The Oak
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Live thy Life,
Young and old,
Like yon oak,
Bright in spring,
Living gold;
Summer-rich
Then; and then
Autumn-changed
Soberer-hued
Gold again.
All his leaves
Fall’n at length,
Look, he stands,
Trunk and bough
Naked strength.
Loving Others.
When we show love and compassion to other people, it releases chemicals in the pre-frontal cortex and reward center of the brain that professionals refer to as the “Helperâs High.” People who help others report many positive mental and physical health benefits, including lower levels of stress, lower blood pressure, and relief from depression and physical pain. Research also shows that those who engage in altruistic behavior not only have a higher quality of life, but they also live longer.1 Engaging in some type of regular volunteer activity on at least a monthly basis, or just spending more time doing loving, kind things for the people in your life, helps get you out of your own head, creates well-being for others, and makes you feel good about yourself.
I was sitting in traffic the other day. Probably why I got run over.
Say Adios to Overeating
Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, author of Diet Simple, says the biggest cause of overeating is undereating. “People go too long without eating, and then pig out when they are ravenously hungry.” Rigid diets don’t work for anyone. Include planned snacks in your daily diet to prevent binges. Make sure you allow for treats once a week without feeling guilty. Have a brownie every Friday, and enjoy every bite.
baraClose the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer. ~ Barbara Kingsolver
“The hardest step for a runner to take is the first one out the door.” ~ Ron Clarke
Happiness is a choice. I base my happiness on my own accomplishments and the blessings I’ve been given.
Invictus
William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
  Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
  For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
  I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
  My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
  Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
  Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
  How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
  I am the captain of my soul.
My favorite word is “drool.” It just rolls off the tongue.
Feel Good About Yourself Today
Be sure the people around you make you feel good about you — no matter what your size or health condition. In addition, if close friends encourage you to smoke, overeat, or drink too much, find some new friends who have good health habits and also want a healthier you. Elaine Magee, MPH, Rd, author of more than 20 books, says don’t get hung up on pounds or what size dress you are wearing. “Instead, focus on being healthy from the inside out,” Magee says. “Eat well, and exercise regularly. And remember that you can be sexy and look and feel fabulous and not be thin.”
