbers about a current subject of interest, especially when it concerns longevity. We all want to live a long and healthy life. Let's check out the numbers - knowing how to add and subtract is the main requirement..

The average life expectancy in U.S. is currently 76.9 years.

Add, for: Being a woman . . . . . . . . . . . 2.6
No smoking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0
Body Mass Index between l9 and 24 . . 6.0
No street drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . l.5
No more than one alcoholic drink a day, average . 3.0
Exercise at least 7 hours per week . . . . 6.0
Average age for a woman 102 years
Average age for a man 98.4 years
But if you're a married man, add 2.6 years
This brings the average male life to the same as a woman l02 years
Marriage does not help women live longer!

Dr. C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. (who is the founding president of the American Holistic Medical Association, and the director of the Shealy Wellness Center in Springfield, Missouri, as well as Holos University Graduate Seminary) has a way of adding another 39 more healthy years of living, increasing life expectancy to l41 years. Here's how:
Keep your DHEA level healthy - consult your doctor for details . . l3 years
Keep your calcitonin level optimal - your doctor has details . . . . 13 years
Keep your free radicals low - consult your health professional . . . 13 years

Health professionals and nutritionists will tell you that plenty of organic foods, green leafy vegetables (plenty of green smoothies) fruits, fish and chicken should be used. That will take care of a lot of those free radicals. Until I learn more about the DHEA and calcitonin levels I won't give myself those 26 points but will give myself 13 points for keeping free radicals low and will wind up with ll2 years.
I lost 3 points because of the lack of enough exercise. He says that smoking, overeating, and inactivity along with anger, guilt, depression and anxiety contribute significantly to poor health. The above figures are taken from Dr. Shealy's guest column in Venture Inward Jan/Feb '05,Virginia Beach, VA 23451-2061.

CANCER, A DOCTOR TELLS WHAT HE WOULD DO

It seems to be the worst news possible when one hears that a family member, or anyone else, has cancer. I found the following information in a previous year's Venture Inward magazine. This medical doctor is president of the Whitaker Wellness Institute Medical Clinic in Newport Beach, California. He is author of the monthly newsletter Health & Healing and has written eight books. For more information, the website is www.drwhitaker.com or call 1-800-539-8219. This article is a print of Dr. Whitaker's booklet of the same title.

He tells what his group, as well as many other doctors are doing to halt the cancer epidemic. Dr. Whitaker emphasizes the importance of foods with known anti-cancer properties - soybeans, cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli and cauliflower), leafy green and yellow-orange vegetables, berries, citrus and other fruits, garlic and green tea. The perfectly balanced diet from the internationally famous Kushi Institute in Massachusetts recommends 50 percent whole cereal grains and 20 to 30 percent locally (and preferably organically) grown vegetables, supplemented with smaller amounts of beans, sea vegetables, soup and occasionally white meat, fish and fruit. Many studies have demonstrated the value of this kind of diet in treating cancer patients. Soy Lecithin Granules can be purchased at health stores and includes many other phosphorus containing lipids like Selenium, as a powerful antioxidant that facilitates the quick repair of free-radical damage to DNA - one of the primary causes of cancer. Selenium actually causes cancer cells to self-destruct before they replicate, thereby short-circuiting cancer growth.

Dr. Whitaker also speak of the importance of exercise, finding that those who exercised at least one hour a day reduced their risk of breast cancer by l8 per cent (and 10 percent for half an hour of exercise) compared to those who were sedentary, after a long-term study of over l20,000 people. He considers CoQ10 important. It requires a little fat to be best absorbed, so it is best taken with a meal. Dr. Whitaker says he would take a high potency multivitamin and mineral supplement "To ensure my body had the nutrients it needed in doses adequate to mount an attack on cancer cells." The website given above will give details on how to get the monthly newsletter Health & Healing.

