Tag: happiness

Friday, June 17

Today is Friday, June 17, 2022.  Tapping into the excitement of a Friday.

A quote by Albert Einstein, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Photo by Dan Deziel

Finding Joy in June.  As we start the second half of the year let’s focus on ways we can find joy.

Move joyfully!

    • Put on your favorite music and dance!
    • Take a walk or ride with a partner, friend, family member.
    • Engage in an invigorating exercise class.
    • Hike or bike with a group.
    • Engage in a water sport on a sunny day.
    • Work in the Community Garden or on a farm.
    • Train for a charity walk/run/bike event.
    • Build or paint something large that requires physical movement.
    • Go horseback riding.
    • Explore the outdoors with your dog.
    • Swim laps meditatively.

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Choose a centering word that is neutral to you and simple. You might choose “now” or “joy” or “peace.”
      • As you exhale, say your chosen word. Focus on the vibration of the word as you hear it. Repeat.
      • As you exhale and say your word, imagine dropping a smooth pebble in clear water and watch it settle gently on the bottom, relaxed and comfortable.
      • Finally, as you continue your deep belly breaths, notice that the ripples on the water are gently gliding out. Repeat your word on every exhale until the ripples have settled.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and positive energy around me. I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, May 30

Today is Monday, May 30, 2022. A day of reflection, awareness and gratitude.

A quote by Thucydides, “The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage.”

Photo by Marcos Paolo Prado

Closing out May, to practice connecting with happiness, even if only for  moments at a time. Here’s a wrap up of the links to happiness practices and tips from this month.

May 2 Getting Outside

May 4 Laughter

May 6 Dance

May 9 Flowers

May 11 Connection with others

May 13 Volunteering

May 16 Star-gazing

May 18 Decluttering

May 20 Pleasant scents

May 23 Rest and sleep

May 25 Music

May 27 Happiness factors

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Listen to your breath as you continue to breathe deeply. Allow yourself to pause your activity and just listen and feel your breath moving in and out of your body.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and positive energy around me. I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP    

Friday, May 27

Today is Friday, May 27, 2022. Seeing the new growth on the trees and bushes, listening to the ducklings finally large enough to stand taller than the grass, observing the maple tree “helicopters” flutter to the ground.

A quote by Lucy Larcom, “He who plants a tree, plants a hope.”

Photo by César Ardila

Continuing a Magical May!  This month, we explore things that can make us HAPPY.  Being happy can enhance your life, boost the immune system, and help build connections with others. Use your imagination to picture what a happy day could look and feel like. Consider, what can you add to your life from that image? What can you be doing now, to increase those “happiness factors” in your life?

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Breathe in fresh air, allow the energy to flow throughout the body.
    • Exhale the unnecessary, feel the body reset.
    • Repeat several more times and smile to yourself.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and positive energy around me. I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, May 25

Today is Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Riding on wheels during the week- feels great to be moving forward.

A quote by Herbie Hancock, “Music is the tool to express life, and all that makes a difference.”

Photo by Bastien Plu

Continuing a Magical May!  This month, we explore things that can make us HAPPY.  Being happy can enhance your life, boost the immune system, and help build connections with others. Music can elicit happiness and soothe the brain.

    • Create playlists that elicit certain moods and feelings. Upbeat and activating. Relaxing and calming. Cheerful and associated with happy memories.
    • Play an instrument. Return to an instrument you know how to play. Learn a new instrument by taking lessons online or in in person class and make new friends.
    • Sing in a choir or to your favorite music in the shower, with a karaoke machine or even in the car.
    • Serenade a loved one or sing a lullaby to a child.
    • Listen to musicians performing for an audience.
    • Enjoy your favorite music while immersing yourself in the garden or park.

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Breathe in fresh air, allow the energy to flow throughout the body.
    • Exhale the unnecessary, feel the body reset.
    • Repeat several more times and smile to yourself.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and positive energy around me. I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, May 23

Today is Monday, May 23, 2022. Appreciating the cycles: spring blossoms spent, new greenery everywhere, sun brings new life.

