The Longevity Project

Van Gogh

Well, I am already putting my new National Gallery membership to good use. Beside getting me in free to the permanent galleries, I was able to view a visiting exhibition of 47 paintings by Van Gogh for half the admission price. Which is all to the good since I already saw the show at full price earlier in the season.  Landscapes and florals were at the focus and I was struck by how interesting Van Gogh's perspectives are. Faced with a flat field to paint, he put everything on angles to create interest. And he seems to have played with the proportions of foreground, mid-ground and background, with emphasis on the foreground. All different ways of looking at things and placing them in a painting. Much food for thought and inspiration for my own painting. Vincent has given me a new way of looking at things.

Membership to the Arts

This was a gift that is going to keep on giving.  The gift of a year's membership to the National Gallery, from a dear friend, is going to motivate me to take many visits there this coming year.  It will inspire me, uplift me and  nudge me to do more of my own painting. Imagine in the dead of winter, being able to wander the galleries at my whim, free-of-charge, to take in all those wonderful colours, textures and images. Sensory stimulation when it is much needed. Thank you R! 

Tumeric

Tumeric, the spice of India for thousands of years, just think curries. The main ingredient in tumeric is curcumin, a natural antiseptic, antibacterial agent, anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. That's a whole lot of power to pack into one delicious spice. And if that wasn't enough to encourage you to use it in your diet, this wonder spice may aid in fat metabolism, making it useful for weight control. Research is being conducted to determine whether tumeric may have properties that can prevent or treat various types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and arthritis.

Quinoa

Quinoa, pronounced keen-wa. How is it that it has taken me so long to find this super food? This ancient seed, from a vegetable related to Swiss chard, spinach and beets, was a favourite of the Incas.

Packed with nine essential amino acids, it has more protein than rice, millet or wheat. Gluten-free, it is a complex carbohydrate with a low glycemic index, low on cholesterol and rich in fibre (almost twice as much as grains).

If this wasn't enough, quinoa is a source of calcium (1 cup of cooked quinoa contains 30 milligrams), potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, riboflavin (B2), lysine (essential for issue growth and repair)  and manganese (an antioxidant).

The Joy of Fountain Pens

Ever since I received my first pink Shaeffer fountain pen, at around age nine or so, with its standard blue ink cartridges, I have loved writing with them. In my twenties, I graduated to the much coveted Waterman fountain pens, nestled in a royal blue case with gold lettering and a white satin lining. Oh, how beautifully the nib slid across the page when I wrote with it.  Such happiness from something so simple.  A few years ago, I wandered into a Montreal paper shop that sold ink cartridges in exciting new shades marked violet, south sea blue, orange indien and vert olive. Oh the joy! I immediately purchased them, but did I try them upon my return home? No I did not. I put them in a drawer and eventually forgot about them.  

But now that I am looking at small ways to improve my lot, I remember how much I loved writing with fountain pens. So why shouldn't I allow myself to experience that happiness on a daily basis by carrying a fountain pen with me?  I have pulled out my pens and those gorgeous coloured inks. And I will use them, maybe even every day.  How many times do me forgot what beings us happiness, the small wee things that take almost no effort to include in our daily lives?

Wheat Belly

Feng Shui

Balance

So many activities, not to mention simply staying on our feet, require good balance. Balance training is important to everyone (not just the elderly who are more prone to falls and the serious complications that can arise). I wondered if there are things that I can do to not only maintain but to improve my balance.

It shouldn't come as a surprise to learn that a strong core is essential to good balance. Can't get away from those core-strengthening exercises!

Fitness instructor, Nicole Nichols, has some simple but effective balance exercises that don't require any equipment.

Other good online information can be found in a article from the Montreal Gazette and U.S. News.

Cellulite

Oh to still have skin as smooth as a peach.  Cellulite, the curse of as much as 90% of women, is caused by fat cells that have bulged around fibrous connective tissue, producing a dimpled skin surface. But is there anything that I can do about it without relying on invasive procedures?  Turns out perhaps there is a way to get rid of cellulite by strengthening  and hydrating your body's cells and the body's connective tissues.  Here's a list of things that just might help:

1. Avoid excessive alcohol and smoking. 
2.  Eat lots of leafy greens and fruit.
3. Avoid junk food, processed food, and artificial additives.
4. Limit sugar and salt.
5. Drink lots of water to hydrate and flush toxins.
6. Brush skin with a body brush to stimulate blood and lymph flow as well as to encourage new cell growth.
7. Exercise, a combination of cardio and weight-training.