LONELINESS AFFECTS THE SEDENTARY ELDERLY

One in five Americans are lonely, according to a study conducted by the University of Chicago. Loneliness involves feelings of being unhappy, stressed out, friendless, and even hostile. The main difference between lonely and non-lonely people is that the lonely perceive stressful events as threatening and tend to respond passively by withdrawing, whereas non-lonely people respond to stressful events as a challenge.

Loneliness among those over 50 years of age is accompanied by greater incidence of alcoholism, depression, weak immune system responses to illness, impaired sleep, and suicide. The physiological effect of loneliness is greatest on blood pressure, with an average of 30 points higher among the lonely. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, the number two killer in the United States.

Walking, however, reduces blood pressure by an equal amount, according to the study, such that it is the best defense against the health hazards of loneliness.

PAPER WORDS POINT TO HEART ACTION

A new president invited all to join hands with him now to put into action the new future everyone has dreamed about. These dreams are ready for reality, a new day at a time and a new decision at a time by giving performance as paper words leap into the actions of reality. Change is absolute and take-off time is ready to move ahead with decisions and actions.

The tool of words from Abraham Lincoln hover in time and space, have been predicted and are ready to go to work. We're all invited to the work party to build the dream together. The blueprint has been laid out in words, pictures and song. Let's do it. The possibilities are ready for action.

"Who will be our leader?" was the question that was posed by many who seek to know the future. At a conference in Virginia Beach in May of 2007, Gordon Michael Scallion was asked the question. "Who is Lincoln today?" Scallion answered "Lincoln will once again occupy the White House." The person then asked, "Who is Lincoln today? "Obama," was his simple answer.

Barack Obama seems to sense the time is here as even before the swearing in ceremony he symbolically placed these words into action at the Lincoln Memorial.

NAVIGATION BRAIN SITE LARGER IN TAXI DRIVERS

Exercise your brain muscle and it grows stronger and larger. That's the implication of a recent study involving brain scans of London cabbies. These drivers are famous for their encyclopedic knowledge of London's streets and airways, which they must study thoroughly for two years to memorize by heart in order to pass the test to get a license. Researchers at University College, London University compared the brains of 16 male taxi drivers with those of 5 other men of a similar age. According to the results they published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they found that among the cabbies, the back of the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with spatial memory, was larger for the cabbies than for the other men. The longer the men had worked driving a cab, the larger that portion of the brain.

The implication for degenerative brain disease, the researchers noted, may be that if you don't use it, you may lose it.

THE BARBED WIRE TELEPHONE

"Quiet everyone, how many rings was that? I can't hear with all the chatter going on." commanded one of my older sublings as she raised her hand for silence. "That sounded like two shorts and a long," replied one of my brothers.

Another sibling added, "That's Freeds ring number, they were up early this morning because smoke was rising from their chimney when I got up." They lived about a mile from our farm. At that point one or more persons could be heard picking up their phones to listen in. If too many picked up, the quality of the sound was affected. "Please hang up so I can hear better," the caller would say and they usually obliged. That's the way our barbed wire telephone worked back in the late nineteen twenties, most of a century ago. Of course anyone in the community could listen in to these conversations and those not too busy with farm duties often picked up their phones for any of the ring signals to catch up on the general neighbourhood news. The phone line extended only as far as the barbed wire fences did. It would be two more decades before the official tall telephone poles dotted the roadsides in the Orion, Alberta area.

My oldest brother, Paul was considered the genius of the community and seemed to be able to create or fix many of the unfixables. At six foot four inches, his long legs could be seen striding the long fence lines looking for a break where an animal had managed to crawl through creating the problem. He carried tools and extra wire so the fence could be fixed to keep the telephones working. Or it might be a heavy snow that laid the line low. Paul was a very modest man who pointed to help from his younger brothers and from others, a neighbour who had a tool or extra wire needed where the break in the line occurred.