A quote by John Steinbeck, “It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.”

Photo by Gabriel Cattaruzzi

Continuing a Magical May!  This month, we explore things that can make us HAPPY.  Being happy can enhance your life, boost the immune system, and help build connections with others.  Feeling happy is much easier when protecting enough time for rest and sleep.

Practice the same ritual every time you want to signal to your body that it is time to rest. This might be:

  • taking a soothing warm bath,
  • writing in a journal,
  • practicing progressive relaxation working from the head down to the toes,
  • listening to a guided meditation or specific music or sounds,
  • darkening or adjusting the lighting in the room,
  • working through a relaxing yoga sequence.

With regular practice, you can train your mind to recognize it is time to rest and be better able to get into that state easily and allow restful sleep to follow.

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.  
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale. 
  • Breathe in fresh air, allow the energy to flow throughout the body.
  • Exhale the unnecessary, feel the body reset.
  • Repeat several more times and smile to yourself.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and positive energy around me. I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, May 11

Today is Wednesday May 11, 2022.  Feeling the breeze cooling me from the warming sun.

A quote by: Atul Gawande “I said there are at least two kinds of satisfaction, however, and the other comes from human connection.  It comes from making others happy, understanding them, loving them.”

Photo taken by: Erin Donalson

We continue this Magical May!  This month, we explore things that can make us HAPPY, even for a brief moment.  Being happy can enhance your life, boost the immune system, and help build connections with others.  Spending time with family or friends, strengthens connections which has been shown to promote happiness.

    • Have a regular family game night
    • Eat dinner together
    • Go for a family walk after dinner
    • Reach out to a friend you have not talked to in a while
    • Have a picnic
    • Host a family reunion

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind whenever you need a moment to reset – while waiting, before, after, or to transition between activities:

    • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
    • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
    • Explore alternate nostril breathing, starting by exhaling completely.
    • Alternating from one side to the other, close one nostril with your thumb to breathe in and then repeat with the other nostril to breathe out.
    • Breathe in Left nostril, breathe out Right nostril. Breathe in Right nostril, breathe out Left nostril.
    • Continue this sequence for several more cycles.
    • Smile at completing this self-care activity.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:  

“I am [*Name*]. I can do this. As I connect to my inner self, I am open to the Happiness and positive energy around me. I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Wednesday, August 25

Today is Wednesday, August 25, 2021.  Here, in the North, appreciating the nourishment from the summer harvest.

This August, the focus has been on building and strengthening connections to lower stress and contribute to longevity.

For this last week of August, we focus on connecting to Nature.  Being in nature can awaken happiness and peace.  Being in nature can lower cortisol levels and reduce stress.

Today, let’s explore ways to connect to nature at home and work.

    • Place a plant on your desk, by your entryway, or in the home.
    • Eat lunch outside and feel the breeze, listen to the birds, feel the sunshine.
    • Place beautiful pictures of nature on the walls or on your desk.
    • Play sounds of nature—the ocean, birds, rain, flowing stream.
    • Place your fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruit where you can easily see them.
    • Create a salad with multiple different colors of fresh ingredients.
    • Leave flowers or a plant for someone else to enjoy.
    • Invite a friend for a picnic.

Photo by: Karim Sakhibgareev

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat: 

“I am [*Name*].  I am open to the positive energy around me. I appreciate myself and others as I connect with love and kindness. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. Together, we can do great things.”

A quote from William Shakespeare, “The earth has music for those who listen.”

Use this Mindfulness Activity to Re-energize your Body and Mind:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
  • Exhale out the past as you hum “om”.
  • Inhale in the future and feel your body refresh.
  • Repeat 3 times and smile.

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Friday, February 26

Today is Friday, February 26, 2021.  The full moon in February is called the” Snow Moon”.

