Better memory, better life (Part1)

Alzheimer's is one of the most dreaded diseases of all, for me at least. While other conditions that make one physically weak or bed ridden are equally bothersome, what sends innumerable chills down my spine is the fear of losing memory.

In the past, I would consider my inability to remember names or phone numbers, an amusing personality trait. Not any more though. After watching my grandfather succumb to Alzheimer's disease, I have developed a very healthy respect for brain and memory.

I realize that letting my memory slip can be disastrous in the long run and not remembering simple things is definitely not funny. Overlooking minor memory lapses means that I am courting a lifetime of more memory slips and lesser brain activity. By neglecting to exercise my brain enough, I am actually helping it transform into an empty box.

Photo Courtesy Violator3
While there are people born with photographic memory, I am certainly not one of them. In fact, I am sure I have a particularly low number of brain cells and am genetically disposed to using even lesser of those :(

Hence, it is up to my will power to make a difference to my brain if I intend to avoid its total decay. Doctors have found that it is not given that memory decline with age. There are several ways to keep our brain sharp throughout our lives and, perhaps, avoid mentally weakening conditions like dementia. What truly amazed me is the finding that you can actually increase the number of brain cells if you spend time exercising them. This totally reverses the traditional suggestion that our brain deteriorates with age.
Age, at least in this case, is totally in the state of mind!

There are many methods proposed to give our brain the much needed boost. While, unfortunately, there is no way to predict that these methods will keep one from developing mental illnesses like Alzheimer's, what they can certainly do is give us a head start in training our brain to be smarter and sharper.

Here is a list of brain tonics that promise to keep us mentally agile. The description of each comes in the next blog.

1. Learn something new to stimulate mind
   
2. Interact socially to improve brain's inter cellular communication
   
3. Try mental exercises (like puzzles, crosswords) to dust mental cobwebs
   
4. Exercise the body to preserve your mind
   
5. Eat healthful food to prevent cognitive decline
6. Reduce stress to increase brain longevity
   

How to use writing as a therapy

Photo courtesy jefield
Very few of us can weave fascinating stories with our words. But, I believe, everyone can express his thoughts through writing. Just as talking is a great way for many women to convey their anguish and feel better, writing can become the perfect way to give vent to one's feelings and feel lighter.

I have used writing to ease my worries, get rid of my insecurities, plan my future, celebrate my achievements and a lot more. Every time, reading my written words has given me new perspectives and feelings of worthiness.

Here is how you can use writing as a therapeutic tool:

• To let out steam: We humans are an egoistic lot. We get angry and frustrated if we don't get what we want in the way we want it. The result of our hotheadedness is always negative, for us as well as others. The simplest way to avoid this is to write about the issues troubling you. So you hate the way people comment about your looks; let it out in writing. You may just realize that you were wrong to give importance to other's irritating jibes in the first place.
• To understand another perspective: Who knows, that person who disrespects you, might have issues of his own. That friend who teases you is secretly jealous of your achievements. The street kid who harasses you for money has been hungry the whole day. Writing often lets you see beyond where your eyes take you.
• To overcome your insecurities: Oh the bane of my life - insecurity. I cannot stress enough how many of my inner demons I have squashed through writing. The best part of writing about your hidden fears is that you get a perfect chance to analyze and overcome those monsters. What thinking, taking advices and reading cannot achieve, writing can do in a few minutes. It really exorcises the monsters for good.
  
• To feel better: If you have gone through a life shattering moment and have no one to console you, writing can come to your rescue. Just expressing your sorrow and reading it makes you feel you are getting a great shoulder to cry upon. Your writing becomes your best companion as you pour out your heart. It makes you realize that you can, at times, be your best company.
• To share your achievements: So you have pumped your fists in the air, given innumerable treats and literally walked on cloud nine. But if you want to add immortality to your triumph, just write it down. One day, ten years from now, when you read about your exuberance in your achievement, you will live that moment again. It will become your best mood lifter for lifetime!
  

5 ways to spread happiness

Photo Courtesy tony's pics

A perfectly easy way to be happy is to make others happy. They could be anyone - your family members, friends, co-workers or complete strangers. It is really weird how a few good words and a little extra time for others make so much difference in your life. As is expected from lazy bones like me, I was definitely not above considering volunteering a waste of time. It wouldn't help me, now would it? So why bother?

Well, one day I decided to bother, and have been hooked ever since. No, I don't make extended trips to poverty stricken areas or other such troubled zones. But spend a few hours to spread awareness about my pet issues and believe me, it has changed my life's perspective. Importantly, it gives me great satisfaction to think that I am making a difference.

How can we spread a little happiness and consequently gain a lot? Here are a few pointers:

1. Volunteer in non-profits: There are sevaral around and are generally short of staff. You can always ask them if they need some help. A few hours each week should be good enough. You can use whatever talent you have. If you are a born leader, organize fundraisers. If you can write, spread the word. If you like to teach, help out in schools.