There could be exciting news as well when a new baby arrived. In the spring the news of a chinook wind could mean the Manyberries and Ketchum Creeks would send the spring run-off from the Cypress Hills. The barbed wire telephones could get the news around fast when a bridge was washed out that could cause a road accident. About that time cars were beginning to arrive on the scene. With our present day official telephone sevice we seem to feel the need to have "call display" before we take time to answer it.

RELIGION HELPS TEENS AVOID TROUBLE

The more teenagers participate in regular religious activities, the less likely they are to get into trouble. The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, National Study of Youth and Religion found that there was a strong association between religion and a positive lifestyle for those teenagers who attended religious activities at least once a week. Such teenagers were much less likely to be involved in drugs, crime, truancy, other school problems, or conflicts with parents. They also found this strong association for those teenagers who stated deeply held spiritual views.

Besides staying out of trouble, these teens were also more likely to engage in volunteer activities, sports, and community activities, as well as behaving more safely and having more health-promoting personal habits.

CHILDREN'S SPIRITUAL LIFE HAS BENEFITS

Young children have spiritual perceptions and thoughts, which can be cultivated to help them deal with life's challenges. When asked, "When you hear the word 'God' what do you think of?" Very young children are likely to give concrete answers like, "a big smile in the sky" or "an old man," whereas older children may give answers like "love" or "goodness." Writing in "Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology," Dr. Pat Fosarelli, M.D., at the department of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University School Medicine, reports that children think about God at challenging times, when abused, facing the loss of loved ones, or when ill.

Dr. Fosarelli encourages parents to ask their children to share their thoughts on God and the challenges that children face. Bringing these thoughts out in the open helps the children work out their feelings and leads to better emotional physical, and spiritual adjustment.

SOCIALIZING IS AS IMPORTANT AS EXERCISE

"Pressing the flesh may be just as important as pumping iron if you want to age gracefully," says a report by UniScience Daily University Science. As our population ages, researchers are studying what goes into longevity and quality of life.

Exercise has received much credit for cardiac and skeletal health. Now researchers at the Department of Recreation at the University of Florida found that socializing is just as important as exercising. Exercising with others, as a medium for social interaction, is ideal.

SPIRITUALITY PROTECTS TEENS FROM TOXIC SOCIETY

A recent Gallup poll found that 95 percent of teenagers believe in God, and that one in four teens "consider their spiritual life to be more important to them than it is to their parents," according to an article reported in Research News & Opportunities in Science and Technology by Andrew Weaver and James Garbarino.

In their article they cite research showing that religious activities and spiritual involvement among teenagers is inversely related to drug use, sexual activity, and involvement in violence. They assert that more attention needs to be given by adult authorities to spirituality as an important source of protection and guidance for teenagers, some of whom may believe that adults are not prepared to discuss these topics.

DRINKING FRUIT JUICES REDUCES ALZHEIMERS RISK

Drinking at least three glasses of fruit juice a week reduces the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease by 75 per cent.

According to a new study reported by Britain's Alzheimer's Research Trust, 2,000 people were followed for 10 years, keeping track of what they consumed. Although those who drink more fruit juice could also engage in other healthy lifestyle behaviours, the researchers believe the positive effect of fruit juice comes from the antioxidants they contain.

THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Research has demonstrated the health benefits of the emotion of gratitude. We now also have evidence that the attitude of gratitude is a habit shown more by some people than others.

Questionnaires provided to several hundred college students at Southern Methodist University and the University of California at Davis, and over l,000 adults via the Internet, measured several aspects of gratitude.

One analysis of the resulting data, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, showed that people differ in how readily they experience and express gratitude and that their friends notice and confirm these self-reports.

Another analysis revealed that those with a more grateful disposition experience more positive emotions generally, feel greater well-being, demonstrate more prosocial behaviours and traits, and express more religiousness and spirituality. Another analysis of the data showed that the more a person had a grateful disposition, the less envy and materialism did the person have, reinforcing the conclusion that gratitude may be associated with greater degrees of spirituality.

