November Happenings from DMCC

by Mark Kalina, MD

Holiday time is "designed" to bring people together to share and celebrate life. For those of the Jewish and Christian faiths, Hanukah and Christmas come in December and are the holidays of the winter season. In America, this is a "big" time of year. The commercialization of this time of year has added to the build-up and specialness of this season. There are very many expectations which accompany this holiday season. The holiday songs all allude to these expectations. It is supposed to be a time of joy, celebration, love, and peace. It is often this but for many it uncovers the emptiness and lack of connection that is their daily reality. The following suggestions are my effort to allow each person to feel the beauty of the season and the opportunity to experience the magic and power inherent in this wonderful life. This holiday season can be all that is advertised. I sincerely hope that each of you feel the love that the holiday season is meant to bring.

(1) Develop and strengthen an Attitude of Gratitude. Yes, there is much negativity and selfishness in our world. Yes, we are in a recession. We all know this. However, we are truly blessed with so much positive energy and amazing gifts that unfortunately we easily come to take for granted and flat out forget far too often. Practicing remembering can bring about major shifts in our attitude and level of happiness. Focusing for a period each day on the amazing good fortune we have brings the good to light. The list of what we all have to be thankful for is long and magical. We only have to REMEMBER!

(2) Do what you have to do to release your body's natural feel-good hormones. Serotonin and endorphins are released with routine activities that are available to all of us on any day. Different people respond better to different activities. We all know what works for us but we come up against blocks which slow and distract our pursuit of happiness. The first step in harnessing a happy state is to recognize these blocks and break through them. There is no shortcut or magic pill which brings happiness. We have to know and do what makes us happy on an ongoing basis. So, the first step is to know yourself (what makes you proud of yourself?). The second and more difficult step is to make the time and devote the energy to DOING whatever it is that releases your good chemicals. The next 8 suggestions are the common releasers of serotonin and endorphins.

(3) EXERCISE !! This basic suggestion has so much power and energy that it has to go first. Our bodies were built to move and make us proud of ourselves. Sure, most of us are NOT going to be famous athletes but we all can reap the rewards of movement and fun. It does not matter what you do, it only matters that you DO something. Whatever puts a smile on your face and involves moving the body for over 10 minutes will work. Walking, running, bicycling, swimming, tennis, golf, dancing (including chair-dancing), yoga, weight-lifting all pass the test. It may not be fun the first time but a little commitment and perseverance bring giant rewards.

(4) Music/Singing. It does not have to be good. Music makes the heart sing. Listening to music is good; generating music is better. Singing with a choir is great. Playing music with a band is also great. However, singing in the shower or singing along to the radio both bring an elevated state.

(5) Creating art. Again, it does not have to be good to anyone else. It only has to be fun for you. Clay, paint, collage, all work. Creativity stimulates the mind and the good hormones. Judging one's work is counter-productive. Letting the creative juices flow is freeing.

(6) Writing. Same principle. Letting out one's thoughts, feelings, and hidden world is really healing. It opens closed channels and brings freedom and release. No one has to read it. Journaling has been studied and shown to make all sorts of medical conditions and negative feeling states (i.e. depression) better.

~ Read Part 2 in the December DMCC newsletter