Buy Local

Buying food locally makes a lot of sense.  Besides the best reason... having fresher, tastier food in season, here is an eye-opening fact. A Brock University study claims that $3 billion would be added to our local economy if 5 million Ontarians spent $10 of their grocery budget on local foods each week.

There are loads of good reasons to buy local, and the ones listed at Green Living will get you running to your local farmers' market, pronto. Supporting your local farmers will make you and your tummy feel great. 

Feel Gratitude

The subject of gratitude has been surfacing a lot lately. So I thought I should check into what others have to say on the subject... and there is a whole lot out there.  But before I get into that, I want to report that I am going to keep a gratitude journal. I have selected a small notebook covered in rich red silk, with a golden coin, to represent the wealth that I receive from all the things I have to be grateful for. 

And now, some of what I have learned about gratitude:

Psychologists Michael McCollough (Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas) and Robert Emmons (University of California at Davis), conducted an experiment on gratitude and its impact on well-being. The results showed that daily exercises in gratitude resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Those who were in the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, were more likely to help others, exercise regularly and made greater progress toward achieving personal goals.  

Robert Emmons, considered by many to be the world's leading expert on gratitude, reports that practicing gratitude can increase happiness levels by around 25%. Our basic levels of happiness are pre-set. If something bad happens, our happiness level drops temporarily but then returns to its set-point. If something good happens, then our happiness level rises for a while, then drops back to its set-point. Practicing gratitude re-calibrates your happiness set-point higher, so that you can remain at a higher level of happiness. 

Dr. Emmons's research also shows that those who practise gratitude are more creative, more resilient to adversity, have stronger immune systems and have stronger social relationships.

How can you practise gratitude? By writing down the things you are grateful for. 

For a list of ways to make your gratitude journal more effective, read Dr. Emmonds's research-based tips.

Create Beauty

I happen to believe that beauty is a gift that we can introduce into our lives. One of the things that gives me great pleasure is the sight of flowers, so I often bring them into my home.  I am fortunate to have a garden so this doesn't mean that I have to spend a lot of money.  If I didn't have a garden, I would find wild flowers. I look for interesting branches in the winter months or shop grocery store flower departments for inexpensive blooms. Beauty is all around us. 

At this particular time, after a hot dry summer, there is very little in bloom in the garden. But there were some white flowers: phlox, hydrangea and veronica.  And so I gathered a few stems of each and came up with this arrangement to bring indoors. Simple, elegant and beautiful! 

Wardrobe Inspiration

Why is it that although the closet is so packed with clothes that it is hard to close, I often feel I have nothing to wear? Most likely, I haven't taken the time to see what goes with what and have fallen behind in the latest styles.  So to gain inspiration and understand the new proportions and how to accessorize current fashions, I usually buy the September issues of fashion magazines, especially Vogue. They are so thick and heavy this month of the year. I then thumb through them and tear out anything that I think will work for me, what I am drawn to and what may work with what I already have. Assembling all the pages, I look for common themes... colour, shapes, materials. This year for example I notice that tweeds and browns are big, as well as classic leather accessories, and that works for me. Once I feel I have a pulse on what is in style, I am able to go through my wardrobe and assemble some outfits and take note of what I might need to buy that will prove to be the most useful.  

Not everyone is into fashion, but I know that when I feel I look put together, I feel better.  So for me it is something that I enjoy doing and something that increases my sense of well being.

Organize Jewellery

I'm not really a person who wears a lot of jewellery, and most mornings I don't even think to put any on.  But the addition of a well-chosen piece can really make a difference to an outfit, so I have devised a way to make it easier to see what I have and also organize it in a way that allows me to find something quickly.  I first divided my jewellery according to whether it is a bracelet, necklace, pin or pair of earrings. Then I further separated it according to colour and pinned everything to a cork board which I then mounted on the wall behind our bedroom door. In the mornings, the board acts as a visual reminder and helps me to quickly find a piece that I can use to embellish whatever I've chosen to wear that day.  As a result  of this system, I have more pulled-together outfits and less stress. 

Declutter

Dreams

According to what I have recently read, we don't yet fully understand the purpose of sleep or the functions of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep when most dreaming happens. 