2. Help monetarily: I still battle with my conscience about giving money to beggars. However, it is definitely possible to help out those who are genuinely working and still suffering. So if your housemaid is still getting the salary she got 3 years back, you can give her a raise. Or maybe, that gardener or car washer needs more than just 20 bucks for his work. Look at the work and pay fair.


3. Encourage the victims: If you keep your eyes and ears really open, you will see a lot of problems around - problems you can help with. Unsafe deliveries, neglect of girl child, no education, child marriage, child labor, violence at home - you see all this hapening every day. You can help by talking to the victim. A few words of encouragement and genuine concern can change a person's life.


4. Be empathetic: Not everyone is born with empathy. I, for instance, had to come out of my little cozy cocoon to really understand the problems of others. This trait may come naturally to you. So use it to understand why your house maid wants to be absent on a particular day you cannot do without her. Or why your husband prefers to be quiet when you have a thousand things to share. Or why your friend is still sulking about that no good boyfriend of hers.


5. Be polite: I really like people who watch their p's and q's and so, conclude that others will like me to be polite as well. Saying a "thankyou" or "sorry" may appear factitious to some, but it can be a source of happiness to others. A polite word of gratitude to the busy cab driver or the harried cashier can make him feel better. A little smile and small talk can make life's troubles more bearable. So go on, be sweet to others - you'll be surpirsed at how much they will like you for it.
   

Spreading joy through empowerment

Imagine a house with walls made of cardboard boxes and plastic pieces and roof made of tin sheets. Imagine a stream of dirty, smelly water on one side of this house and burning garbage on the other side of it.

Now imagine a little girl stepping out of that house; the stream's dirty water making her feet wet. She walks barefoot to the local market and stands for hours in the relentless heat, trying to sell the tortillas her mother prepared that morning.

If she fails to sell them, her family might have nothing to eat - she is the only earning member in the family of four. Photo Courtesy kathyadams

The grim reality

The description above might not be completely accurate for it is too tough to explain the grim reality. Impoverished children who need to work to stay alive have incredibly sad lives.
Often they do not have proper families and even if they do have guardians, they do not get the kind of facilities that kids in developed countries take for granted. They do not have proper health facilities or a safe neighborhood or even clean playgrounds.

Not that they get a chance to think about this. They have far more important concerns of food and housing to consider everyday. Education is simply not an option for them as they cannot afford to go to school instead of trying to earn a few bucks.

Empowerment International
Around the world, several organizations are working to improve this unfortunate situation. One of such non- profit organizations is Empowerment International (EI).
Started in 1998 in Costa Rica by Kathy Adams, Empowerment International soon reached Nicaragua. It has a number of volunteers who work directly with the kids in Nicaragua. Aneilka, a former school teacher, heads the team of volunteer staff that monitors the program.

The unique approach of EI or Empowerment International is to deal with the root cause behind the plight of children in the slums and to bring changes in their lives. Often education in public schools is free, but the families are too poor to afford even the mandatory uniforms and school supplies. Besides, many families do not consider eduction important for their kids as they feel it would be far more beneficial if the kids start earning. EI, therefore, addresses not only the monetary concerns but also the emotional ones.

It aims to help the children “to stay off the streets, find better jobs, and eventually break the cycle of poverty that has haunted their families for generations”

Work so far
Initially, 76 children from Villa de Esperanza (appropriately meaning Village of Hope), a small slum outside Granada in Nicaragua, were provided with uniforms, shoes and other supplies so that they could participate in the state sponsored program.

Today, more than 300 children are enrolled in schools and the number is expected to grow fast in the coming years. Currently, children receive support up to the 11th grade which is considered the end of primary school in South America. One of the biggest achievements of Empowerment International is that it has succeeded in inducing parents to form committees to check the progress of kids.

In the beginning, parental attendance hovered around 30% but today it is almost 98% ! Thus, Empowerment International is trying to spread awareness in the community and encourage the slum dwellers to be responsible for the education of their children.

Volunteers in slums
Volunteers working for EI, visit the families and encourage them to continue sending their kids to the educational programs. They advise parents on how to help children with their school work even if they have not received much education themselves.

In case any family needs support that goes beyond the scope of EI, it is connected to the appropriate NGO or government agency.
Sam Oulavong, an art teacher from Chicago, who came down to Nicaragua to teach digital photography to these kids, mentions, “I’m excited about working with these kids. In the midst of what seemed to me, one of the dirtiest places to live in, I saw people of great beauty, integrity, and with a heart to match their outer beauty. ”

Health for happiness

Calling myself a health expert or even a healthy person would be a huge exaggeration. I am a truly ordinary woman seeking more energy and fitness every day. In my quest for good heath I have discovered the joys of actually being healthy.

The fitness bug hit me in my teenage and hasn't left ever since. I love the exuberance after a good exercise session and the lightness after a healthful meal. Photo Courtesy ldcross
These two - exercise and food, in no particular order - affect fitness and consequently, happiness.


