Meditation as we age happily....

Did you know that  sleep is the best meditation-
one of the most powerful ways to improve your mind.

Even 5 minutes daily will produce profound benefits. It is proven to counter the effects of aging.As you meditate there will be lack of stress if meditating on a regular basis. It also helps to relieve pain and improves the efficiency of usage of your oxygen. Helps regulate blood pressure. Increases feelings of happiness and peace and contentment.

Complex carbohydrates????????

Good evening....

I am going to refresh everyone re: the definition of a complex carbohydrates...... The main goal of a nutritious diet is to balance your foods in your food groups and avoid raising your blood sugar. Not all starches are equal. Some are more glycemic than others.In this sense they are not complex for very long-Grains including wheat/rice/barley/oats/potatoes/corn and beans -all are very starchy. Most are rolled or puffed or ground or flaked-all being processed foods so when we get into that then we are dealing with immediately, once swallowed, turn into sugar in minutes. Some legumes break into sugar at a slower rate. Short grained rice more glycemic than long grained. Whole gains better for us... all way round
More on this subject-tomorrow evening...

Hippo

Attitude is everything !!!

 The way that you perceive things, sculpts the world about you..
 Do you run with a tank half full or half empty?  Learning
 how to control your attitude will make the difference between
 success and failure.

Hippo has returned.....

Did you know that memories needn't decline as you age. You can actually improve your memory and then it is easier to learn many new skills.
Memories needn't decline as you age.....

There are 7 essential things that you must do to improve your memory.

1. Maintain a positive attitude towards your memory

2. Mobilize your full attention

3. Take advantage of your preferred learning style -Visual or auditory

4. Connect new information to something that you already know

5. Memorize-it will be like a tonic to you

6. Teach what you want to remember

7. Learn how to "mindmap" and memory systems

Sunday-steps on how to memorize.......
I am glad to be back......Hippo

I will be back on Tuesday....Aug 14 th...

I have been very busy-family wedding etc.-not mine !
Hippo

Brain medicine = nutritious food

Balancing act

Food is as powerful a medicine that science can design. Your brain and body requires consistent healthy nutrition.
One of the first places you can improve upon your dietary habits is in the restaurant(fast-food)area.
So many of us eat a standard canadian diet which has far too many refined carbohydrates, too much bad fat and too great a quantity:
Try this quiz..
1.Do you want to go "go large" with your order? It is only 39 cents.
2.Do you want fries?
3.Do you want an appetizer?
4.Do want to begin with rolls or breads?
5.Do you want dessert?
6.Do you want a drink?Perhaps a bigger drink? It is a much better deal
7.Toys come with children's meals.

Refills, bottomless fries, All you can eat buffets.

What do you all think about that questionnaire?

Handling chronic stress...

Emotional trauma and physical trauma can disrupt brain development and changes will occur that are negative to the brain. People traumatized by floods, fires, earthquakes have been studied and it was learned that it does change brain function.
People become fretful, anxious, and moody and often and may experience headaches, bowel problems,
and anxiety. These  conditions will create stress and kill cells in the hippocampus, one of the major memory centers in the temporal lobes. So, a victim must learn how to handle chronic stress forever or until conquered.

Singing in the shower....

How many of you do? Singing especially in the morning begins your day in a happy way. It will wake you up and help with the rhythms of life and singing also has healing qualities. Singing and music have been connected to intelligence, creativity, emotion and memory. It  stimulates the temporal lobe function, which is the area where the brain is involved with memory. Humming a tune can be also be beneficial .

Singing and humming will help you with your mood. As sound activates your brain you will feel more motivated as your brain also begins to feel tuned into the moment.

Too warm for Hippo....

IQ's drop in high heat ...... temporarily....

Tips for a hot Hot day-

Hippo wants to share some hot tips with you....

1. Keep windows closed except at night
2. Use fans if available
3. Avoid steams
4. Wear cottons -try white clothes
5. Drapes-curtains pulled
6. Use a cold spray frequently
7. Avoid alcohol and caffeine
8. Go to shopping mall or air conditioned office or attraction
9. Frequent showers
10. Eat cool suppers and lunches
11. Drink sufficient water
12. Be kind to your pets

Rover wants to tell you how cool he is......

