Holistic Solutions - Nutrition and Lifestyle Counseling

We all have our favorite parts of the Olympics. I love the opening ceremonies. Never before has there been such pagaentry, such excitement, or such a panorama of colors. The 2008 Olympics hosted in China were like no other Olympics before.

As hosts the Chinese had five mascots which represented the five elements. They believe that these five elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water govern the Universe. These elements correspond to color, emotion, taste, sound, energy, organs and bodily functions. They are assoicated with the time of the day, the seasons of the year and the organs of the body.

 The mascots also represented the five tradiotional beessings of: prosperity, happiness, passion, health, and good luck. What do these traditional blessings mean to you?

To me prosperity and abundance are two sides of the same coin. Happiness and contentment are another coin and health and wealth are on a third. Passion and faithfulness, health and wealth and good luck and hard work are each on seperate coins. These are the traditional blessings that fill my wallet and make me feel rich.

What coins are in your wallet?

Every day I walk my dog in the park and smile at everyone I pass. I consider them to be new friends because they have just done something wonderful for me! They have improved the quality of my immune system! When I smile at someone happy hormones are released in me and in the person you I gave a smile to. When people allow me to make eye contact with them I always get a smile in return. 

Most of the time I’m a happy person. When I’m not I pretend to be. I’m gregarious and am told I have an infectious laugh. It’s easy to make friends when I’m having fun. People like to be around people who love to laugh.

Happy people have stronger immune systems than unhappy people. According to a study by Nicholas Christakis, a professor at Harvard University, happy people produce fewer stress hormones. They have a broader base of support which helps shorten the duration and minimize the intensity of stressful times in their lives.

Happy people typically have more friends, are well connected, and are at the center of social networks. Having have friends and siblings close by is a more important contributing actor than  a happy  marriage. Close friendships with girlfriends is especially important for women.

Happiness spreads more consistently than unhappiness. Every friend increases your chance of being happy by 9%. Every unahppy friend decreases it by 7%. The way I see it you never have too many friends. So I’m going to keep on smiling at strangers every day as I walk my dog in the park. All I want for the new year is to continue to be healthy in the new year. 

All I want for Christmas is a smile from a stranger.