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How to Accept Aging Gracefully
“Do not regret growing old. It’s a privilege denied to many.”—Unknown Wow! Where did the time go?? NO ONE wants to get old. If we had our choice, we would likely combine the wisdom of age with the vitality of youth. Ponce de Leon had that in mind when seeking the “Fountain of Youth” in Florida centuries ago. Yet, here we are. If you are a woman aged 55+ reading this article, you understand precisely what I mean about getting older. The aging process affects everyone. It is inescapable. It begins almost imperceptibly—a little ache here, a little wrinkle there, and a few gray hairs—but eventually, it engulfs a person…
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9 Ways to Boost Your Mood Instantly
“Happiness depends upon ourselves.”—Aristotle What is “mood”? “A temporary state of mind or feeling.”—Oxford English Dictionary Many scientists have linked food and mood. For instance, according to PubMed MD: “A number of nutrients and other active substances in foods are thought to have a direct impact on mood.” Further: “It is well known that unhealthy eating patterns can cause mood swings. Blood sugar fluctuates and nutritional imbalances are often to blame. Without a steady source of fuel from foods we eat, our mind and bodies don’t function well.” (Source: MentalHealthFirstaid.org) If you are a mature woman, you may not have noticed that you sometimes have low energy and irritability. Suppose…
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Body Art and Older Women
“I am a canvas of my experiences, my story is etched in lines and shading, and you can read it on my arms, my legs, my shoulders, and my stomach.”—Kat Von D (Note: In this article, tattoos and body art refer to the same thing.) Body art or tattoos are everywhere—so it seems. Rock stars, sports figures, fashion models, and movie stars flaunt them, proudly displaying tattoos on their shoulders, backs, hands, waists, and ankles. Why so popular? Body art is a form of self-expression, and it is something many older women are embracing. The Ancient Art of Tattooing Tattooing is a practice previously used. A 2022 article in the…
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How to Increase Energy in the Human Body
“Every cell in my body vibrates with positive energy.”—OutOfStress.com Physically, humans are frail. A dwarf, he is in muscular power when compared to gorillas, bears, elephants, whales, and a host of other creatures. The ‘strength of a bull’ is proverbial. For example, lowly insects, spiders, and ants can lift fantastic loads in ratio to their own body weights. For instance, environmental scientists observed that an ant suspended by its hind feet could hold in its jaws a dead weight measuring 1,100 times the weight of its own body. For a 150-pound man to equal this phenomenal feat, he would, while hanging high in the air by his feet, must hold…
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Emotional Healing: 6 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)
“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.”—Willie Nelson What Are Thoughts? A thought is “an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurs suddenly in the mind.”—Oxford English Dictionary Brain function produces thoughts, but beyond this fact, neuroscientists do not know where they come from. How the brain works as it relates to the creation of thoughts is still a fascinating topic of scientific discussion. But we all have thoughts. Every day and throughout the day, we constantly think, whether it be a thought, an idea, a memory, an event, an opinion, or a belief about ourselves and the world around us. These thoughts…
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Create a Deliberate Positive Emotional State
“The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.”—Dalai Lama You are in no way a slave to your negative emotions. You can change them. You can create a positive emotional state. Tina’s Story: Tina, a teacher, was raised by an alcoholic mother. For years Tina suffered from feelings of guilt and insecurity. Then she decided to come to grips with the problem. What did she do? “First, I worked to identify the thoughts that caused negative emotions. Whenever these thoughts would surface, I would rethink them rationally and objectively. “Then, I would work on making positive thoughts…
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Can Cannabis Treat Common Health Conditions?
“The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world.”—Carl Sagan Note: Cannabis, Marijuana, Weed, Pot, and Dope all refer to the same substance. Anna grew up in New Mexico in a good family environment. At 16 in 1976, Anna met a few boys from a nearby school who smoked marijuana (pot). Marijuana was easy to buy because many people trafficked cannabis from Mexico. At first, the boys’ strange behavior repulsed Anna. But Jennifer, one of Anna’s girlfriends, was attracted to one of the boys who…
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Meditation to Relieve Anxiety
“Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, bringing with it inner peace.”—Mayo Clinic Staff Pick out your most comfortable chair. Sit down, loosen your skirt or trousers, slip out of your shoes, and close your eyes. Now imagine your feet dangling in a mountain lake’s cold, clear, blue water. Smell the aroma of nearby flowers. Can you hear the happy songs of carefree birds? You feel stimulated by the fresh mountain air. For a few minutes, eliminate, as far as possible, all other thoughts. With this peaceful scene in mind, meditate; focus your mind in silence. Feel better? More relaxed? What Is Meditation? Meditation is an ancient practice that has…
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Midlife Women: The Most Effective Ways to Dominate Co-Occurring Stressors Today
“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”—Voltaire For a violinist to make music, the strings on his instrument must be taut—but only to a degree. If they are too tight, they will snap. But if the strings are too loose, they will produce no sound. The proper amount of tension lies somewhere between the two extremes. It is like stress. Too much can be harmful. But what about no stress at all? While the prospect of no stress might sound appealing, you need pressure—at least to a degree. For instance, imagine crossing a street and suddenly noticing…
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Grow Old: Feel Good Doing It
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”—Henry Ford Despite her 74 years, Eleanor looked surprisingly young and fresh. What was Eleanor’s secret to staying “young?” Eleanor explained: “First of all, I think, to stay young, you need a goal in life. I already had mine in my teens. But I didn’t realize then that my aims would change, that I wouldn’t find my real passion for over 40 years. “But in my teens, I was fascinated with fashion. My goal, I decided then, was to design beautiful clothes for…
