As you all welcome back students this week, and the chaos begins, we’d like to offer you a chance to feel more calm and more satisfaction in your life… Put down the smartphone. Bam. Got you where it hurts, no?
There is more technology in our smartphones than there was in Apollo 11, which went to the moon. On average we unlock our phones 80 times a day. We spend the equivalent of 49 days a year on our devices, according to Diane Sawyer on ABC news.
It’s ironic that we work so hard to ingrain healthy habits into our lives so we might live longer and enjoy better quality of life, and yet in the blink of an eye, social media and smartphones did it completely without us realizing it. Only, they left out the healthy, feel-better part.
With every great invention comes unintended consequences. The industry set out to make a living and invent cool tech for efficiency and enjoyment. No one was in a back room rubbing their hands together saying let’s make them all terribly addicted and feel horrible about themselves. It’s hard to believe any industry could predict the kind of repercussions we’re seeing now. Like “Phubbing,” for instance…
As soon as your eyes go to the phone it tells the person you’re with that they are no longer important to you. “I’m not talking to you any more, I’m only pretending to talk to you.” Even putting your phone on the table between you and your friends says you’re waiting for a better offer. Further, when you pick it up, even if you say, “sorry I need to take this for XYZ,” you still come back to spotty, interrupted time together.
Not only are you telling someone they don’t matter as much your device, you’re missing out on the good connection you could be having and savoring time with others, which is good healing medicine. Take it from research: NPR reported several studies this month about the power of short, common connections, such as making eye contact with and smiling at a person on the street, having a brief conversation with a person in the elevator or on a train, or at a cash register, and waving to your neighbor.
We all feel better and live longer for these moments. When you are chained to your phone 80 times a day, you’re bound to miss this and much more. You want to soak up the time you have with your children, your aging parents, your friends and your partner. It’s intuitive and obvious from the outside looking in, but when the phone is in your face, it’s just so easy to forget.
That phone has powerful allure.
The good news is that it’s easy enough to be arm-chair quarterbacks and coach ourselves away from the pitfalls.
The pros of our devices? They do help us connect in ways we might not have otherwise. They help with logistics, “Are you running late?” and “Did you want the blue label shampoo or the red?” and, of course, they help with life saving outreach on all levels: “are you ok?”
We’ve all had some amazing conversations via text that we might not have been able to do otherwise. We’ve all connected in important ways at critical moments with these amazing tools. And, just like raising a glass of marvelous craft beer, we’ve all seen it bring either ourselves or someone we love to the brink of disaster (or worse). And, like craft beer, the convenience and fun of our phones is not going away all too soon. The trick is to live with them and their many assets without letting their built-in compulsions hijack our souls.
So here are some tips on setting some boundaries and doing a “digital detox”, of sorts…
Find “Redirect Rewards”: Remember, attention is finite. Because you only have so much, look for rewards that make you want to turn your attention to a better life away from your phone. When waiting in line, for example, instead of searching social media, use your sense of wonder to create cool stories about the people around you (no judgment, only positive thoughts please). ‘Redirect rewards” offer you excitement beyond a bad habit, making that bad habit obsolete.
Use “Notifications” wisely: Every time that phone dings, your brain sends out dopamine (your natural reward response) like a drug. Cut off the source of the drug by not allowing it to ping your anxious brain with nonsense. Or set notifications to ping when you want to do something OTHER than social media, such as contemplate great ideas or reclaim your imagination again.
Stop the endless “Rabbit Hole” or abyss syndrome: Social media is set up with no natural stopping point (on purpose — the more you scroll, the more info and money engineers sequester). Set an alarm for browsing to give you an automatic stopping cue. Commit to the phrase, “After the alarm goes off, I will walk away from my phone and do XYZ.”
Find alternative ways to feel that “Dopamine Hit”: Set phone alarms that you tie to other fun things you love about life. Take a deep breath, do a stretch, call a loved one, say hi to a favorite co-worker, high five someone, reminisce, look at a beautiful scene, smooch your pet, and so on.
