An article written by Melanie Curtin which appeared in Inc.com, reported on a 75-year-long study conducted by Harvard University that tracked the physical and emotional well-being of 724 men. According to Robert Waldinger, the current director of the study, “The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us…
To worry is human. Even though we know it does no good, most of us are still prone to worrying. While worrying is next to impossible to avoid, there are some things we can do to reduce its intensity. First, don’t worry alone–you’re far more likely to come up with a solution to your concern…
The other day, I looked out my office window and saw a half-grown starling perched on the branch of an olive tree. It seemed as if he hadn’t been flying very long and appeared to be excited about his new-found freedom. He hopped from place to place on the branch, each time stopping and moving…
An article by Scott Stossel in a recent issue of The Atlantic reports on one of the longest-running longitudinal studies on human development. The study began in 1938 and followed the lives of 268 Harvard undergraduates (these were all men because Harvard wasn’t coed at the time) for 75 years. One of the most interesting…
My youngest daughter landed a job teaching second grade this year. It’s the perfect job for her since she loves young children and she loves to teach. For the past two weeks, she has been working 12 hour days getting her classroom ready for the school year to start. All the while she has a…
My oldest daughter recently posted this quote on her Facebook and I think it’s one of the keys to living a happy life. Every one of us comes into the world as a unique individual–an original, if you will. It’s our originality that makes us loveable and attracts people to us. When we try to…
An article written by Ashley Macha, which recently appeared in The Arizona Republic said, If you surround yourself with healthy, strong friendships, you’ll live longer, have less stress and potentially fewer health issues. The article went on to say that people with more relationships are more resilient and better able to bounce back from what…
The pursuit of happiness is still alive and well according to an article written by Tammy Brodesser-Akner that appeared in a recent issue of Spirit Magazine. As it turns out, the benefits of happiness are well worth the pursuit. According to the article, there are at least 225 studies which tell us that once you…
Close friends are people you can turn to in times of crisis. They’re the ones who will give you a caring and listening ear while you’re working your way through one of life’s rough patches. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Sue Shellenbarger pointed out that such friendships are difficult for many…
We’ve all heard the phrase: “Don’t worry, be happy.” While it may initially sound trite, numerous medical and psychological studies prove that it’s sound advice to live by. These studies have found that that happiness causes great things to happen across a number of fronts: Happy people have higher incomes, more fulfilling marriages, healthier life…