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| Happy People Win Newsletter |
Volume 6, Issue 10
October 2012 | |
| NOTE: if you are using Outlook to view this and it has strange spaces, please click on "click here to view it in Web browser" at the top and it will look as it was intended to look. ☺ Thanks!! |
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 Happy October
I had a WONDERFUL month, travelled a lot and spoke to some fabulous groups. One of the best was the Central California Women's Conference. I spoke twice, met amazing women, and signed books for hours. I hear a lot of stories when I sign books for people; it is staggering the number of people who are going through very tough times. And it is interesting how some wallow in the sadness and others bounce back. One of the other speakers at the Women's Conference was Kathy Buckley. Billed as "America's First Hearing Impaired Comedienne," Kathy was incorrectly labeled "retarded" as a child (no one realized she was deaf), is a cervical cancer survivor, was molested as a child, was severely injured after being run over by a lifeguard's jeep while lying on the beach and it doesn't stop there. She suffered more trauma than any of us could ever imagine, yet she found humor as her life raft. Her powerful message made us laugh and cry. I adore her. To read about Kathy Click here.
So how does she so it? I believe it is a combination of resilience and attitude. I am fascinated by the topic of resilience, so much that I decided to work on developing a new presentation entirely on this topic. The American Psychological Association (APA) says "Resilience is not a trait that people either have or do not have. It involves behaviors, thoughts, and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone." THAT is good news. For more information, check out: Building Resilience.
And one more thing. The APA site states, "Many studies show that the primary factor in resilience is having caring and supportive relationships within and outside the family. Relationships that create love and trust, provide role models, and offer encouragement and reassurance help bolster a person's resilience." Check out what these parents did:
I'd say this boy has some amazing, supportive parents and is well on his way to a positive future. ♥
I hope your month is spectacular!
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MORE Little Health Tips for BIG Results
In 20 seconds: Reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. When your meal contains protein, fiber, and even fat, your body's insulin response slows, stabilizing your blood sugar. Munch bread with some butter or olive oil, or make a PB&J sandwich with more PB and less J. In one study of more than 32,000 women, those whose diets had the highest glycemic load (a measure of how quickly a food spikes your blood sugar) had more than twice the risk of heart disease compared with those whose diets had the lowest load.
In 7 minutes: Prolong your life.
Instead of sitting when you poke around on Facebook, stand up and perch your laptop on a high countertop. A recent Australian study found that every hour of television people watched each day (trolling the Internet is an equally sedentary activity) increased their risk of dying from heart disease by 18%. Alternate standing and sitting while you're online or watching TV, and you can eliminate the risk.
What to do right now: While recent research has established that long commutes are associated with high blood pressure, higher weight, and lower fitness levels, stewing over traffic can also increase your blood pressure and thus interfere with your health. So, while it may seem cheesy, smile, even if you don't feel like it. The effect is not only contagious, but the actual act of smiling and feeling your cheeks lift upward can fool you into feeling happy. Then pull over, call your office to let them know you'll be late, and turn on your favorite tunes to create a more relaxing atmosphere as you merge back into traffic. Studies show that people who listen to music in the car have lower respiration rates than those who don't turn on the tunes.
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Staying Calm
- GLO -
A stick of your favorite sugar-free gum can take the bite out of a bad day. Research in the journal Appetite shows gum chewers are more focused, less anxious and have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than their gumless counterparts. The act of chewing stimulates blood flow to the brain-making us feel more alert-and makes us think of pleasant social situations such as meal times, distracting us from worries. 
Panicked about an upcoming deadline? Laugh it off with your favorite YouTube video. Laughter or simply anticipating laughter is enough to reduce cortisol levels by nearly half, according to research from Loma Linda University in California. Like exercise, laughter reduces levels of cholesterol and cortisol and increases levels of feel-good hormones like dopamine. (Jean's note: Found a GREAT site that makes me literally laugh out loud. Dog Shaming) 
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When The Doctor Says This Won't Hurt A Bit - And Incredibly, It's True
Rachel Zimmerman brought her six-year-old daughter into Children's Hospital in Boston needing sutures for a gash on her forehead. Dr. Baruch Krauss happened to be on duty and that changed everything. His research into managing pain in children helped make the experience painless for all. Krauss, an MD, trained as a clinical psychologist (and also has a Master's degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education!) and his combined experience has helped him create a system that eliminates fear and anxiety in both the children and their parents, which in turn reduces pain.
I urge you to check the article out:When The Doctor Says This Won't Hurt A Bit - And Incredibly, It's True
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