Carve out time for “Authentic Conversations“: the concept of gathering together is primal and essential. Find ways to connect with friends on a weekly, if not daily, basis. Make it a habit and agree to keep phones out of sight except for special circumstances (agree ahead of time as to what constitutes a reasonable exception).
Try some “Baby Steps”: Start practicing screen-less moments in small doses. Leave the phone in the car when you go into a store. Don’t take it to the bathroom (for goodness sakes, stop it!). Waiting for someone? Sit there and wait and observe. Remember when we used to have to do that anyway?
Run far and fast from “App Rewards” that create pressure to come back daily (also called “streak rewards”). These build habits that work against your digital detox. Rewards that come after you leave the app and go do something healthy, then come back and share on your timeline, are stronger and more community building.
Remove the “highlight-reel-only” trap on social media: Social media is great for keeping in touch with and rubbing up against people we miss from far away or can’t see regularly. Feed your connection but rock the human reality. Selfies and retouching, ABC news reported, heightens your negative view of yourself and creates anxiety to be perfect. Over 80% of Americans think social media is ridiculous but 69% still use it. The reasons? Boredom or to calm from anxiety. Post what you enjoy sharing with loved ones that allows you to stay connected and expand your imagination.
There’s more, but this is certainly a start!
Give it a shot. For every time you replace a moment on a device with a real moment, give yourself a healthy, meaningful reward to reinforce doing so. Keep track, then look back and reflect on how it feels. We think you’ll find it most worthwhile.
Shevonne (left) helping me to be silly.
See you on The PATH Ahead,
Gillian, Shevonne, Amy and Ashley, and the VEHI PATH Program
This week is all about finding a waterfall. We are betting this won’t be difficult unless you are presently meandering in a region without a source of water. For those of you who have yet to partake of Niagara Falls perhaps it’s time to take a journey west. The first time I experienced Niagara Falls as a young child I was mesmerized. And with each subsequent visit, I have done my best to get as close as possible to the surging power of the falls either by walking under the falls or traveling near the falls by boat.
Then there’s the Hanakapi’ai Falls on the Kalalau Trail on the island of Kauai. Though it’s not easy to get to and one must be prepared to hike four miles in and out, the reward for doing so is magnificent as is the swimming. A note of caution, however; this part of Kauai experienced significant flooding last year and now that the Kalalau Trail has reopened there are more stringent permitting and parking requirements for day and overnight hikers.
For those of us here in Vermont enjoying the dog days of summer, fear not; there are waterfalls aplenty to be discovered according to Rodrick Pingree. In 2014, Pingree self-published a book entitled Rodrick’s Guide to Vermont Waterfalls, Cascades and Gorges.If you are a waterfall hunter this guidebook is a must.It is user friendly and for each identified waterfall, Pingree listed the vertical drops, the width of the river, the distance and most importantly how to find the falls with or without GPS coordinates. In my neck of the woods, the Mad River Valley, there are several waterfalls calling my name. In fact over the weekend, I visited three for the first time; Warren Falls, Stetson Falls and the Sugarbush Access Falls. Oh, by the way, the biggest waterfall in Vermont is in Troy on the Mississquoi River and is aptly named, Big Falls.
Warren falls with Charley
So what is it, that piques our interest in visiting waterfalls? I am entranced by the sounds of the rushing water. But perhaps the desire to seek out a waterfall is much deeper than the sights and sounds alone. Some people lament that waterfalls make them happy. According to Pierce J. Howard, author of The Owner’s Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research, waterfalls do have the ability to bring us happiness and here’s why. Waterfalls are one giant ion generator – the vitamins in the watery air give off negative ions, which we take in as positive energy. Once the negative ions reach our bloodstream, they are said to increase our bodies’ production of serotonin, the chemical responsible for relieving stress and depression, and for boosting our energy and happiness.“High concentrations of negative ions are essential for high energy and positive mood,” Howard reports. “The best ratios of negative to positive ions are associated with waterfalls and the time before, during and after storms.”