In my earlier post I talked about positivity being the number one factor for happiness and going by that, I would say that good health is the second most important component. Its simple, really. If you take a little time out everyday to focus on some core requirements for health, I think you will find a vast improvement in your outlook on life.

A sick body, at least in my case, leads to a weak mind. I tend to get mercurial and muddled up when sick. Recently, I was down in the dumps after a horrible case of flu and I noticed that I was uncharacteristically moody and emotional. Conclusion - increasing your ability to fight diseases or avoiding them altogether can make each day fruitful and bright.

A few ways I try to stay fit and avoid getting cranky are:

• sleeping enough, which, unfortunately, for me means 8 hours :(
• eating healthy breakfast (means nothing too fatty or sugary)
• avoiding caffeine (sometimes I do give in though)
• eating salad along with carbohydrates in lunch
• munching a handful of nuts, mostly almonds each day
  
• exercise, even for 10 min, each day
• trying to be on feet as much as possible (not easy, as I am a born sloth)
  
• adding more turmeric (which is said have antioxidant properties) to my food
• eating proteins which often translates to eggs (I know, I know its bad for cholesterol but I just love them)
• and, drinking lots of water
  

No.1 way to be happy

I know, I am no expert at this, but I do try to be happy and so thought of sharing, what I consider, the no. 1 way to be happy.

I could think of many things that are very important for a person's well being. Energy, fitness, money, comfort, family, relationship and many more of these were jostling to get the numero uno status. But, somehow, I think it is optimism that shines the brightest. Moreover, perfectly healthy, rich, in love and educated people, often, complain of misery in their lives. I guess, they are missing this all important positive outlook to get happy.
Photo Courtesy Frazzled Jen

Here is why I consider a positive outlook to be of prime importance for happiness:

1. Makes the darkest day livable: Positivity is a trait I was definitely not born with. I would brood over the silliest comment and worry myself sick about the trifles of life. Until I discovered the joys of positive thinking. I learned it from my kid sister. I noticed that, no matter what, she would wait for something good to come out of even the worts scenarios. And you know what? It always did! She inspired me to look at everything positively and this new found hope has made many a failure easily bearable for me.
   
2. Keeps you away from unnecessary worrying: I guess women are genetically programmed to worry. I am the type that can worry about a college exam even before joining classes. I worry about falling sick when I am perfectly healthy. I even imagine horrible future scenarios and worry about them. In short, I am a true blue paranoid. Anyway, after discovering optimism, I tend to see brighter things in future. So, I see myself as a fitter person and actually hope to have better life in the coming days.
   
3. Helps you achieve your goals: This one is easy. If you believe you can do something, you almost surely will be able to. No rocket science for sure, but the 'believe' part can be tricky for many. So, instead of fearing that I might goof up and fail, I now believe that I can reach the target. Not surprisingly, I do.
4. Keeps you healthy: By the laws of deduction, if you think positive thoughts, then you do positive things that lead to a positive life. This works out very well for the health department of your life. If you are optimistic, you will get healthier faster (not cheating from a research paper, felt this phenomenon myself) and will stay that way longer. Perhaps, this has something to do with believing in a healthier you and working towards it or maybe one of those 'good' hormones secrete when you are positive. Whatever, the reason, the final result is definitely great.
   

5 reasons for happiness

Photo Courtesy Tub Gurnard
Happiness is important to me, as I am sure it is to all of you out there. The question is why is it so important. While different people may want it for different reasons, I believe I like happiness because:

• It helps me behave better with others.

I have noticed that if I a in a sour mood, I inevitably become obnoxious, rude and all of the really nasty things. No matter how hard I try, I end up hurting others. This could be because I want to be left alone or worse, I want to pass on my grumpiness to others. Anyway, the conclusion - if I am churlish, I become a mean monster.

• It leads to more happiness
  

This one is really simple to understand. If I am in a good mood, I generally try to stay that way. This means I do my utmost (unknowingly) to keep myself in a happy state. For instance, if I have slept well and wake up feeling fresh, I try to eat well to keep up the good feeling and may even end up doing something productive to continue my happiness streak!

• It helps me take care of myself

In general, I am a moderately lazy person and care for my health oft and on. The "on" times are those when I am happy. Depression leads to overeating, little sleep, sloth and many worse health blunders. In the days I am feeling good, I exercise, take the trouble to cook healthy food and actually stay in shower long enough to wash all the chemicals off my hair.

• It inspires me to make others happy

Yeah, tough to believe, but I could actually take the trouble to make someone happy if I am in a euphoric mood. I might cook something nice for my hubby or talk to one of my friends who has been mailing me to call her or do other goody-two-shoes deeds and surprise myself.

• It makes me work more efficiently

I know too much excitement is not good for me as I tend to get overwhelmed by the euphoria. However, when I am contented and serenely happy, I focus on my work and get a 4 hour job done in 2 hours. No seriously, I have noticed that work looks a lot simpler when I am not nursing a hidden desire to kill someone ;-)
For instance, I am actually writing this blog, instead of waiting for another work free day, because I somehow feel like that guy in the photo!