May 2008 - Vol 3 Issue 5
The Secrets of Health and Happiness
Readers share their advice
Last month we asked you for your best tips for living a healthy, happy life. Many of you were gracious enough to offer your input and advice. And guess what? It turns out that there is no secret after all! The key to happiness and good health is simply a matter of perspective. We are all challenged by health issues and bad days, but the happiest readers report that it is a simple appreciation for the little things in life that bring them the most joy.
All of your tips were fabulous, but Claudia, a “circle of health” reader from NY, really summed up the qualities of living well with her original poem:
Make Like a Bunny!
The key to living happy and healthily
is simply
to make like a bunny:
Hop from place to place,
for such guarantees a steady,
active heartbeat.
Nibble at your veggies thoughtfully,
for greens are overlooked in our diets
and ultimately contain the nutrients and energy
that are absolutely necessary
for a life of superior quality.
Grow your ears long
(listen and consider all)
and keep your vision strong
(such is what all of those carrots are for)
And always keep your cotton tail clean
for the surest sign of health
is excellent personal hygiene.
Thanks Claudia for such a clever and fun approach to a happy and healthy life! Animals sure do seem to know how to live –my cat’s knack for always finding a cozy spot in the sun reminds me of that! Turns out animals also know how to bring us joy, as they top the list of the other health and happiness tips that readers shared.
Find Time for Furry and Fluttery Friends
Several readers pointed out how happy their pets make them. Whether it be daily walks with their dogs, watching their cats play, or even setting up a butterfly garden to revel in the beauty of nature, animals enable us to give and receive love unconditionally.
Establish a Ritual
Many of you pointed out the importance of including simple pleasures in your daily and weekly routines. These include:
- A daily treat – An Adora Calcium, a cup of relaxing tea, or a favorite snack (Anna from NC likes to melt an Adora Calcium onto a graham cracker for her afternoon treat – great idea!).
- A regular health routine – Sandy from WI recommends taking naps when needed and using a neti pot (a remedy for naturally cleaning out the sinuses). While Carla from IN takes a daily dose of flaxseed oil to relieve her dry eyes from the inside out (fish oil works too).
- A social gathering – Cathy from MA knows that friends are a sure source of happiness. Her regular book club meetings offer a great chance for socializing and sharing advice.
Think Positively and Live in the Moment
Worrying wastes energy! Several readers mentioned that by living in the moment vs. fearing what’s to come, they are better able to enjoy themselves. In addition, always seeing the bright side of things and finding humor in even the worst situations really helps. A personal example; it started to rain while I was at the pharmacy. I had forgotten my umbrella, and when I stepped outside I scornfully thought, “OHHH great, it is raining.” That quickly turned to, “Great!!! It is raining!” after I realized my very dirty car was getting a free car wash.
Get Moving
Research never fails to point out the positive benefits of exercise – weight loss, increased energy, improved mood. Reader Mary Beth has found additional advantages for her favorite exercise, water aerobics. She states, “It's like an instant spa - you feel relaxed afterwards, and you sleep well at night.” Rebecca from IL points out that exercise can be done anywhere at anytime. She stays active even while typing emails, simply by sitting on an exercise ball. Her other great get moving tip; “Want to watch your favorite TV show? How about walking forward and back several times or stepping together side to side, doing squats or lunging?”
Live Simply
In all of the tips that we received no one mentioned extravagant vacations, or expensive gadgets to help make life healthier or happier. Instead, readers pointed to living simply and finding little pleasures in their daily lives. Harriet from FL even mentioned her favorite beauty product – baking soda. She uses it as a healthy and inexpensive alternative to deodorants that contain aluminum. We have mentioned baking soda before as a tooth whitener and a nontoxic cleaner. Wow, is there anything the stuff doesn’t do?
Thanks again to everyone who passed on their tips. And to all of you, best wishes for health and happiness always!
Although Claudia was the grand prize winner of a free bag of Adora Calcium. All of the other readers who participated have been given a gift certificate to use in the Adora Online store. Now don’t you wish you sent in your tip too? – Michelle Gibeault Traub, R.D.
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