Sugarbush Access falls
George Ellison, a naturalist and a writer has a different theory about why people are fascinated with waterfalls. He says that waterfalls activate all five senses and likens the experience of standing at the base of a waterfall to walking into a bakery. A yummy treat without any calories.
Stetson falls
Many moons ago, John Muir said “As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing.” We wish you lots of positive vibes as you find your way to a favorite waterfall or discover a new one. And if you want a good chuckle, here’s a quote from Ellen DeGeneres I found somewhat fitting for this week’s challenge. “Romance often begins by a splashing waterfall and ends over a leaky sink.” I wish you many romantic waterfalls and no leaky sinks.
The extraordinary Nobel laureate, Toni Morrison, passed away this week. Shonda Rhimes (television writer/producer) made the sweet statement, “Genius has moved on.”
Indeed.
And even though we didn’t know her personally, we feel as though we’ve lost a friend.
This week’s challenge is to rekindle a friendship. Why? Well, that feeling of being connected and supported actually matters in terms of our health. We feel that most profoundly when we lose a friend. And if the quality of that friendship is notable, the happiness it brings is indelible.
Toni Morrison was passionate about friendship doing its best to lift us out of despair; that we are inextricably driven toward each other and love. After all, she said, “The function of freedom is to free someone else.”
About her work, she told The New Yorker (2003), “What was driving me to write was the silence — so many stories untold and unexamined.”
Stories are powerful medicine in friendship, and we thank her for telling so many good ones on our behalf. The stories we tell make us real, fully alive. When we share these stories, especially the hard ones, we sift out the pain while the joy or hope that remains multiplies. Most of all, as someone listens, we know we are not alone.
“She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It’s good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind.” ― Toni Morrison, The Pieces I Am
Think about it. How great is it when you’re able to download the story of a tough situation? Your shoulders drop, colors suddenly seem more vibrant and you begin to reclaim clarity on a path forward. As you recount your plight, and a friend lets out a hearty laugh, or a reassuring, validating nod, your heart literally opens while the vice grip on your head topples.
Of course that’s all anecdote right?
Actually, the folks at Harvard University have decent proof that powerful friends make for powerful cures.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development began in 1938. It is the longest running study of its kind at 80 years old. They’ve studied hundreds of adults through their lifespan and are now looking at their offspring and spouses. The revelation of the research found that the most protective factor for health was quality relationships.
That’s right, it wasn’t cholesterol, is wasn’t quitting smoking, it wasn’t even physical activity, though all these things matter, just not nearly as much.
The study reports that the people who were the most satisfied in their relationships seem to have a robust buffer against disease; specifically they experienced less physical pain, their memories stayed sharper longer and they had less memory decline.
Even countless researchers who poured over the data were surprised. “When the study began, nobody cared about empathy or attachment. But the key to healthy aging is relationships, relationships, relationships,” said George Vaillant, the study director from 1972-2004.
“No matter how hard we try to ignore it, the mind always knows truth and wants clarity.” ― Toni Morrison, God Help the Child
What’s the advice of the current research?
“So this message, that good, close relationships are good for our health and well-being, this is wisdom that’s as old as the hills. Why is this so hard to get and so easy to ignore? Well, we’re human. What we’d really like is a quick fix…. Relationships are messy and they’re complicated and the hard work of tending to family and friends, it’s not sexy or glamorous. It’s also lifelong. It never ends. The people in our 75-year study who were the happiest in retirement were the people who had actively worked to replace workmates with new playmates.” ― Dr. Robert Waldinger, study director, TED talk 2015.
“You do not deserve love just because you want it. You can only earn – by practice and careful contemplations – the right to express it and you have to learn how to accept it. Love is not a gift. It is a diploma.” ― Toni Morrison,
“Over and Over, our study has shown that the people who fared the best were the people who leaned in to relationships, with family, with friends, with community. The good life is built with good relationships.”