You should get more laughter into your life

Did you know that laughter counteracts stress and is good for the immune system. Laughter can lower blood pressure, trigger a flood of endorphins. Laughter lowers the stress dangerous hormones that suppresses the immune system. On the average an adult laughs only about 12 times a day. We need to bottle that ...So put laughter in your life every  day. Watch a comedy, socialize with positive people.

Good luck on your mission-you will appreciate your laughter.

Feed Your Brain Nutritionally

It was realized many hundreds of years ago how important it was to feed your brain healthily. Also dine in a relaxed atmosphere and to be appreciative while dining.  Leonardo  da  Vinci  gave advice on healthy nourishment 500 years ago. If you want to have a great brain and body you must eat nutritionally in order to feed the seventy five trillion cells in the human body. Below , I will list the  9
essential elements that you require for a healthy menu. Good healthy living is a sign of intelligence.

• Maintaining hydration
• Eat breakfast
• Mental stimulation
• Eliminate the unessential (sugar& sodium,saturated fats)
• Keep moderation in mind
• Appreciate and enjoy dining
• Eat many fruits and vegetables nuts,beans, whole grains, daily
• Avoid completely all trans-fats
• Minimize additives, processing and preservatives 

                                   

Do you you want to age healthily?

"Healthy aging" will make the process much easier if you make an honest effort connect to all the dots.
One of the critical missing links in fitness programs is the lack of  "Poise and Balance" as part of the programs. This can create a great risk due for injuries from falls. "Physical equilibrium = Balance". Physical balance and poise have profound effect on the dignity and grace in our lives.  These are some of the exercises  that  I do on my way to the bus in the AM.

• Walk on curb edge for a reasonable distance
• Training devices for balance such as partially inflated balls
• Move along lightly
• Be more subtle and delicate in your movements (Poise)
• Yoga or tai chi
• Stand on one leg at a time for a good period of time for "you ..

Choose 4 of the above listed exercises and begin training today-You will be much happier each day and it will lower your risk of injury from a fall or illness.
It will increase the amount of oxygen flowing to your brain thus improving you brain.

I will be back to blogging regularly from now on .....Hippo

Canada Day

Hi
I hope you all are enjoying a happy "Canada Day"!   HIPPO

Slacking off... summer hours

Definition of a slacking off has both a positive and a negative connotation. The positive meanings are moving peacefully and slowly. Not tense; loose, slack muscles and not taut. The negative sides to this word are not the most flattering way to be described. Lacking firmness, flaccid , lack of due care and diligence.
I only like the positive part of this definition-it is good to relax now and again and take time to smell the flowers. I have planted a garden on my balcony  in containers and I very pleased with the outcome -even nurturing 1 plant or  a cat or dog or fish-it gives us a purpose-you should give it a try.

Invest in "social wealth"

We all try and prepare for days when we won't be working and so we invest financially. Please , also if you don't do this already, invest in social wealth. That is an abundance of positive and healthy relationships-Firstly it is important to cherish friendships. They are precious and the benefits will multiply many times over through the years. Take some classes-learn a new skill. Dine with others and mentor young people. Surround yourself with positive people. Also tend to improving your listening  skill. A good listener becomes popular in most all . All of these suggestions will help you avert cognitive decline and it will strengthen your immune system.

How do you define wealth?

What does "WEALTH "mean to you? Does it mean a huge income, wellness, state of happiness, large house, or to have a purpose? Do you suppose that there is no wrong or right answer?  True there is no correct answer. You cannot tell if  you are rich, if you look in your bank book. It is our heart that makes person rich and it is what one is as a whole. Do not forget who you are and where you came from.....

Traveling with awareness

Do you find your focus wandering? Don't you have to sometimes remind youself to pay attention? Often, I have noticed that and realize it's time to investigate a little deeper into lack of my awareness of my surroundings. What happens is that we slip into auto -pilot and begin drifting along.

Take a deep breath and enjoy life-sometimes you can lose your senses to what pathway you are on and where it is leading you.

Everyone needs some "respite time"

Not quite that age but striving to attend many more reunions

This is just me checking in after having celebrated my "50th Nursing Reunion" in Ottawa, Ont.. I don't know where to begin-It was a wonderful, fantastic time in my life.  As of Sunday PM , I will begin writing regularly again -Talk to you soon.Hippo

Hippo is taking an R&R

Hello...
I am taking a brief break-for R&R...I will begin writing on June 14 th.  
Keep physically active, Try out some new skill, Enjoy a little mental stimulation.