An inspirational quote by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.  “Very little is needed to make a happy life: it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”

February Feelings. While this month can – at times – feel cold in places where it is winter, inside, we can be warmed by happiness and joy. 

Laughter improves the function of the mind and body. It connects people and relaxes the body.  It often causes others to smile and laugh too. Allow yourself daily doses of laughter. Keep a list of what makes you laugh. It may be humorous people, animals, visual images, memes, cartoons, audio or video clips, photos, books, autocorrected text messages, memories, and stories. Sometimes, laughter is a natural part of the day. Other times, you can deliberately turn to those things that make you laugh out loud.

Photo by Catrina Farrell

Use this Mindfulness Activity to calm your Body and Mind:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.    
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.   
  • Explore a Loving Kindness Practice
  • Find a comfortable position.
    • Take several calming belly breaths.
    • Repeat positive phrases towards yourself.
      • May I be happy.
      • May I be healthy.
      • May I be peaceful.
      • May I be strong.
      • May I be confident.
    • Smile to yourself.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am doing what I can. I am open to myself and others, and I belong to a global community. I appreciate myself and others because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We are all connected. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

 

Wednesday, February 24

Today is Wednesday, February 24, 2021.  When outside, do you notice any different color palettes?  Has the snow brought a peaceful silence?  Are there any animals scurrying about?

An inspirational quote by Mark Twain.  “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try and cheer somebody else up.”

February Feelings. While this month can – at times – feel cold in places where it is winter, inside, we can be warmed by happiness and joy.

Staying connected with friends, family, and community can spark happiness.

      • Reach out to friends and family you have not spoken to for a while, call or send a note.
      • Smile to people.
      • Volunteer.
      • Be fully present during conversations.
      • Send or drop off a care package for someone.

Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager

Use this Mindfulness Activity to calm your Body and Mind:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
  • Explore a Loving Kindness Practice
    • Find a comfortable position.
    • Take several calming belly breaths.
    • Repeat positive phrases towards yourself.
      • May I be happy.
      • May I be healthy.
      • May I be peaceful.
      • May I be strong.
      • May I be confident.
    • Smile to yourself.

 Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am doing what I can. I am open to myself and others, and I belong to a global community. I appreciate myself and others because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We are all connected. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP 

Monday, February 22

Today is Monday, February 22, 2021.  While we are dreaming of warmer weather in the North, February is a great time to start planning your summer garden.

An inspirational quote by Samuel Taylor Colridge.  “The happiness of life is made up of the little charities of a kiss or smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment.”

February Feelings. While this month can – at times – feel cold in places where it is winter, inside, we can be warmed by happiness and joy.

Pause to appreciate the goodness that surrounds you.

      • Keep a gratitude journal.
      • Verbalize gratitude to others.
      • Replay happy memories.
      • After waking in the morning think of one thing you are grateful for.
      • Tell someone you work with, what you appreciate about them.

Photo by: Fran Lee

Use this Mindfulness Activity to calm your Body and Mind:  

  • Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders back and down, smile to yourself, & relax your jaw.
  • Take slow deep belly breaths, allowing your stomach to rise with each breath in and relax with each breath out. You may find that each breath gets better and better. Allow your shoulders to relax on each exhale.
  • Explore a Loving Kindness Practice
    • Find a comfortable position.
    • Take several calming belly breaths.
    • Repeat positive phrases towards yourself.
        • May I be happy.
        • May I be healthy.
        • May I be peaceful.
        • May I be strong.
        • May I be confident.
    • Smile to yourself.

Recharge yourself and share positive energy when you repeat:    

“I am [*Name*]. I am doing what I can. I am open to myself and others, and I belong to a global community. I appreciate myself and others because I have kindness and love in my heart and soul. As I think about those I love and care for, I send loving kindness and compassion to all people including me. We are all connected. Together, we can do great things.”

With gratitude and appreciation for all beings,

Naomi Parrella, MD & Fran Lee, FNP