— Dr. Robert Waldinger,
“Love just seems to make life not just livable, but a gallant, gallant event.” ― Toni Morrison [Goodnight sweet poet. Thank you for all your gifts. You will never be lost.]
Lean in, do the work, and reap the benefits.
See you on the PATH Ahead,
Gillian and the PATH Team (Shevonne, Amy, Ashley and all the VEHI folks)
It’s week six and we are charging full steam ahead with repurposing. Last week I found my way to the Le P’tit du Nord Rail Trail for three days of exquisite bicycling through the Laurentian Mountains. The ride was enhanced by plenty of sunshine and lots of spontaneous sights and events, including music, art festivals and sand sculptures along the way. And to top it off, I was cycling on something repurposed and it was teeming with activity. Pedestrians and cyclists make use of the longest rail trail in Canada in the warmer temperatures and snowmobilers and Nordic skiers partake of it in the winter months. Once a railroad that provided connections from Montreal to the mountain villages and subsequently to the well-renown Mont Tremblant ski area, the railroad was shuttered in the mid-1980’s after the construction of a four lane highway made transport by car much easier. Rather than let the railway and the multiple historic train stations (gares) disintegrate, the Province of Quebec committed to repurposing the entire railway from Mont Laurier to Montreal. Over a million people make use of the trail each year whether it be for a one day activity or multi-day excursions. The repurposing effort has brought millions of tourism dollars into the region and it is the ‘joie de vivre’ of the Quebecois.
Rather than revamping a railway, I am wondering what repurposing project you have tackled in recent weeks? That is, what item which you no longer use can you turn into something else and use in a different way? The possibilities are vast and do- it- yourself websites are brimming with unique ideas and guidance. For instance, there are several ways to repurpose furniture especially with a bit of paint. Last weekend I spotted a wooden cradle that is now being used as a geranium planter and a well-worn toboggan is now used as to post menu items in a cafe.
Creating something new from something else is a powerful confidence booster. Repurposing primes our imagination, can put us into flow as defined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and is a prominent statement about our individuality. Our colleague, Ashley Johnson is presently striving for an industrial look in her home. To do so, she has used former rake heads to hold necklaces, repurposed copper pipes and mason jars to hold plants and turned former sap taps into coat hooks. So, put your artistic flair to work this week. We all have the ability to repurpose something that speaks to us and tells a story about our unique personalities.
And the best news of all is that repurposing helps our environment by reducing the amount of waste we put into landfills. When you repurpose something you are automatically recycling it and thus better protecting our land, air and waterways. Music to my ears.
“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.” – Author Doug Larson
True confessions… I’m not a huge fan of zucchini. The other night though, two perfectly sized, perfectly grilled pieces appeared on my plate next to my burger and I couldn’t get enough. No bacon required.
“Optimize Me Nutrition” Plate Guide
World-wide recommendations have long stated we can stave off all kinds of disease and regulate our diets if we eat 800 grams of produce a day. What does 800 grams translate to in real life? Well check out the picture from Optimize Me Nutrition. Nutritionist and exercise science expert EC Synkowski says it’s pretty much equivalent to filling a dinner plate, or roughly 6 cups of veggies and fruit over the course of a day. Still others say, “strive for five” veggies and one-two fruits a day.
However you slice this lofty health goal, grilled veggies are a great way to entice your palate toward that end.
Grilling caramelizes produce, evaporating some of the water and concentrating the flavors. And, for some, adding the smokiness and then charred lines punctuates the quintessential and yummy summer experience.
The dog days of summer also bring us the most wonderfully fresh and accessible harvest possible, so it’s a great time to boost your intake and explore your fibrous favorites.
Here are some tips on great veggie grilling:
Good heat. Most need medium heat to avoid over charring or even burning. Get the grill good and hot, scrape it clean and oil it up with an oil soaked paper towel and tongs.
