"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did."
~Benjamin Harrison
I am reading a book on happiness called, "Happiness is a Serious Problem." I thought about Memorial Day and the fact that we are paying tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy these long weekends. I thought of the line, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." And then I thought, "are we pursuing happiness or are we just pursuing fun."
Some might say it is the same. I don't think it is. One of the things that brought me happiness beyond words was the first time I held my son. I know it brought my wife immense happiness also, but I can guarantee it wasn't fun for her.
How about a time when you did something for "fun" and it actually made you feel worse. Look at Hollywood. The stars seem to have fun all the time, so why then do they write books on how miserable they are.
The book I am reading talks about two kinds of fun. One type of fun is like the spices you put on food that is good for you to make it taste better. The other is like dessert. Dessert is great some of the time but it will not sustain you. The fun you add to your work, family and friends will be the spice that really adds happiness to your life.
Have a fun week.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Charlie Brown's Posture
What does posture tell us? When you are excited, what position are you in? How about when you are sad, frustrated, stressed?
Those of you who have been to my office know I teach a simple posture exercise. Stand with your back to a bare wall with your heals touching the base board. Align yourself so that the back, buttocks and the back of your head are touching the wall.
It is important that you are looking straight ahead and not up, and that you try and keep your hips horizontal from front to back by tightening your abdominal muscles. After you feel comfortable, walk away from the wall and practice holding the posture. Practice this as often as possible until the posture becomes habit.
The key to this exercise is to stay relaxed. We want to feel "light", not "tense". This exercise has two important outcomes. It helps structurally, but it also helps mentally. I remember a Peanuts cartoon I saw at a fellow chiropractor's office.
It went something like this: Charlie Brown is in his usual head down, slumped posture and Lucy asks him, "Why are you standing like that?" Charlie Brown replies, "If I straighten up I can't stay depressed." My good friend Boaz always uses the line, "Fake it until you make it".
So if you are feeling depressed, frustrated, stressed or sad, try working on your posture. Get that head up, look to the horizon and not at your feet and for goodness sake, put a smile on your face. Not only will you improve your body mechanics, but you may even gain a new perspective on things.
Those of you who have been to my office know I teach a simple posture exercise. Stand with your back to a bare wall with your heals touching the base board. Align yourself so that the back, buttocks and the back of your head are touching the wall.
It is important that you are looking straight ahead and not up, and that you try and keep your hips horizontal from front to back by tightening your abdominal muscles. After you feel comfortable, walk away from the wall and practice holding the posture. Practice this as often as possible until the posture becomes habit.
The key to this exercise is to stay relaxed. We want to feel "light", not "tense". This exercise has two important outcomes. It helps structurally, but it also helps mentally. I remember a Peanuts cartoon I saw at a fellow chiropractor's office.
It went something like this: Charlie Brown is in his usual head down, slumped posture and Lucy asks him, "Why are you standing like that?" Charlie Brown replies, "If I straighten up I can't stay depressed." My good friend Boaz always uses the line, "Fake it until you make it".
So if you are feeling depressed, frustrated, stressed or sad, try working on your posture. Get that head up, look to the horizon and not at your feet and for goodness sake, put a smile on your face. Not only will you improve your body mechanics, but you may even gain a new perspective on things.
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