Appreciate life, Eat nutritionally, Drink enough water, and above all keep up with your socialization.

Plan your summer... Talk to you soon.

Eat moderately and healthy in order to think right..

We are constantly getting bombarded with all sorts of types of promotion that encourages illness. You are asked as you are being seated if you would like to have the larger order for only 49 cents more. Also when you are seated in a restaurant you are immediately asked if you want to go with the "Big"drink.and would you like an appetizer and do you want your bread first. Perhaps you would like a bigger drink because it's a better deal. There are bottomless french fries, and refills for free. Nutrition that is less than healthy is often set as a reward after a busy work day or by a parent  stating- 'If you keep your room tidy for  the week you will be able to go to eat fast food at the end of the week.
All that you are doing is paying extra to be 'obese' and have much 'less brain function'.

Never give up...

Never, ever give up . Many people give up just before they turn the corner and are unable to achieve.
their dreams. "Success seems to be a matter of hanging on after others have let go" by William Feather.

Letting go.....

Let go.......

Allow everything that is presently happening be and accept life the way it is & exactly the way
it isn't. Letting go doesn't mean that you are giving up."Avoid resisting your life."When you experience a negative emotion or you become unsettled you are resisting something in your life and thinking that something is not balanced in your life so you want to change it. Resisting won't work so you may as well  stop emitting negative energy.There are two paths that you can travel along- that is resist and be unhappy or you can decide to let go and accept life exactly the way it is-Then you will be absorbing positive energy and not resisting as you once did.. Remember, as Helen Keller quoted"When one door of happiness closes another door opens;  but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

Overcoming Negative Thoughts.....

  Thumbs down

The first step is to conquer your thoughts and realize their effects on you. These thoughts make you feel  anxious, sad, hopeless and leaves you feeling guilty, Instead of persisting on dwelling upon these thoughts perhaps you can learn from them and use them as trigger to take some positive action. Make note of your mood changing and what was going through your mind at the time. You could find that you think of these same thoughts often and you will become more cognizant to your changes in your mood. Write down when they occur with a date .( just like journalizing) Don't forget to talk about the emotional despondency and what your body experienced. What was your activity at the onset of your mood change that was a cue and what were your thoughts at the time you began recalling something unpleasant? This is sometimes where you feel that you are lacking coping skills for the time being. It is not always a piece of cake for you to journalize all that you felt and thought. These thoughts can gnaw at you if  this continues to happen and you may become a little more depressed. Your goal is to rid yourself of this habit of being consumed by negative thoughts and not being aware of their presence. You are in a vicious circle. You must do something positive now and if you need assistance perhaps ask your family physician for advice.

"It takes time & practice not to think  negatively and a little positivity  will lead to many positive thoughts
or the the other hand
a negative thought can also lead to more negativity'

Keep in mind only positive thoughts

First step in this process is to be very aware of what you are thinking at all times. Thoughts that are negative make you feel unsettled. An inner voice tells us you can't have something or do as you wished  or maybe suggests you are not good enough or you may fail at the task you were hoping to attempt. But it should be recognized as fear , whatever you wished to do was new and out of your comfort zone. Realize that inner voice is you and the only person stopping you from accomplishing  perhaps a new challenge  is you. So become aware and recognize the inner voice and take charge and recognize this situation before that voice takes command.

You can begin now and make a brand new ending..... but no one can make a brand new beginning

No pleasure is a bad thing in moderation

"Moderation is the key to sustainable enjoyment of many of life's pleasures." As Epicurus noted this over 2000 years ago. The good news is that some of the most pleasurable treats or activity or daily foods,when enjoyed in moderation are beneficial to your health. Also if you seek the highest possible quality of a food or activity, (physical or mental) and then focus on your enjoyment you will definitely have a winner.



Title -quote by Epicurus. .Greek Philosopher

Empowerment... Health and Healing

Continuing along with the topic of Spirituality:

Healing is really about "wholeness". Everyone is spiritual by nature. The spiritual dimension becomes more noticeable in the midst of a crisis or a terminal illness/condition and that  is when a  greater new understanding begins developing.
It goes along very gradually as one travels on their journey. They usually improve their coping and  more meaningful thoughts occur and which then reduces the level of stress and increases one's understanding.