DRINKING TEA SUPPORTS BETTER HEALTH

Tea drinkers have less chance of developing certain diseases, including cancer and coronary health disease, than non-drinkers. According to a study conducted at Kings College, London, and reported in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a review of the past 15 years' worth of epidemiological studies that contained data on tea consumption, showed that those who drank at least three cups of tea a day showed significantly reduced risk of various health impediments.

The research noted that the effect is created by the flavonoids, the polyphenol antioxidants, that tea contains. There were no noted health hazards observed with up to eight cups of tea daily. The researchers commented that drinking tea might be more healthy than drinking water, especially if tea motivates people more than water does to drink several cups a day.

MEDITATION IMPROVES INSULIN LEVELS

According to a study conducted at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and reported in Archives of Internal Medicine, heart patients who practiced meditation in addition to following their doctors' traditional prescription of diet, exercise, and medication showed an improvement in insulin function.

As in previous research, this study showed that meditation also lowered blood pressure. The current study, funded by a grant from the National Complementary Medicine and the National Center for Research Resources, is the first to demonstrate an effect of meditation upon insulin levels.
The researchers are uncertain as to the basis for this effect, but they speculated that the most likely mechanism is that meditation decreases the body's stress response, possibly by lowering blood levels of cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone.

QUALITY SLEEP PROMOTES CREATIVITY

Scientists now have the hard evidence they needed to support what everyone already believes: a good night's sleep makes you more creative than a sleepless night. Many studies have shown that the brain continues to work on the day's problems during sleep. But does the brain's work during sleep provide any improvement in creativity with regard to solving the problem? That question has remained unanswered until a recent study involving a mathematical puzzle.

In this study, researchers at the University of Luebeck asked participants to learn how to perform a series of mathematical puzzles. With practice, participants improved their performance on these puzzles. According to the report of a study published in the journal Nature, after this first day of initial practice some participants received eight hours of sleep, while others were kept awake all night. That next day, the participants continued their work on the same type of puzzles. What they didn't realize was that, although practice helps in solving these puzzles, there was a hidden pattern in the puzzles that would show how to solve all the puzzles easily. On the second day, more than twice as many of the sleep-fulfilled participants spontaneously discovered this hidden clue as did the sleep-deprived participants.

The researchers speculate that during sleep, the brain rearranges its memories, restructuring the information in such a way as to make insights more probable.

ELEPHANTS DEMONSTRATE SELF AWARENESS

"If you're happy and you know it, pat your head." That's how "Happy," a female elephant at the Bronx Zoo demonstrated self-awareness. She was trained to tap a red cross with her trunk. Then, after a researcher painted a red cross on her forehead and placed her in front of an eight-foot-tall mirror, she reached up with her trunk and tapped the target. Thus she passed the "mirror test", the industry standard for testing self-awareness in animals. Once thought to be the exclusive purview of humans, self-awareness has thus been discovered in chimpanzees and dolphins. Now elephants have joined this exclusive club. According to the report of this research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, other elephants in the study gave indications of self-awareness in front of the mirror, such as by opening the mouth wide and peering into its reflection in the mirror.

THE WAY YOU EAT IS IMPORTANT

Consider the saying, "You are what you eat." The way we eat will greatly affect the qualities that we obtain from our food. A recent study demonstrated that eating slowly led to greater emotional satisfaction even though less food was consumed.

In the study, conducted at the University of Rhode Island and reported in the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, volunteer female college students ate pasta to the point of "comfortable fullness." In one condition, the researcher instructed the women to eat as fast as possible. In the second condition, the instructions were to eat slowly, putting the fork down with each bite.

Afterwards, researchers calculated that the first group consumed an average of 646 calories in nine minutes while the second group consumed an average of 579 calories in 29 minutes. Interviews with the women an hour later indicates that the fast eaters were now less satisfied and more hungry than the slow eaters. Eat slowly, eat less, and enjoy it more - that seems to be the motto.