Let it sear. Don’t turn too often, once or twice is plenty. The surface area of the fruit or veggie needs time to sear which creates those cool grill marks and will make it stick to the grates a bit less.
Oil up. Coat with oil to seal in flavor and keep from drying out. Olive oil is great for flavor while safflower oil is low on flavor but has a higher smoke point.
Slice evenly. Not too thick or thin. Too thin and burning or leathery textures can happen. Too thick and a bad mush can happen. Also make your cuts to maximize contact with the grill itself. This is especially true for sloppy fruits and such.
Don’t cook too long. They should have a bit of a bounce back texture rather than being totally limp and mushy. The denser the fruit or veggie, the longer it takes.
Here are some methods and average cooking times for specific veggies on the grill:
Fruit: Grilling fruit is an art. Few chefs offer universal cooking times. The ballpark is anywhere from 5-15 mins! Think about density and know that pineapple slices will be longer and small peach segments will be very quick, for example. Good fruits on the grill include: peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, apples, pears, avocado, limes, lemons, grapefruit, mangoes, and figs.
Artichokes: Boil for 10-12 mins then quarter and cook 4-6 minutes
Asparagus: 6-8 mins depending on the thickness. Don’t forget to cut off the woody ends (about an inch) and season generously with salt and pepper.
Corn: 8-12 mins. Oh my, it’s a great time to grill this late summer favorite. Some chefs shuck the whole ear and throw it right on the grill on high heat turning every few minutes until it’s tender and dark brown in places (roughly 8-12 mins). Others keep the husks on and slowly roast the ear about 25-35 mins. For a famous Mexican dish called Elote (el-lo-tay), slather with a mixture of mayonnaise, garlic and sour cream; sprinkle a mixture of chili powder, cayenne and salt,; roll the ears in Mexican cheese crumbles — and there you have Mexican street corn. Yum! If you have left overs, slice it off the ears, add a little more sour cream and you’ve got a great corn dip for chips.
Carrots: 15-20 mins. Bon Appetite says, “Carrots love to burn when grilled over direct high heat; better to park them over a cooler spot on the grate and keep the cover closed if possible. Toss with 2 Tbsp. oil and a bit of salt; turn often until crisp-tender (roughly 15-20 mins). If you have large carrots, boil/blanch for 4-6 mins first. Then grill 3-5 mins.
Brussel Sprouts: 10-13 mins. Choose a batch that is universal in size so they’ll cook evenly. Alton Brown of the Food Network says to microwave these for 3 mins first then toss with olive oil, garlic, mustard, paprika and salt. You can skewer them or put them in foil packets. Grill them about 10 mins, flipping once.
Eggplant: 5-7 mins sliced (thicker slices will take longer); 15-20 mins whole. Grill the eggplant over high heat until the skin is black and charred on all sides and the flesh is soft; test it by gently poking the top. You’re supposed to burn the skin; that’s what gives the eggplant its smoky flavor. Turn the eggplant with tongs as it cooks: The whole process will take 20 to 30 mins. Transfer the grilled eggplant to a plate and let cool, then scrape off the skin (you can leave a bit for flavor depending on how smoky you want it).
Mushrooms: 6-7 mins (portabella, 8-10 minutes). Choose a batch that is universal in size so they’ll cook evenly. Shrooms love to be based with butter, garlic and dill. They soak up the flavors and won’t dry out too fast as a result.
Onions: Sliced 8-10 mins; halved 35-40 mins. Season with salt and pepper. Choose sweet onions when possible.
Peppers: Whole for 15-20 mins; halves or slices, 8-10 mins turning once. How to do fire roasted peppers on the grill from the Barbecue Bible: “This method works well for both bell peppers and chile peppers–choose peppers that are rotund and smooth, with relatively few depressions or crevasses. Preheat the grill to high. Place the whole peppers on the grill and cook until darkly charred on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side (16 to 20 minutes in all) for larger peppers; smaller chiles will take less time. Don’t forget to grill the tops and bottoms of the peppers; if necessary, hold the peppers with tongs if they won’t balance properly on either end. This is another vegetable you’re supposed to burn. Transfer the grilled peppers to a large bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or place the grilled peppers in a paper or plastic bag and close it. This creates steam, which makes it easy to remove the skin. When the pepper is cool enough to handle, scrape the skin off with a paring knife. Cut out the stem and remove the seeds.”
