“All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars.”
“The Pass” by Rush
Give Yourself a Boost
Do you ever find yourself struggling to get out of bed in the morning? Or hitting a wall in the mid-afternoon needing a pick me up? Before you rush to your local coffee shop for quick caffeine boost, try utilizing some natural energy boosters. The following article from Alive Magazine provides tips on how to boost your energy naturally and effectively for the long run so you can avoid that short term rush from your additional cup of Joe.
Daily Dose of Inspiration
Working Up a Cognitive Sweat
My grandmother is legally blind and deaf, but my dad made a great comment to me the other day: “she is blind in one eye and sharp as a tack in the other”. Now 85, for the last 15 years she has had to adjust to her hearing and vision loss through cognitive flexibility and acutely tuning her other senses. The result? An elderly woman who does not appear to be experiencing any element of cognitive decline. In fact, she knows more about adaptive computers, closed circuit reading machines, hearing aids and compensatory tools than I do. The old cliché is true when we talk of cognition – “use it or lose it”.
Our brains are made of billions of neurons, which interact with each other to complete specific tasks. Signals are sent from one neuron to another along neural pathways, and these determine our thoughts, emotions, insights, and so much more. Each task relies on a different neural pathway, so the pathway for reading a book is different than the pathway for putting on our shirt. The more we use a pathway, the stronger the connection becomes.
These neurons have the ability to physically change themselves when faced with new and difficult experiences. This ability is called neuroplasticity. As we are exposed to new areas, tasks, information or experiences, neural pathways are formed and existing ones are reshaped. This will continue throughout our entire lives as we learn. As we have experienced through practicing a musical instrument, memorizing our shopping list or recalling a friend’s phone number, if we consciously focus and train our brains in a certain area, they will become faster and more efficient at performing those tasks.
Just as we need to exercise the muscles in our body, we also need to exercise our brain. One form of brain exercise is called cognitive training. Online training programs have been developed to allow anyone with an Internet connection to have a daily cognitive workout by completing exercises which strengthen our neural pathways. This could include memory, concentration problem solving, visual perception – you name it!
Here is a list of some of the readily available online cognitive training programs:
- · Lumosity(www.lumosity.com): Brain training exercises that focus on memory, attention, flexibility, speed of processing and problem solving. Specific areas to work on are selected as your create a personal profile. Lumosity will automatically create a set of five exercises to complete daily, and keep track of your progress. Membership can be purchased on a monthly ($15) or yearly ($80) basis. It can be trialed for free, but the trial has limited games available.
- · Mind Games (www.mindgames.com): Brain games selected to focus on memory, attention, spatial reasoning, problem solving, focus speed, fluid intelligence, stress, reaction time and visual perception. All games on the website can be played for free.
- · Actibrain(www.actibrain.com): Brain exercises to train in verbal, numerical, logical, memory and spatial areas. An online profile can be created for free and workout games played as frequently as you want. Progress charts keep track of your daily results.
- · The Brain Wizard (www.thebrainwizard.com): Brain training exercises focusing on attention, thinking, recall, concentration and memory. A trial version is available for three days and a full membership can be purchased for $0.25/day.
- · Brain Metrix (www.brainmetrix.com): Brain games focusing on reflection, creativity, memory, spatial intelligence, numbers and concentration. All games on the website can be played for free.
So, go bench press some cognition, increase your reps, and work up a cognitive sweat!
Daily Dose of Inspiration
“Nothing will change in your life if you don’t do something different from what you have been doing.”
E. Perry Good, In Pursuit of Happiness
Weekly Mind Bender
You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. What did you eat?
An ear of corn.
Daily Dose of Inspiration
“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you dream it, you can become it.”
William Arthur Ward
The Mind-Body Connection for Optimal Health
While traditional medicine is quite advanced and has many remedies for what ails you, there is a greater focus on the mind-body connection and how the two acting in harmony can improve your overall health warding off many illnesses and health complaints. The following article by Alive Magazine discusses how to achieve a greater mind-body health connection. By utilizing stress reduction therapies, meditation, deep breathing, yoga, music and pet therapy and many more you can be on your way to achieving overall balanced wellness.
Daily Dose of Inspiration
The Wheelchair Is 2,300 Years Old. There’s Finally A Better Option.
A year ago, Arash had a terrible accident that paralyzed his legs. But thanks to his hard work and some brilliant engineers, he was able to walk again.
The technology shown could mean freedom and a completely different kind of life for people with paralysis. Check it out to see the future of paralysis.
(from Upworthy.com)
What Inspires You?
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
My work inspires me – everyday. And what I find most inspiring are those people who are able to turn a terrible or traumatic situation into something beautiful. I saw this first with Bob. When I was 19, in my undergrad and knowing I wanted a career in health care, I applied for a job as an attendant care aide. Despite having no experience and only able to offer a positive attitude and helping spirit, I got the job. Bob was my boss. Bob had been rendered a quadriplegic when he was hit by a car. Bob described his life before his accident as “miserable”. He was very open about his previous unhappiness and spoke candidly about how his accident helped him to turn his life around. As I worked with Bob for many years we became quite close. Overtime, he started telling me about the feelings he was having for one of his other attendants. I listened and encouraged Bob to share his feelings with her. He did, and discovered that the feelings were mutual. They were soon married. Bob and his new wife lived a wonderful life – they traveled, spent time with friends and family, and just truly enjoyed each other’s company. I remained in touch with Bob and his wife over the years and was saddened to hear of Bob’s passing a few weeks ago. At the visitation I hugged his wife and together we spoke of the wonderful years they shared, and the joy they brought to each other.
I believe that when Bob had his accident he had choices – maybe not physical choices to walk again, or to be able to regain full use of his hands – but he had emotional choices. He could have chosen to be miserable, grumpy and difficult to work for. Or, to withdrawal from others and live reclusively. He could have resumed his previous poor habits that rendered him so unhappy in his adult years. He also could have decided to keep his feelings for his attendant to himself, fearing rejection. But Bob’s accident made him realize the preciousness of life and this helped him to make all the right choices and decisions that ultimately brought him joy, love and happiness in his remaining years.
We can all learn from the Bob’s of the world. And luckily enough for me I have a caseload full of them.