William Penn Life, 2012 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-01-01 / 1. szám
What our pets can teach us about staying HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope everyone had a great holiday season. All the decorations are down and back in their boxes. All the gifts are put away, except for the "living" ones. Did your home get a new puppy or kitten for Christmas? We didn't get our new baby in December, but have been facing the challenges of adding a new member to our family. Tina is our new poodle. She is eight months old and little sister to our six-year-old poodle, Tony. We have been spending many hours training and teaching her how to fit in to our "pack." But she is also teaching us a thing or two. Pets can truly improve our overall health, and help us to live much happier lives. Here are a few things we can learn from them. • Walk Every Day. Whether you have four legs or two, walking is the safest way to burn calories and boost heart health. Taking regular walks can help you fight depression and lose weight. It can lower the risk for type 2 diabetes, breast and colon cancer while keeping bones strong and mind sharp. Our Health Corner with Debbie Wolfe, rn • Forget Multitasking. When dogs have a job to do, they give it their undivided attention. It turns out people should probably do the same. Researchers have found that memory and attention suffer in persons that juggle too many things, compared to those who focus on one thing at a time. Studies show that employees actually lose time when multitasking. • • Take Naps. You won't see any pet going from dawn to dusk without any shut-eye. A Stanford study involving about 24,000 people indicates regular nappers are 37 percent less likely to die from heart disease. Short naps can enhance alertness and job performance. • Live in the Moment. This is one of the most important messages we can learn from our pets. In a study called, "A Wandering Mind Is an Unhappy Mind," Harvard University psychologists concluded that people are happiest when doing activities that keep the mind focused, like sex or exercise. Extended planning, reminiscing or thinking about anything other than your current activity can undermine happiness. • Don’t Hold a Grudge. Part of living in the moment is letting bygones be bygones. Let go of old grudges and you'll literally breath easier. Chronic anger has been linked to reduced lung functions, while forgiveness results in lower blood pressure and reduced anxiety. People who forgive also tend to have higher self-esteem. • Wag Your Tail. Ok, so maybe you don't have a tail, but you can smile or put a spring in your step when you are feeling grateful. Researchers have found a connection between gratitude and general well-being. • Maintain Curiosity. Curiosity may be hazardous to a cat's health, but not so for human health. Researchers have found people who are more curious 10 0 January 2012 0 William Penn Life
