Posts Tagged by Happiness
Finding Comfort In K-9s
| April 25, 2013 | Posted by Maddie under Caregiving, Happiness |
Home grown in Boston, MA, EasierLiving and it’s employees found the recent events at the Boston Marathon close to home and to the heart. In a search for my own healing and understanding of the event, I visited the growing memorial on Bolyston St the Saturday following the tragedy and the capture of Suspect #2. While the mood of the visitors was subdued and reflective, the moment of healing was brightened by the presence of 5 or 6 patient, loving K-9′s.
Beautiful dogs ranging in age from 2 to 10 were scattered among the crowd, bringing back hope and smiles to the people trying to find answers and peace. More specifically, these pups were part of the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program. While the dogs are not trained to be therapy animals, the Canine Good Citizen program includes dogs who are trained to be calm, respectful and loving. 
Representing there part in the national support Boston received after the April 15th bombings, the dogs sat respectfully being pet, massaged, belly-rubbed and kissed by the people visiting the memorial site.
In the past we have written of the benefits pets can make on the well being of people with mental or physically illness and disability. Often, though pets are beneficial, they are impractical due to living spaces, health conditions or cognitive ability. Therapy dogs (or cats or birds or any other kind of loved animal) can be a great option! If you notice your loved one is struggling to stay happy or depression is taking over their day – try a little pet therapy!! While places in the community may have visiting options, you can also borrow a friends pet or bring a loved one to a pet store or adoption agency. However the therapy pet is found, the affects are undeniable in your loved one!
The Secret to Living Longer…
| November 27, 2012 | Posted by Rachel under Happiness |
…Positivity.
Have you ever wondered why some people make it to their late 90s feeling great while others live much shorter lives? A new study finds that the secret to living more than 100-years-old may be a certain type ofpersonality: outgoing, optimistic, easy-going and engaged. Researchers with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine studied the personality traits of 243 adults with an average age of 97.6 years and found that they were likely to exhibit these traits. They found that these people clearly had positive attitudes towards life, and most considered laughter an important part of life and had a large social network.
Your Furry Friends Benefit Your Health, too!
| October 21, 2011 | Posted by Ronni under Health, Wellness |
Recently, I have been trying to make a case to adopt a dog and extend my family of two to a family of three. I tried for months to down play the responsibility and added expense of caring for a pet, but none of it worked.
My winning argument, surprisingly, was tied to the health benefits of owning a pet. Before my research on the topic, I was unaware that pets do indeed increase healthy living in several ways.
Here are Six Top Health Benefits to Owning a Pet…
- Stress Relief – Pets are great listeners! Recent research shows, when conducting a task that is stressful, people experienced less stress when their pets were present compared to a close friend or spouse. Everyone can do with a little stress relief now and then.
- Social Circle Grows – Socializing is not only necessary for a well-trained pet; self-confidence and communication skills of pet-owners also benefit enormously from a thriving social circle. No matter where you go with a pet, you will most likely get attention. Many say a pet even does wonders for their love life! I don’t think I’d use your pet boa constrictor as a wingman, however.
- Pets for Every Age – Studies show no matter your age, dogs and cats prove to be great companions for your health. As a child being around dogs and cats can build immunity to pet hair and dander. Also, “Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious burst if there is an animal in the home, says Lynette Hart PH.D., associate professor at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (as reported on WebMD.com).
- Good for the Mind – Study after study has shown that pets reduce depression among adults. For people suffering with AIDS, pets can act as a strong source of comfort. For people without a disease, cuddling or playing with a pet can often eases the mind from personal troubles.
- They Protect You – Pets with a strong intuitive nature or great reaction skills can often save people in life or death situations. Like a woman in Massachusetts this week; she was walking her two dogs when the three walked over downed power lines. One of her dogs was unfortunately killed by the electricity, but the other pulled her away from the lines and barked to signal help was needed!