Potatoes: Parboil for 10 mins then toss with oil and seasonings and grill wedges right on the grill for 5 mins, turning once. If you use a foil packet and do not parboil, plan for 20 mins a side.
Tomatoes: 6-8 mins halved or put cherry tomato clusters on the vine right onto the grill all together. Remove when they have a bit of a char and look soft. Tomatoes can be messy on the grill so watch them carefully.
Zucchini: 5-7 mins. Half inch slices work really well. Add lemon zest and red pepper flakes with the salt and pepper to zing it up a notch!
There are many ways to cook veggies on the grill:
Directly on it (clean and oil the grates before you set anything on them)
On cedar planks (soak ahead of time for 15-30 mins so they don’t burn)
On heavy duty, nonstick foil
Using foil packets (see below)
Kababobs/Skewers (soak wood skewers in water for 20 mins prior to grilling)
Grill pans (made specifically for grilling veggies and unwieldy food items)
“Cut up your veggies and starch. You’ll want to chop all of the components of your foil packets into equal, 1-2 inch pieces. This helps ensure that everything cooks evenly!
Cut foil and parchment paper. Cut (4) 12″ pieces of foil and (4) 12″ pieces of parchment paper. The foil will seal the meals and the parchment paper will keep your food from sticking. Line up the foil pieces, then place the parchment paper on top.
Make your foil packets. Evenly divide your protein, starches, and veggies between the four pieces of foil and parchment and place in the middle of the foil sheets, then add your sauce or seasoning. Fold the foil in half over the food, then roll up the sides to seal your packets.
Grill. Now you’re ready to grill! Simply place the foil packets on the grill over high heat for 12-15 minutes, until everything is fully cooked through, then remove from heat and serve.
Note: If you don’t have a grill, you can still make these in the oven! Simply bake them at 425 F for 12-15 minutes.”
Enjoy your grilling time!
See you on the PATH Ahead,
Gillian and the PATH team (Shevonne, Amy, Ashley and our VEHI family)
It’s Week Four and if you haven’t addressed any decluttering yet the time is nigh. I speak from recent experience because after 20 years in the same farmhouse which includes a large barn and a separate garage, it was time to clear the decks and begin anew. With the help of a 20 cubic yard dumpster( a monstrosity), free signs posted on several items and a neighbor willing to take left over wood and a fishing boat from the barn, I have a new lease on life. I am dancing in the streets.
To help jump start your decluttering projects, I found some tips from professional organizers, Courtney Carver and Catlin Morris I would like to share. Carver suggests that you first recognize that organizing and decluttering are not the same. We can all better organize without discarding anything. To declutter, means saying goodbye to objects.
The second recommendation is to take your time when decluttering; in essence rather than allocating a whole day and finding the task insurmountable, commit to only two or three hours at any time. When decluttering begins, sort by the following categories: Toss, recycle, donate or deep storage. And once you make the decisions as to where each item goes, seal the deal. Take discarded items to their new homes whether this is the dump, thrift store or a recycling center.
Now to conquer all those items collecting dust for sentimental reasons? If you are saving items to pass down to your children, the word from auctioneers and professionals who help adults downsize, is that your children probably aren’t interested in it. In a 2015 Washington Post article called “Stuff it: Millennials Nix their Parent’s Treasures,” the authors point that today’s millennials are not collectors like the baby boomer generation and they certainly don’t polish silver. Alas, it’s ok to let go of those sentimental items that have no present value. And if you are holding onto something because you spent too much money on it but not using it, let go of the guilt that goes with that. Rather than hold onto unnecessary guilt, applaud yourself for being grateful that you now recognize what’s important to you.