THE HEALING ENERGY OF JOY

After a very difficult time in her own life, Gladys Taylor McGarey M.D. tells us in her column in "Venture Inward", "It's important to understand that to be joyous does not mean there will not be times of sadness or depression. We find our life full of mountaintops and valleys so that the mountain top experiences can help us through the work that is done in the valley. Life would be very dull and bland if we did not have our ups and downs, our good times and our hard times. The important aspect of this is to go through the valley and not be stuck in it. It takes work and perseverance to walk through the valley. It has been said that hard jobs are done by those who can, impossible jobs are done by those who care, and transforming jobs are done by those who are committed. Joy comes from being present in the moment-by-moment experiences of life whether they are "good" or "bad" so that in the very experiencing of them we are transformed."

"Joy is not found in superficial pleasures, which can be pleasant and help us get through some hard times, but true joy is deeper than that - it does not look to things on the outside to give us joy, but comes from the inner experiencing of the at-one-ment of body, mind, and spirit."

Dr. McGarey sums it up "Joy and sorrow are so interrelated that at times of true deep joy we cry. "I often cry as a baby is being delivered. I cry at weddings at times. Tears of joy can be the most profound experience of joy. How important joy and laughter are in the whole experience of healing. When the energy is stuck at the level of the adrenals because of anger, judgment, disappointment, or fear, laughter can move that energy. With laughter the diaphragm literally tickles and juggles the adrenals so that energy is activated and moved up into the love center. Some of the most joyful people I know have suffered physically and emotionally, but have not allowed themselves to remain in their difficult space. They understand that the dark times add interest and definition to their lives. Our challenge is to cultivate the joyfulness and not let it get lost in sadness."

THE APOLOGY

IT'S GOOD TO SAY "I'M SORRY"

The act of apologizing after hurting someone has distinct and important consequences, according to research summarized in the book "The Power of Apology" (John Wile & Sons) by marriage and family therapist Beverly Engle. Hearing an apology from the perpetrator of a wrong lowers the blood pressure of the wronged person and often facilitates the experience of an emotional healing. By making an apology, the perpetrator can relinquish guilt feelings and begin a process of rehabilitation.

An apology also helps the wronged person reach a state of forgiveness, so necessary to health and feelings of well-being. One study, for example, showed that when the perpetrator apologizes, it makes it possible for the victim to experience empathy for the perpetrator. The victim's feelings of empathy for the perpetrator is crucial to the victim's ability to forgive and move on.

THANKS BE TO GRATITUDE

If you find time to experience gratitude, you'll be thankful that you did. Spending time in that pleasurable state of consciousness (William Blake called gratitude "Heaven itself") is proving to have health benefits. The John Templeton Foundation brought together scholars and researchers for a two-day conference in Texas to explore the topic of gratitude. What is it, exactly? How can it best be fostered? Can it be studied scientifically? The answer to that last question is clearly, Yes!

Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and author of the Psychology of Ultimate Concerns: "Motivation and Spirituality in Personality" Guilford Press), reported the results of his research studying people who found time in their lives to experience gratitude. Compared to a control group, these people experienced fewer physical symptoms, were more optimistic and had more energy.

The implication of this research is that in the late afternoon, when you feel yourself slacking, think of something that makes you feel grateful, and you'll find it to be the pause that brings you new spirit!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"The best yet," was the chorus that met Connie the day after our Banquet on December 13th. But she modestly waved us off and gave credit to her helpers. Three volunteers offer to roast the turkeys (Connie watches for the bargains). There is the food to purchase and so many details to plan. Heidi is always looking for more volunteers in her entertainment department. There are many stories to be told, prose or poetry, recounting early days in our province as well as from prairie days. Heidi leads the orchestra with her harp, Sebastain plays his mandolin, the sweet strains of the violin are added by Don, as Jake tucks in the guitars runs. Everyone enjoys singing carols that put us all in the seasons mood.

