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The Benefits of Reading and a Great Quote About Reading from Dr. Seuss!

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Quote About Reading

Quote About Reading by Dr. Seuss

In a recent issue of Better Homes & Gardens, I read that the average 15-44 year old spend less than 10 minutes reading each day. Depressing! Reading offers far too many benefits for people to spend so little time doing it.

We all know how important reading is for our minds, to say nothing of informing us about the world around us, but research shows that reading also reduces levels of stress by nearly 70 percent!

The benefits of reading:

  • Strengthens your mind.
  • Teaches you about people around the world, how others think, and other cultures (all beautifully vital things to know)
  • Improves your mood.
  • Boosts your memory.
  • Improves your thinking skills.
  • Teaches you new words, strengthening your vocabulary.
  • Gives you more things to talk about with others.
  • Sharpens your thinking skills.
  • Relaxes you!

One of the secrets to reading MORE is finding the type of books or articles you like to read the MOST. For me, personally, my favorite things to read are the Bible, Agatha Christie mysteries (I read and re-read her Hercule Poirot books and am always in the middle of one), old Hollywood biographies and memoirs, American History, cookbooks, poetry, and anything pertaining to other favorite subjects…birds, animals, health, angels, spirituality, prayer, cooking, photography, Amelia Earhart, Abraham Lincoln, etc.

One of the ways to become a more prolific reader is to have more things that interest you. If you can’t think of many… read more and you’ll find almost too many to read about in a year!


Improve Your Mental Health With Simple Changes in Your Home or Workspace (Infographic)

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Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid and Humphrey Bogart - Casablanca

Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid 

Think about one of your favorite movies for a minute. For me, Casablanca comes to mind (as one may expect from someone who is obsessed with old Hollywood!). Casablanca is comprised of an outstanding cast bringing colorful roles to life. Rick, Ilsa, Victor, Captain Louis Renault, Signor Ferrari, Carl, Sam, Major Heinrich Strasser, Ugarte…..

The movie would have been good if you removed one of these roles. It would have been good enough if you removed two of these roles. It would have been okay if you removed three of these roles (I mean, so long as they aren’t Rick, Ilsa, Victor, or the Captain!). BUT… now here’s where the magic hits the stage… when you have all the roles together and in place, what you have is a legend. A masterpiece that has stood the test of time.

It’s the same with many things in life. There are many components that make the hole. If you fall short on one or two… sometimes even three… you’ll probably be okay. But who wants to be okay when you can be a legend?!

When it comes to being physically healthy, there are Rick, Ilsa, Victor, Captain, and Sam roles:

  • get plenty of sleep
  • stay hydrated
  • get plenty of fresh air
  • get enough exercise
  • eat a healthy diet
  • etc..

The same is true with staying mental healthy, in fact, the roles for physical and mental health overlap, don’t they?!

However, when it comes to mental health, there’s an unexpected role (a real scene stealer a la Sam in Casablanca!) but (again, like Sam), it is essential because it sets the whole stage: Your Living Space. We set ourselves up for success or failure by the conditions with which we surround ourselves and the infographic below does an outstanding job of detailing the ways in which we can set ourselves up for better mental health and, in my opinion, better emotional health as well. Both of which will only have positive effects on our physical health.

Enjoy the infographic (click for the larger version) and read more about Optimizing your Living Space for Mental Health by clicking the link.

As for me, I’m going to take a break in my day and watch Casablanca… for probably the 100th time because, what can I say, I have a thing for legends.

Make each moment count double!
~Joi (“Joy”)

How to Optimize Your Home for Mental Health
Infographic Source


Helping Others: It’s Always the Right Time to Reach Out…

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It’s Always the Right Time to Reach Out and Help Others

While many things are returning to normal in many parts of the world, none of us are completely back to normal. In fact, for a lot of people, normal may look, sound, smell, and certainly feel different for quite a while.

Maybe forever.

Before you let that make you frown, realize that not all change is bad. In fact, some change can be a very good, positive thing.

What if we all come out of this pandemic more willing to reach out and help others than we have ever been willing before? What if the consideration and concern for our neighbors (very near and very far) that we’ve experienced and displayed lasts… well… forever?

I for one certainly hope so!

I have a great deal of correspondence with others through my e-mail and social media. I have noticed over the past year more of us are apt to sign off with things such as…

  • Stay Safe!
  • Be Well!
  • Best Wishes to You and Your Family!
  • Etc..

I also notice many greetings begin with..

  • I hope you’re well…
  • I hope you’re safe…
  • I hope you and your loved ones are well…

It didn’t used to be like this.

When I’m in stores and restaurants (still riding an emotional high that my favorite Mexican restaurant weathered this storm and is open for business!), I see people smiling at one another these days – the warm smiles aren’t just reserved for babies anymore! People seem to genuinely care for others post-pandemic than they did pre-pandemic and that’s something I very, very, VERY much sticks around.

Many people are struggling today – more, perhaps, than ever before. The pandemic introduced a lot of unpleasantness into our lives. Some unpleasantness we could SEE – lockdowns, less family visits, less income, arguments with family members who view the virus differently than we do, and a total upheaval in our daily lives. Other unpleasantnesses couldn’t be seen, but my goodness are they ever felt.

  • the anxiety that comes with coming face to face with your own vulnerability
  • stress from seeing, daily, others sick and suffering
  • being more aware of death than ever before… I mean, we were given daily numbers!
  • arguments within families due to more stress
  • broken relationships because of other’s views on the virus, masks, and vaccines

Make no mistake about it, this pandemic left its vile fingerprints on all of our lives.

