wellness

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International Day of Happiness, March 20

Good Day Brave Hearts

Have you smiled today?  Are you enjoying yourself?  Is this a good day for you?  Maybe it’s a great day for you.  A day of Sharing and Caring.  A day of happiness.

International Day of Happiness | United Nations

What does happiness mean to you?  Is it a warm hug?  A kiss from your dog?  Fellowship with loved ones or friends?  There are so many ways to enjoy your life, from the sports arenas to colouring books, reading your favourite authors, to exploring the land, gardening, crafts, singing and praising, sharing and caring.  The world needs your fine mind and your pursuits of achievement.  Happiness is part of your achievements.  Its a goal to set, to find ways to enjoy your life, in a healthy, safe and law abiding manner.  It strengthens the community, builds ties with others and creates networks of like minded  people to help you with your pursuits.

There’s a strength in being happy.

Happiness: What It Really Means and How to Find It

Happy people live longer,  have more meaningful relationships and give more community support.  There’s real value in social support, engaging with others and trying to solve issues of hardship.  There’s also real value in play.  The chance to stretch your legs, play a game and just enjoy the fun of life.  Having fun and spending time with people who you enjoy is a fulfilling past time.  It’s also very important to your life, to nurture your sense of well being.  Positive interactions with others, doing things that make you happy, helping someone else, provides positive interactions and positive reinforcement.

There is much to be gained in making contributions to your community.  Some contributions are time, some are goods, some are expertise and volunteering, some is financial, but whatever it is, the overall contributions, helps to take care of another.

Gratitude is an important factor in happiness and happiness improves overall health and well being.  It’s important to be happy and to pursue goals which help to improve happiness.  This helps with personal relationships, work force relationships and general public contacts.  Gratitude comes with sharing and caring.  It has a relationship. It’s the joy of giving and the joy of receiving.

So happiness is a means to an end and finding happiness in your life is a life long pursuit.  It’s so important, that the pursuit of happiness is included in the American Declaration of Independence and listed as an unalienable right, rather than a pursuit, or a quest.  People have the right to be happy.  People have the right to enjoy themselves, to have fun, to engage in healthy social pursuits.  People have the right to live a good life.  A good life comes with a good community, with fellowship and friends, with enjoyable social and recreational pursuits.  It’s being able to participate in the things that you enjoy.  They say that the good things in life are free, but you have to make those good things occur.  Family, friends, supportive people in your life, these will help to make you happy and happiness can come without financial burden.  It’s the gifts of sharing and caring that help to ease hunger, give shelter, clothing and supplies and make a happier world for those in need.

Happiness is for all of us.

Happy International Happiness Day

written by Dr. Louise E Hayes

March 19, 2025

 

 

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National Chocolate Day

Hail Brave Hearts

The sweets are the treats.  Of all of the fabulous adventures of our lives, the delicacy of the world of sweet, is a treat for all of us.  Chocolate for the chocoholic, the worlds favourite flavour.  To have a World Chocolate Day is to honour and recognize the outstanding significance of flavour.  It’s  an opportunity to explore the magic kingdom of this sweet delight and it’s not just one day.  There are four Chocolate Days.  World Chocolate Day (July 7)  National Chocolate Day ( October  28 and December 28) and International Chocolate Day on September 13.  Chocolate is a very important subject.

Chocolate bars, syrup, ice cream, candy, icing, and cooking bars, We drool for this taste sensation and overindulge in it frequently.  Chocolate is one of life’s pleasant, culinary adventures.

The joy of Chocolate.  Easter bunnies and Easter eggs,  chocolate birthday cake, chocolate in the Christmas stocking and under the tree, a  box of  chocolates for a gift.  Valentines Day chocolates and Mother’s Day as well.  Chocolate in the cupboard, chocolate in the fridge, in our pockets and in our purses.  We love this stuff.  It’s good for us.  At least, we hope so.  With something as sweet as this, that we eat so much of,  it must be good for us.  And it is, to a certain extent.  Too much chocolate adds fats, calories  and unnecessary sugars, causing overweight and cavities.  On the bright side, chocolate, especially dark chocolate can reduce stress, contains anti oxidants, lowers cholesterol, improves brain functioning, improves heart health, reduces inflammation, enhances mood and supports weight loss.

How It’s Made: Chocolate (youtube.com)

Since there are health benefits to chocolate, an occasional craving must be OK.

Since it’s arrival in Europe in 1550, chocolate has made a deep impression on our lives.  It’s part of our diet and our culture.  So many recipes call for chocolate that it’s associated with some of our holidays and special days. It’s so popular that it occupies a whole field in culinary craft.  Chocolatiers are specialists in making chocolate.

It is possible for you to  make your own, if you can find the beans.

Otherwise, enjoy this sweet treat on this special day.  A day of chocolate delight.

Written by Louise E Hayes

July 7, 2024