I am by no means a Pollyanna, but I definitely believe in the power of a positive attitude as it affects every aspect of my life. To me, it is only common sense that a positive outlook would affect the systems of my body in a such a way that would enhance good health.

I believe in laughing everyday, especially about the stuff that isn’t the greatest in my life. I enjoying laughing with my husband and kids and I think sometimes when people are having a bad time it can be a stress reducer to imagine the funny comments that a loved one might make about the situation if they were with you.

Sharing meals with others is important - human interaction at the table is wonderful. A good walk clears the mind and is good for the body. A glass of red wine and something chocolate to nibble with it is also a good thing.

Laughter is food for the soul.  Being with friends and family, just kicking back and watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico, the gulls making one last sweep for food, wind chimes catching the ocean breeze… it’s rather poetic in a way.  A glass of wine or a frosty margarita is a key ingredient. 

Whatever worries or stress a person has, wiggling toes in the sand has a medicinal touch.

Walking.  I must have logged a million miles so far in my life.  I walk to solve a problem, to get over a relationship, to stomp out anger until it is gone.  I have a consoling note a seven-year-old niece sent me, which I think is beyond her years (her name is Susan):

"Any Susan may go from place to place.  She may walk.  She may fall.  She may cry.  But how else will Susan change where she is?"

The kid is only seven and she is a certified Zenmaster, in my opinion.  I wonder what else she will do with her life.  I will frame that note.

I’m unemployed so many of my daily activities involve looking to where to send my resume first. My boyfriend is heavily involved in many projects with his oil company, some of which I assist him with. So to relax we go to Wimberley, Texas on some weekends. We live in downtown Houston. The complete change of scenery for two days in the Texas Hill Country relaxes us. 

However, during the week, relaxing means I make dinner and we watch an Astros baseball game or walk over to Minute Maid Park and spend $200 for one game with good seats, hot dogs and beer (which is why we usually stay home). Sometimes we go to a restaurant that has a bar and watch the game in downtown Houston ($120). I’m as much a fan as he is. Unfortunately, the Astros aren’t doing well. So there goes the relaxing as my boyfriend yells at them. I sit quietly and get disappointed, again. But we watch every night, every season, and they haven’t been in the Playoffs in a few years. But they get so close sometimes. These are our evenings right now. How we "relax."

Obviously, Wimberley is the way that truly relaxes us.

If you’re talking about activities that don’t cost money, writing and reading a book relax me. My boyfriend has no hobbies. So when he’s home, we do things together and they always cost money. Good thing he’s still got a job because I couldn’t afford him. On the other hand, I’m cheap. Probably why he keeps me. 

I wonder how much tax money this "research" cost? We have known this in medicine for years, and years, and families knew it, too. It wasn’t long ago that a "social history" was taken on every new floor admit, by an RN, and one thing that was always noted was support systems, or lack hereof, and everyone tired to support the patient, and … protect them, too! Everyone does not have, nor need, a loving family, or a basketful of friends - many people do quite well without being groupies (in fact, they see the wiser of all); however, it was and is important to find out what each person valued, possessed, and NEEDED. Life is ever-changing, what one person experiences at a given period in their life, they may not during another - that’s what is great about life, it keeps changing.

Let’s face it, just going to some doctors will create depression! This afternoon I was swimming with 3 women who have just been "weaned" from a well-publicized drug for their Fibromyalgia! Talk about agony. Those women (out of 19 of us!) have gone through hell, and the last person they ever want to talk to again is a physician (I had encouraged one to contact an academic pharmacologist before things progressed so badly for her).

There are many reasons for despondency, including pharmacological reasons. Let’s not grasp at staws with this story of research about despondent WOMEN (men are vulnerable, too).

Surely, there are far better, more interesting, and valid replicated studies to feature on this website.

Glass - half empty or half full?

Why do we continue to use metaphors like this to perpetuate duality in our thinking.  Why must this glass be half empty or half full when it is full of potential.  The water in the glass holds potential of changing form and substance and the air above the water holds potential of changing form as well.  

The glass is neither empty or full ——-it is Potential, Wholeness, Holiness of life (we both hold water and air in our bodies).