It’s worth remembering that you don’t have to always be strong. You can cry when you darn well feel like crying! It’s okay to feel scared and I’m giving you permission to feel angry about the whole thing. Feel the emotions you want to feel and make no attempt to tell others how to deal with their feelings. We all cope differently and we all heal differently.

Finally, I’d love to encourage everyone to reach out and help others in any way possible. If you know someone who seems to have the weight of the world on their shoulders, either ask them what you can do to make the load lighter or (perhaps even better) step up and do something for them that helps lighten their load.

Ideas include mowing their lawn, giving them a gift card to their favorite restaurant (this way you help them and the restaurant), offering to watch their child/children while they treat themselves to a day out. Simply showing up to their house with a Starbucks drink for you and a Starbucks drink for them and sitting to talk with them for an hour may be just the tonic they (and you!) need.

Many are dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, and other emotional and mental strains right now. If you can be a blessing to someone, please don’t hesitate to do so. You may give them exactly what they needed to hang in there and keep fighting.

As a bonus, helping others makes you feel so good!

Stay strong, stay well, and stay safe. I truly care about each and every one of you. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Checklist for Your Mental Health During Covid-19

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Mental Fitness During Covid-19

Infographic Credit: BPI-Philam

Maintaining our mental fitness and emotional health should be as important to us during the pandemic as staying physically healthy. After all, what good is one without the other??

The infographic, here, and the content here can serve as an excellent reminder to do just that.  I hope you’ll take time out of your busy day to check both out and share them with others in your life.

Stay well, stay safe, and stay YOU! ~ Joi

Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): A Few Quick and Easy Tips

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Remember to Pause to See the Beauty in Every Season

Those of us who have never suffered from  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) should take a moment right now and express our complete and unrestrained gratitude. From what I’ve seen, heard, and read, it is a miserable and seemingly relentless cloud of misery.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to cope with and even overcome SAD. Will every tip work for you personally? Doubtful… but more likely than not a few will help you tremendously. Being proactive will, all by itself, help to some extent.

It always feels better to know we are taking positive steps to make our lives better – as well as the lives of those who our life touches.

Tips for Coping with SAD:

  1. Take a multi-vitamin and a Vitamin D Supplement. Vitamin deficiencies have a large number of symptoms and many of those associated with being more emotional than physical. One of my daughters once found herself feeling extremely tired and sluggish. Worse, she’d sometimes cry without having any idea WHY. When she went to the doctor, she had tears in the examining room and told the doctor she had no idea why. Being a sharp doctor, she ordered blood-work – specifically wanting to check her Vitamin D. It wasn’t just low, it was VERY low. She was prescribed a Vitamin D supplement (though they are available over the counter) and her symptoms improved almost immediately.
  2. Let some sunlight in! Something as simple as opening blinds and curtains during the day may help. When you’re able to look outside at nature (even if it’s just a single tree or the sky and grass), you’re instantly reminded that nature is beautiful year round, not just in the warmer months. The light, itself, can lift your spirits.
  3. ALWAYS have something to look forward to. I’m convinced that (to a certain extent) SAD can result from a “let down” after a string of exciting, high-charged holidays and events. Think about it – September (back to school), October (Halloween), November (Thanksgiving), December (Christmas), January (New Year’s Day). That leaves the rest of January, February (let’s face it, Valentine’s Day is only so so on the excitement meter), and some of March in many parts of the world. It’s only reasonable that there will be a let down, a feeling of “What do we get ready for or look forward to now???” Why not begin planning for your own party or family get-together?! Plan for a Super Bowl party, a movie-watching party (pick your favorite movie… after all, it’s your party!), or any kind of random party you can think of (masquerade party, game day party, use your imagination and see where it takes you). If you aren’t the party type (aside from family birthdays, I’m not either, actually), start planning Movie Nights with a loved one or all by yourself. Pick a night of the week when you don’t have to cook anything (no cleanup… yay!), order pizza, pop the popcorn, and watch a couple of great movies. You’ll find yourself looking forward to movie night so much I’m sure you’ll keep the tradition rolling all year.
  4. Move more! I’m not saying you have to hit the gym – trust me, the last gym I was in was in high school (and gym was short for gymnasium)! Simply make yourself become more active. We move a lot more in the warmer months and the sudden dip in activity takes it’s toll on the body and, perhaps, even mind. Bundle up and walk around the yard or block, turn on music and do your chores with more showmanship (my favorite), take up yoga or pilates, learn a new dance… just move it!
  5. Essential Oils can be effective. The following essential oils can be very helpful in lifting moods (the links go to Amazon, where each can be readily found): Lemon, Jasmine, Lavender, Cinnamon, and Peppermint essential oils are a few people swear by.

I place this final piece of advice separate from the rest because it is both different and vital. So vital, in fact, that I’m not sure any or even all of the tips above will work if it is left undone. When we suffer from things like SAD, we have to stop giving it more power than it already has.

Each time someone says any of the things below, they give Seasonal Affective Disorder more power…

  • “I can’t be happy, I have SAD.”
  • “I’d like to go out for dinner with you, but I can’t, I always feel depressed this time of year.”
  • “I hate winter – it makes me feel so unhappy.”
  • “I wish I could be happy… guess I’ll have to wait for summer.”

Any form of these statements give the disorder power and place the individual in the role of victim – and I don’t know about you, but that’s a role I have no interest in playing!

Statements to Give YOU the Power…

  • “Less light outside doesn’t have to mean less light inside!”
  • “I’m going to make a list of fun things to do this month…”
  • “A problem is nothing more than a question that hasn’t found it’s answer yet… this year, I will find that answer!”

I am in NO WAY trying to make light of SAD – it is a very, very real condition. However, you have more power than it does, you’re smarter than it is, you have more resolve, and you’re a heckuva lot better looking.

My money is on you. ~ Joi (“Joy”)