Dear Reader, How is it that one person can look like a college student and the other middle-aged while both are in their early 30s? Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Elissa Epel get to the bottom of aging in their book The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer. Telomeres are the... Continue Reading →
A Breath of Fresh Air
Dear Reader, Whoever coined the phrase "home sweet home" surely must not have spent 23+ hours at his residence for any significant period of time. My physical world has shrunken as a result of the pandemic, and, at times I feel crippled by the restrictions that prohibit us to move about freely. On the morning... Continue Reading →
[Review] 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do
Dear Reader, We are not doomed to be upset just because something does not turn out the way that we planned. In 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, psychologist Amy Morin discusses key steps that everyone can take to help improve their emotions, outlook, and general life satisfaction all by focusing on developing mental... Continue Reading →
Happiness Here and Now
Dear Reader, The present and engaged mind is the mortal enemy of stress. Last week, I took a course on presentation skills and had an opportunity to give a three-minute talk on a topic of my choosing. Encouraged to speak about something that makes our heart sing, I immediately thought to make stress the theme... Continue Reading →
Happy Single-Minded Creatures
Dear Reader, Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused. I listen to podcasts, audiobooks, and television while I perform chores or other mundane activities. While I find the chatter of dialogue through my earbuds to be a great comfort, I also realize that my split attention rips me away from my surroundings. It can be tempting... Continue Reading →
Pencil It In
Dear Reader, Sometimes “finding the time” can feel like a treasure hunt rather than a simple task. We’ve all got things going on, but on occasion our schedules feel like too much to handle. I am lucky enough to have a manageable calendar this spring, however, with an irregular work schedule and a course, settling... Continue Reading →
Two Steps Forward, One Step Sideways
Dear Reader, When I was in high school, I remember one of my friends proclaiming that 26 is the average age of a first marriage in the US. Years later, I cannot remember from which website or magazine this was gleaned, however, this factoid for some reason is still stuck within the fibers of my... Continue Reading →
Do Not Bathe in the Toxic Swamp
Dear Reader, Everyone is busy with something and I am no exception. I have made a (mental) list of New Year’s resolutions for myself and I’m finding it hard to make time to do everything that I would like to do consistently. One of my 2020 challenges is to run a half marathon in May.... Continue Reading →
In Search of Awe
Dear Reader, When was the last time that you saw something so magnificent that were in awe? Was it seeing the Grand Canyon, a California red wood, or a famous work of art perhaps? Feeling awestruck is a powerful experience that has many positive effects. I recently read an article called “Awesome awe: The emotion... Continue Reading →
Where Do I Exist?
Dear Reader, How big is your existence? Do you have a large family, an abundance of friends, and call a few different locations home? Or, perhaps, does your path cross with fewer people and your home is just one tiny spot on the map? On my afternoon commute today, I started to think about my... Continue Reading →