Smiling

The source of a true smile
is an awakened mind.
Smiling helps you approach the day
with gentleness and understanding.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Peace Is Every Step

Of Note: Every day Tibetan monks awake with a laugh. Not just a little chuckle, but a laugh right-out-loud. They believe that the act of laughing makes them calmer and more focused during the day. Scientists have now found that the monks were on to something. Studies have shown that laughing shuts off several stress hormones and turns on happy endorphins which in turn relaxes capillaries in the head and improves the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain. More surprising, any laugh will do, even a fake one, because the body does not know the difference. Other scientifically proven Tibetan monk activities include sitting up straight which increases the efficiency of spinal neurons, listening to bells before and after meditation which enhances relaxation and creativity and humming which releases feel-good hormones.

Today's Weather Report: My husband has declared that the worst of winter is over. Maybe it is wishful thinking because he envisions the time when he will not have to fill the boiler twice a day with wood. But I'd have to agree with him on this one. Something in the air says winter is passing with a whimper this year. That's a blessing. A more mild winter might make up for the deep-freeze last year when it hit minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit for way too many days. The two puppies certainly enjoy the cold. Although with their long-coats, we wonder how they will fare in the summer.