Dr.  J. Allan Hobson believes that dreams are physiological rather than psychological, and in REM sleep the brain is activated and "warming up" in anticipation of the sights, sounds and emotions upon waking. While dreams may serve a psychological function; since they sometimes reflect a person's problems, anxieties and hopes; one should not read to much into them. Research on lucid dreams suggests that only 20% of dreams are about people or places the dreamer knows.

Many theories have been proposed, and some scientists believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical health. It has long been thought that dreams have psychological functions, such as consolidating emotional memories, processing experiences and working out problems.  

Another theory postulates that dreams are the result of our brains trying to de-clutter our mind, freeing up space for the next day.  

I thought it might be interesting to see if my dreams had anything to say to me. The trouble is, I rarely remember my dreams. So, in the event that I wake up with a dream still in my conscious, I have placed a pen, small notebook and flashlight next to my bed so that I can record it before it disappears. 











 While some scientists believe that dreaming has no function, the Contemporary Theory of Dreaming feels that whilw dreaming, "activation patterns are shifting and connections are being made and unmade constantly in our brains, forming the physical basis for our minds. There is a whole continuum in the making of connections that we subsequently experience as mental functioning. ... the process is not random, however, and that it is instead guided by the emotions of the dreamer. When one clear-cut emotion is present, dreams are often very simple. Thus people who experience trauma -- such as an escape from a burning buiding

Get Away

Getting away helps you to see things from a different perspective, especially when you are on top of Mount Tremblant! But you don't have to be up high, looking down, to gain another viewpoint. Going any place new, with a change of scenery, even different shops and paces to eat, can give you a much needed break. I find I come away inspired, filled with new ideas of things I want to do or try.  Being away is also an opportunity to relax, or at least change your schedule, try new things, gain insights, re-charge your energy, and develop treasured memories. And it doesn't have to be an expensive trip abroad. It could be as simple as a day trip to a neighbouring town or city. Need I say more?

Take a Hike

Wanting to exercise more and improve my fitness levels, I have been trying to devise ways to reach that goal without having to sign up for cardio classes, which because I don't enjoy them end up being torture sessions that I find excuses not to attend. That's where hiking comes in.  I love hiking because it offers cardiovascular benefits and usually involves being in nature.  With so much to look at I find I am distracted from the physical exertion, making a workout so much more pleasant. We are lucky enough to live near lots of hiking trails so I am incorporating this into one of my regular fitness activities.  Not only is it good for my physical health, it also works wonders for my well being. 

Smile

Besides improving your appearance, smiling offers a whole host of benefits:

1. Improves mood
2.Boosts immune system
3. Your body relaxes when you smile
4. You release endorphins, making you fell happier
5. You use less facial muscles when you smile than when you frown
6. Smiling makes seem more attractive, confident and sociable

I am going to smile more and chances are people will smile back, and that is always a good feeling.

Floss

We always new that flossing was good for teeth and gums, but it turns out that flossing is good for the heart as well. Flossing removes plaque and tartar (bacteria) and prevents periodontal disease. People with gum disease are at greater risk of developing heart and respiratory disease. According to a Harvard Medical School study on longevity, flossing is one of the most important contributing factors to having a long life. What better incentive than all that to make the effort to floss every day!

Sweep

I like what Gary Thorpe had to say about the act of sweeping in his book, Sweeping Changes: Discovering the Joy of Zen in Everyday Tasks. It is a reminder to me that although I am taking continuous small steps to improve myself and aspects of my life, I will never attain perfection. Perfection is not the goal I have set myself in this year of transformation.

In the hands of the experienced, the broom becomes a multifaceted, functional tool. But no matter how carefully you sweep, you will always find a fine line of dust that still defies the dustpan, or a bit of lint that catches on a loosened splinter of wood. There is always something to remind you of what still needs to be done. There is no way to arrive at "finished." There is no road leading to "perfect." There is just some wandering atom of life, some single bit of dust, that calls you to attention and keeps bringing you back to your life.   

From: Thorpe, Gary. Sweeping Changes: Discovering the Joy of Zen in Everyday Tasks. New York: Broadway Books, 2000. p. 18

Create

One of the things that I want to do more of this year is draw and paint. I truly believe that being creative is good for my sense of well-being. When I am in the flow of painting I lose track of time, I am totally immersed and can even feel blissful.  That is a strong indication that I need to be giving myself more time to do just that. 

When you are in the flow, everything comes easily.  Just what puts you in the flow, is different for everyone.  But I do think that it is important to our physical, mental and emotional health to find our bliss.