Laughter is Good Medicine and There’s Proof

We’ve all heard the phrase “laughter is good medicine.,” but did you know that there is scientific proof that it’s true? I’ve been reading several different studies about laughter and am impressed by how much good giggles, guffaws, chuckles and chortles can do to our health and well-being.       Laughter is Good Medicine For Our Hearts   A  study at the University of Maryland’s American College of Cardiology found that laughter can reduce your blood pressure and help your blood vessels work better. This, in turn, reduces your risks of cardiovascular disease. Apparently, laughter has an anti-inflammatory effect Read More

Seeing the World as Family

  Do you see the world as family? Last week, a Facebook memory popped up on my feed. It was something I posted 7 years ago, something my then 5 year-old-son said to me as I drove him home from kindergarten one day. He was talking to me about a family that we often carpooled with and had been friends with for some time. He told me that they were part of our family. I responded “Oh really?” To which he replied, “Yes, because the whole world is our family.”  And he was right, the whole world is family, and Read More

How Can You Make a Difference?

The fourth Saturday of October is Make a Difference Day. It has been celebrated since 1992. That year, it was started to mark the Leap Year in a positive way. It was such a success that the organizers decided not to wait until the next Leap Year. Instead, Make a Difference Day as moved to the fourth Saturday in October. This year it is on October 28. Check out the official website at Makeadifferenceday.com. The website describes the purpose of Make a Difference day as follows: Make A Difference Day shows that anyone, no matter of age or background, can Read More

17 Quotes to Help Shine Light During Dark Times

Have you watched the news lately? Maybe you shouldn’t. Some days it seems like all we hear about are tragedies, victims, anger, hate, violence, crime, and wars. The world can seem like a very dark place. It can be discouraging and even frightening. It’s part of the reason I began this blog. I wanted to share some light during dark times. How we talk to ourselves and others has a big effect on how well we handle dark times.  Negative self-talk creates self-doubt, lowers self-esteem, and creates fear, anxiety, and even depression.  The same goes for how we talk about Read More