Too much clutter keeps us from being at peace. We want you to be at peace throughout the rest of this summer season.
When it comes to life satisfaction, curiosity is a golden ticket. Used to your advantage, it is the perfect happy medium between disinterest and noisiness. 😉
Let me peak your interest:
What if you got a credible tip that there could be a treasure map somewhere near your home?
What if you won 10 million dollars?
What if you were given a 5-year grant to research anything you wanted?
What if you sat next to Queen Elizabeth on a plane and she asked your opinion on important matters? Or Mother Tereasa (yeah, we know she’s no longer alive – use your imagination)? Or some else you admire?
Exploring the tower of Notre Dame in Paris.
Happiness flourishes when your mind is “on fire with interest” according to positive psychologists. The exploring mind literally lights up with excitement and life improves.
Science-backed Reasons to be Curious:
Being actively curious builds a sense of possibilities thereby increasing hope, perspective and creativity.
“Maintaining a sense of wonder is crucial to creativity and innovation,” says Francesca Gino of Harvard Business Review and author of Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed, and How We Can Stick to the Plan. Gino says, too often we stifle curiosity. Allowing for open problem solving time sets creative thoughts free, deliberately. At our core, we are intensely curious. How many of Aespo’s fables revolve around such matter? And those were compiled in 620-564 BCE.
Curiosity in relationships enhances closeness by keeping things exciting and new.
Exploration with a sense of wonder increases courage by helping you embrace uncertainty and newness head on. You got this!
Being deeply curious gives you a chance to explore your sense of meaning in life.
“Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” – Golda Meir
Spend time this week making a habit out of chasing those flames. Seek novelty. Appreciate exploring. Learn about something interesting. Grow your imagination.
Exploring Machu Picchu
Key Tips for Fostering Curiosity as Happiness Trait:
Make time for “Why?”, “What if?” and “How might I?” thoughts.
Hold “invention sessions” either with yourself, loved ones or colleagues. Ask great questions of each other to help great minds pull together and solve a nagging conundrum.
Ask questions. Period!
Ask a friend follow up questions when they share good news so you can keep the positive feelings alive longer.
Actively explore or question your every day routines or surroundings. Stop and notice something new.
Look up facts and trivia; take a moment to ponder what you learn. Caution: Limit yourself to one or two clicks when looking up facts so you don’t get lost down the internet rabbit hole.
Be curious about yourself and ask why you think you do x, y or z.
Try a new trail, new route to walk or a new route to any of your favorite places.
Play a game in a park; choose a new game or a new place to play it.
Expand your knowledge on a subject you absolutely love.
Learn something new about an old friend.
Listen to a new podcast, book, or radio program.
Try new food.
Learn more about the history of your neighborhood or community.
Start a curiosity journal and make note of all the things that spark your interest.
Go somewhere new, do something you’ve never done before – this is your moment!
Exploring Diamond Head in Hawaii at sunrise.
“The mind that opens to a new idea, never returns to its original size.” – Albert Einstein
Bottom line… For greater life satisfaction, and with long summer days at hand…
Welcome to Week Two of our Sizzlin’ Summer Challenge, which is all about using your feet or a bicycle instead of driving. For the briefest moment I contemplated hoofing it or cycling from the Mad River Valley to our Berlin office. Ultimately I determined the walk would take at least two days necessitating a backpack and tent and if I cycled that meant riding on sections of Route 100 and Route 2. So instead I walked the dogs three miles and cycled to the local supermarket, a thrilling two and half miles downhill resulting in a hefty uphill climb back home.
Summer is a fabulous time for adding a new habit of walking or cycling a short distance to purchase groceries and stamps or visit a town beach and the creemee stand. According to the People Powered Movement, walking and cycling bolster our health, help our communities thrive and protect the environment. They estimate there are now 66 million self-identified bicyclists in the country and according to retailers, electric bike purchases are now far outreaching supply.
Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes and consider wearing your Get a Clue socks. If you plan on cycling make sure your bicycle is tuned up, the correct air pressure in your tires and a helmet on your head. Figure out in advance which roads might be best for traveling on foot or on two wheels. And as a reminder, when walking stay on the left side of the road and face traffic – it’s the law. When cycling it’s the opposite – ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic. Whether cycling or walking, wear bright clothing and at night reflective clothing. Today’s neon colored clothing is certainly a show stopper.
If you happen to be visiting or live in Chittenden County, Greenride Bikeshare is now in business and for a minimal cost you can borrow a bicycle (including electric cycles) for short periods of time to get from one location to another. Should you wish to venture further within the state, there are several resources available including the Department of Tourism’s Bike Friendly Roads & Trails Map, the Agency of Transportation’s Bicycle Priority Corridors Map and Local Motion’s routes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 6 in 10 people walk for transportation or for fun, relaxation, exercise, or for activities such as walking the dog and the percentage of those who report walking at least once for 10 minutes or more in the previous week is rising.
We look forward to seeing your Facebook posts this week.
In the blink of an eye it’s the heart of summer and we’re busting out all the warm weather moves we’ve got for wellbeing.
INSTRUCTIONS: For this challenge, post your pictures in the comments on the PATH Facebook page for each corresponding week. Be sure to say the week and your title. That way we can all see each other’s fun and keep track of your “proof” that you did each week’s goal.
WEEK ONE THOUGHTS: The first week of the VEHI PATH annual Sizzlin’ Summer Challenge hopes to peak your interest in the old green thumb arena. Why? Plants and nature are integral to health and there’s no better time to get in the dirt than now.
This time of year the Peonies are bursting with color and even starting to go by. As a girl, my mom would make me weed the long peony beds in our back yard. If we didn’t help she’d threaten to move us to a concrete condo jungle. I knew it was a hollow threat but I knelt down and did as told anyway, not just for my allowance (and those Bonnie Bell lip smackers), but man did those plants look and smell like heaven. Even in my sullen teenage years, I couldn’t help but be swooned. Oh the power of plants! And the sense of accomplishment in knowing I helped was a sweet bonus. Since we lived in a historic home, knowing the beds were over 120 years old made the work matter even more as I pictured other teenagers sweating away like me through the decades. Mom is on the other side now, weeding peacefully in her garden of perfection. When I see a peony, I well up a smidge and thank her for giving me an early love of nature; and then I pull a weed on her behalf.
Our friend CC made this amazing privacy wall and added morning glories. They’re already climbing!
On a grand scale, doctors across the world are actually prescribing time in nature, or forest bathing as the Japanese call it, for illnesses such as heart disease, anxiety, and depression. Even people who suffer from chronic pain are benefiting (let’s face it, pain from doing nothing feels worse than pain from walking in marvelous places). The wonder of nature and its beauty, especially in a homeland like Vermont, dramatically changes our brain chemistry for the better. Further, the essence of natural oils and smells act as probiotics, enhancing our microbiome — that good bacteria in and on our bodies that fight infection, depression and diseases of all kinds.
Gardening further improves all markers for health even right down to dexterity and hand strength. Planning, problem solving and caring for a garden or living organism, seeing it thrive, can also decrease the risks of Alzheimer’s! Seriously, get outside and play in the dirt, people!
And even if you can’t get outside, potted plants still do the job by busting up toxins in your home, purifying the air and boosting mood and productivity.
Having even the slightest form of greenery in your life simply won’t be wasted, and the more the better. A quick internet search will spout off the reasons and the research, miles deep. Regardless, you and I (and Mom, of course) know in our guts that greenery is an absolute human necessity — Maslow forgot but not us.
As pointed out by author Robin Jacobs (a naturalist and psychologist), renowned biologist E. O. Wilson called it “biophilia” stating that “we are instinctively drawn to connect with other living, growing things; we want to feel part of the web of life.”