One might ask what is the difference between religion and spirituality.
Spirituality is your core essence, fundamentals , "larger than your power" ......a connection that one has in common-somewhat unearthly..
Religion is a set of beliefs and practices and how we choose to execute them and express our spirituality..

Spirituality and how it connects with your Health and Healing

Spirituality is a belief in a power operating in the universe that is greater than yourself. It gives you a sense of connection with all living creatures. The feelings of awareness and meaning of life and development of your personal values and inner peace reveal to us that we are able to develop a spirituality outside religion.
Special acts of kindness, selflessness and altruism are proof that support the above statement. Now the spirituality does perform a role in your health and brain care. It is now being realized that spirituality concerns play a larger role in the healing process. Tomorrow I will write only about spirituality and health and healing.

Coping skills in hard times....

Hi...
I hope you had a great weekend.We did....We had our pot luck party on Saturday night and it was great fun.

The variety of donated nutritious dishes was very inviting and  had a good balance of the food groups.  We did have many giggles. We were talking about the early days in our youth and describing the dwellings that we lived in as kids . Many of us in our group had outdoor plumbing -no hot water heater, shared the same bath water as our brothers and sisters once a week, the old wood stove and curtains  to form rooms or areas for an individual etc. Some of us had no electricity until we became a teen ager. My, we have progressed very quickly in the world today and have a great many facilities available to us.  There were many people with hardships but  above all we had a very fun time. There was more of a sense of community. This is where components such as "socialization"  and "spirituality" as both of these are necessary for survival ... they step into play and will assist you during hard times. More on skills tomorrow evening...

Surprising facts on nutrition of foods.

Hippo's weekly trivia.
Did you know that Vegetables and fruit are able to contribute to your daily fluid intake. Water is very important to drink daily,however you also are drinking water with every bite of produce that you consume.  Apricots, cantaloupe, oranges, pineapple, peaches, watermelon, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, celery,lettuce , cucumber and eggplant consist of approximately 85% water

  
Mental health tips:

#4. Laugh a lot- often
#5. Listen with intent
#6. Keep an open mind

Saturday night Potluck Dinner @ Hippo's

We have decided to have a "wellness and brainfit potluck" on Saturday evening. Each one of us will bring  a healthy dish. It should prove to be very interesting as each of us picked a category from the 15 types of categories that "Seahorse" studied about during the past 3 months of his brain fitness course. Aurora and a couple of the older girls are bringing desserts.(can't wait to see what they are made from) Unshelved is working at the library that day 12 noon to 5.00 PM but will bring his contribution from the market. I hope that "Alveus" got a tasty category as she makes fantastic caesar salad with a yogurt substitution in dressing  We are even having appetizers. Because May is Mental Health month, we will perhaps play "charades" after dinner and use topics for acting out from a list of Mental Health Tips that I am presently sharing and using in every day life. We should take heed of a few of these tonight and practice if you have the opportunity.
  #1. Relax                          
  #2. Smile
  #3. Walk every day

Our Hopes, Emotions and Identity and everything we believe in comes from our Brain

GREEN is where it's at....Temporal lobe and  PINK is the area of occipital lobe

You need to maintain a healthy life style in order to store up some reserves in preparation for any age that your brain might require it. I also had to make some life style changes to enable me to maintain my mental health fitness.The occipital lobe is located in the back portion of the brain and interprets visual stimuli and information. It gets the stimuli from the retina's and receives & interprets information from the eye. The other lobe is called the temporal lobe. This lobe is located on the bottom  side of the brain. Part of this lobe is very well known by myself as my nick name came from  this area known as the as  Hippocampus. I have the nick name of "Hippo"This has  functions that are connected with long time memory.The rest of the Temporal lobe has duties such as emotional responses, auditory perception, short term memory into long term memory for transfer's sake and sensory input. Language and speech production are also other functions that are performed.

Next Stop... Parietal lobe

We will get to our destination soon -so just hold on and absorb some new information or refresh yourself with fresh information. The parietal lobe contains the sensory cortex and is associated with movement,orientation,recognition, and perception of stimuli. There are some regions of the brain that undertake different language and learning tasks. They are connected to another to other regions as they do not work in isolation as others. They are connected by a series of neurons that permit this information to be relayed between regions. Read more about your brain health.