THANKFULNESS=WEALTH

One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" Very good, Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Yeah!" "And what did you learn?"

 

The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon. When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.

 

His son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!" Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, you've got everything!You can't buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!"

 

Your Turn: No matter how you define wealth, I believe we can all agree that without a thankful heart, none of us are wealthy. Watch how your life becomes richer as you celebrate the practical ideas for giving thanks throughout the year.

 

Affirmation: The key to wealth of spirit is gratitude. (www.brooknoel.com)

Fitness and Happiness!

It's true!!!

Fitness professionals and enthusiasts are well aware of the positive effects that exercise can have on mood. A report from the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (2011; 33 [6], 884–902) takes this common knowledge one step further, suggesting that exercise is associated with feelings of excitement and enthusiasm.

According to the authors, “Physical activity was not associated with pleasant-deactivated, unpleasant–activated or unpleasant–deactivated feelings. People who were more physically active overall had higher pleasant–activated feelings than people who were less physically active. People reported higher levels of pleasant-activated feelings on days when they were more physically active than was typical for them.”

BE AN OPTIMIST!!! 10 TIPS!

Optimism has been shown to increase longevity,
promote happiness, and encourage healthy living.

1.Start the day in a positive way. Find one thing to be happy about — it may be the aroma of your morning coffee, some favorite music, or the unconditional love of a pet.

2. Practice gratitude. Take a moment each day to express
gratitude for something or someone in your life. Even better,
share it with that person. Now you’ve made your day and theirs!

3. Exercise. Endorphins released through exercise are accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook.

4. Do something you love to do. Add a pleasing activity or two to your daily routine, something for the body, mind, or spirit.

5. Look on the bright side. Your thoughts about events in your life affect your feelings about them. Switch your thoughts to a more positive track and your feelings will follow.

6. Try an affirmation a day. Short, inspirational phrases spoken to yourself can have a profound effect on the way you feel about yourself. Some examples: I am strong. I am healthy. I am beautiful. I am in control of my life.

7. Seek out positive people. Your newfound optimism will make you attractive to others. Now surround yourself with like-minded people.

8. Let go of the past. Holding on to bitter feelings drains us of positive emotional energy. Forgive yourself as well as others. Acknowledge what has happened and move on.

9. Get to know yourself. Focus on who you are rather than on perceptions other people may have of you. Meditation and journaling can help you achieve a greater understanding of yourself.

10. Be a balanced optimist. Accept that life throws us curves and feel confident that you can successfully handle whatever comes your way.

(2011, Jewish Home for Aging)

Social Connections Lead to Happiness and Stronger Brains

It turns out that connecting with other people not only makes us feel happier, it also strengthens memory and intellectual performance, as shown by a recent study. Just 10 minutes of interaction was enough to make a difference.