The muscle men arrange tables and keep watch for ice on the sidewalks after a few flakes of melting snow. The big snow waited another week before descending with a blast. A thin layer of ice before the heavy snow moved in leaving a tricky balancing act for walkers trying to stay upright. Vancouver is having the same problem this year. Speaking of the snow shovels, I took a push with one but was happy to give it back to the more efficient strata council member. Ray, Jake and Ted invite anyone with a strong heart to join the "The Swinging Shovel" club.

There is an old saying, "The walls have ears," and I've heard so many speak about the work involved in keeping the sidewalks safe. The rest of us are happy to help any way we are able. Since living in a condo development, one could add another saying, "The windows have eyes." We all do feel very grateful for those who keep an eye on sidewalk safety. Those who live in the even numbered condos have an ideal view. When meeting at the mail box they are happy to report "I see the three musketeers have cleared the walk and we can more safely walk to town." According to doctors (check first of course) this exercise is good for the heart and strengthens the bones as well.

HEART ACHES FROM INACTIVITY

During research which was conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and reported in the "American Medical Association," investigators followed more than 900 women. It showed that to prevent heart disease, it may be more important to be active than it is to be thin, according to this research. During the start of this study, more than three fourths of the women were overweight. Their average age was 58. More than half developed some symptoms of heart disease, such as a heart attack or stroke. Sixty eight women died.

When researchers computed the statistical relationships, they found that regardless of the weight of the women, it was their level of physical activity that predicted whether or not they developed heart disease.

THE BEETHOVEN FACTOR

Whatever hurts you, if it doesn't kill you, will make you stronger. The idea that overcoming adversity builds new muscles for living more creatively is more than folk wisdom. It has scientific evidence to support it.

In his book "The Beethoven Factor: The New Postive Psychology of Hardiness, Happiness, Healing, and Hope (Hampton Roads Pub.), Paul Pearsall, Ph.D., uses the example of the famous composer to introduce the immense body of research now labeled as "positive psychology." He notes that in addition to PTSD (post-traumatic shock syndrome) there is evidence for PTTR, or post-traumatic thriving response, a reaction that is created by SIG, or stress-induced growth.

Positive psychology is founded on four basic areas of research: the hardiness of individuals, the happiness that results from a total involvement in life, the importance of finding meaning in one's life, the importance of optimism, and finding ways in which our actions make a difference.

BUNDLING TO CONSERVE HEAT

All this week the residents and businesses in Vancouver have been sending messages to the CBC radio news room to complain about the problems resulting from the unusual daily snowstorms. One lady needing groceries was looking through the window from her seventeenth floor condo home. She sees her car still blocked in a snowbank. At least she still has heat in her home. There have been power outages for hours at a time in some areas. Unusual cold weather patterns further north are having similar problems as well with a layer of ice on the roads and sidewalks. When another snowstorm covers the ice the result is dangerous slippery driving conditions. It's the same when trying to keeping upright when walking. There isn't enough snow removal equipment to handle it all.

It just might be a good idea to ask some of our grandparents for some tips about how they handled winter challenges and conserved heat in the old days. For example there is a knock at the door of a one room prairie home. A young man has spotted the dim coal oil light of this home. He has heard about a nearby coal mine where he might be able to get a job. The darkness has fallen, he is cold and lost and needs a place to sleep for the night. They have two beds, one for the farmer and his wife and the other for their teen age daughter. The baby sleeps with the parents at all times for warmth and to satisfy his need for warm meals at all hours.

The temperature has dropped and it's too cold to sleep in a haystack if he could even find one in the dark. "We can help you with bundling then," the farmer says. They have three quilts. The guest and the farmer's daughter are each wrapped separately with a quilt and belted singly. This conserves heat and keeps them warmer than if they did have two beds. The cooking stove gets an extra lump of coal to keep the fire banked through the night. That way everyone will sleep better and find no opportunity for "spooning." He might be thinking of a future Sunday afternoon, visiting this same family and spooning with the farmer's daughter, having a chance to hold hands and hoping to have the nerve to ask her father for his daughter's hand in marriage.