- More Fun and More Exercise – Having a pet is a lot of responsibility; pets like dogs require a lot of energy release. By playing with or walking a pet can benefit you as well as your furry friend. Not only does it force you to stay active and get in shape, but the exercise also releases endorphins in your brain that physically make you happy!
Can Laughter Help Heal?
| August 17, 2011 | Posted by Ronni under Aging, Happiness, Health |
When the medical field is overtaken by trail procedures, medications and surgeries, it seems insignificant to discuss laughter as a source of healing. Could becoming healthy really be that simple? Laugh more?
It seems so.
Prevention Magazine reports that people with cardiovascular disease are 40% less likely to laugh at life’s little hiccups than those without any heart complications. Bloggers across the web describe incredible occurrences and instances of overcoming disease due to laughter.
It’s not that the simple, positive act changes the enzymes that cancer or disease manifests. It’s that laughter is proven to change perception. Things that once seemed impossible become manageable and attainable. It also is contagious. Laughter of a positive nature spreads like wild fire.
So next time you spill milk at breakfast or someone steals your parking spot at the mall – just laugh. You will live healthier and possibly longer if you do. Also, maybe someone else will laugh with you – and improve their life too!
Want to Live Longer? Be Friendly at Work
| August 15, 2011 | Posted by Ronni under Happiness, Wellness |
A recent study out of Tel Aviv University reported that being friendly at work not only boosts office productivity, but also employee health! The study suggests that people who had the support of colleagues and generally positive social interactions in the office were less likely to die over the course of a 20-year period than those without a friendly work environment.
Also found in the study: when both male and female workers claimed to have more freedom over their daily tasks and hold a position of power within their company, men had a lower risk of death while the risk rose by 70% in women!
The author, Dr. Sharon Toker, concluded this may be drastically different due to “second shift” responsibilities, the social claim that working women are still being held responsible for the daily domestic tasks. She says, it’s more likely for a woman to hold more than one role, such as “senior worker” and “mother”, and this may cause more stress.
Dr. Toker notes an “increase in face-to-face exchanges” may help to elevate stresses in the office and promote a friendly atmosphere. Her suggestions include planning company outings, coffee corners for chatting during breaks and even peer-assistance programs where employees can talk confidentially.
There are other ways to create a friendly work environment that you, as a co-worker, can employ. We have put together 5 useful tips you may want to remember!
Tips for a Friendly Work Environment
- Remember More Heads are Better than One. It’s ok to not like a co-worker’s idea; it’s how you handle the dissent that is important. Listen to the idea or plan in its entirety before shooting it down. You may find an aspect to it that you actually think will work well. Collaboration sometimes makes for the best laid out plans and most effective projects!
- Connect with Co-workers. I suggest this be something more than the interoffice memo the CEO sent out at 8am that morning. This can be sports, music, movies or even fun events going on around town! You’ll be amazed how much people come out of their shell when they know they share a common interest with you.
- Confront a Co-worker with Concerns. Regardless of how discreet you thing you are, someone always know when they are being talked about in secret. Venting to a close friend is one thing; talking to every passer-by about the idiotic thing Joe Shmoe said at the weekly board meeting is propagating stress and negativity in an office. A person will respect you more, in the end, if you bring a problem directly to them – no matter how small.
- Embrace Change. Change is inevitable yet is one of the number one reasons for stress in the office. Whether it is a new employee, team member, policy or executive promotion – try to work through the change before you reject it. If you do decide to reject it, try to calmly go through the proper channels. Running at it full force with your horns out isn’t going to solve the problem in your favor.
- Smile. It’s simple really. It’s been said over and over: if you smile you push yourself into a state of positivity. Not only that, but you also help someone to reach positivity as well! Smile and say hello when you pass a co-worker on the way to the restroom or to get a glass of water. Invite them along to the office watering hole or offer to get them a glass! A smile really does go a long way, and so does a simple act of kindness.
Source for Study Information:
O’Conner, Anahad, “Friendly Workplace Linked to Longer Life”, New York Times Well Blog, August 5, 2011, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/05/friendly-workplace-linked-to-longer-life/
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