Michelle Prince

What Will Matter

	What Will Matter By Michael Josephson   Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave. What will matter is not your success but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

 

Fatty fish may help prevent memory loss

Fatty fish may help prevent memory loss

Mon Aug 4, 5:16 PM ET

Eating tuna and other fatty fish may help prevent memory loss in addition to reducing the risk of stroke, Finnish researchers said on Monday.

People who ate baked or broiled -- but not fried -- fish high in omega-3 fatty acids have been found to be less likely to have "silent" brain lesions that can cause memory loss and dementia and are linked to a higher risk of stroke, said Jyrki Virtanen of the University of Kuopio in Finland.

"Previous findings have shown that fish and fish oil can help prevent stroke, but this is one of the only studies that looks at fish's effect on silent brain (lesions) in healthy, older people,," Virtanen, who led the study, said in a statement.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and in other foods such as walnuts. They have been shown to provide an anti-inflammatory effect and have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease.

The Finnish team studied 3,660 people aged 65 and older who underwent brains scans five years apart to detect the silent brain lesions, or infarcts, found in about 20 percent of otherwise healthy elderly people

The researchers found that men and women who ate omega-3-rich fish three times or more per week had a nearly 26 percent lower risk of having silent brain lesions.

Eating just one serving per week led to a 13 percent reduced risk, compared to people whose diets did not include this type of fish, the researchers reported in the journal Neurology.

Fried fish for some reason did not appear to have the same benefits, the researchers added.

"While eating tuna and other types of fish seems to help protect against memory loss and stroke, these results were not found in people who regularly ate fried fish," Virtanen said.

 

Omega 3 Benefits – 7 Research Proven Results

Omega 3 is one of the most important things a midlife woman can utiliz for symptom relief and long-term wellness. Check out some of the many benefits!

 

1.    Freedom from pain and inflammation. Omega 3 fish oil fatty acids, particularly EPA, have a very positive effect on your inflammatory response. Through several mechanisms, they regulate your body's inflammation cycle, which prevents and relieves painful conditions like arthritis, prostatitis, cystitis and anything else ending in "itis."

2.    Better brain function and higher intelligence. Pregnant and nursing mothers can have a great impact on the intelligence and happiness of their babies by supplementing with omega 3 fish oil with DHA. For adults, fish oil improves memory, recall, reasoning and focus. You'll swear you're getting younger and smarter.

3.    Feeling better with much less depression. Making you smarter is not all that fish oil does for your brain. Psychiatry department researchers at the University of Sheffield UK, along with many other research studies, found that fish oil supplements "alleviated" the symptoms of depression, bipolar and psychosis. [Journal of Affective Disorder Vol. 48(2-3);149-55]

4.    Lower incidence of childhood disorders. Just to show how fish oil fatty acids leave nobody out, studies show that children (and adults) with ADD and ADHD experience a greatly improved quality of life. And those with dyslexia, dyspraxia and compulsive disorders have gotten a new lease on life thanks to fish oil supplements.

5.    Superior cardiovascular health. Fish oil's DHA, EPA and DPA have also been proven to work wonders for your heart and the miles and miles of arteries and veins that make up your cardiovascular system. They help lower cholesterol, tryglicerides, LDLs and blood pressure, while at the same time increasing good HDL cholesterol. This adds years to your life expectancy.

6.    Protection from heart attack and stroke. When plaque builds up on arterial walls and then breaks loose, it causes what's known as a thrombosis, which is a fancy way of saying clot. If a clot gets stuck in the brain, it causes a stroke and when it plugs an artery, it causes a heart attack. Research shows fish oil fatty acids break up clots before they can cause any damage.

7.    Reduction of breast, colon and prostate cancer. And finally, fish oil has been shown to help prevent three of the most common forms of cancer – breast, colon and prostate. Science tells us that it accomplishes this in three ways – by stopping the alteration from a normal healthy cell to a cancerous mass, by inhibiting unwanted cellular growth and by killing off cancer cells.

Centenarian Tips for a Long Life

Centenarian Tips for a Long Life ~ By Dr. Mao

Everyone would love to live to a ripe old age, but not if it means looking and feeling like an over-ripe old vegetable. We need to understand that though getting older is inevitable, getting decrepit is not.

Being bent in half and wheeling around an oxygen tank should not be what we picture when we hear the phrase "the golden years." I have seen centenarians around the world who defy our stereotypes of the aging experience.

In fact, 20 years ago, while in Shanghai, I took note of the thousands of seniors - a great many of them centenarians - meeting up in parks each morning to practice tai chi. I was truly amazed by their agility, sharp minds, and overall state of health.

Intrigued by this discovery, I began studying the lifestyle of centenarians around the world and anti-aging therapies. I combined these discoveries and uncovered the secrets to longevity. Here are a few secrets that will have you looking forward to your 100th birthday!

Tai Chi: An Exercise in Anti-aging
Tai chi, the choreographed meditative exercises that have been a healing art in China for thousands of years, is practiced by over 100 million people worldwide and owes its popularity to a simple fact - it's enjoyable and it makes you stronger.

Recent studies confirm that when practiced regularly - 30 minutes, three times a week - it has numerous health benefits including: increased energy, decreased stress, an immunity boost against viruses, lowered blood pressure, better cognitive functioning, increased joint mobility, an improved cholesterol profile, relief from fibromyalgia symptoms, and even a better night's sleep.

It also increases leg muscle strength and provides better balance and posture. Perhaps the best part is that tai chi is a gentle exercise that can be performed by anyone at any age. Click here to find out more about tai chi.

Centenarians I have met also take advantage of other rejuvenation techniques the Chinese have known for thousands of years - like acupuncture, acupressure, and energy healing - that increase energy, promote health, and balance the body and the mind.

Diet: The Cornerstone of Longevity
It is no surprise that diet is an essential factor to health and longevity. So what should you be eating? In my studies, I found that the centenarians of two reputed "longevity capitals" - Okinawa, Japan, and Rugao County, a rural community four hours north of Shanghai - shared a nearly identical diet.

These long-lifers eat mostly fish, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, corn, and buckwheat - and virtually no meat. Scientists have confirmed the health benefits of a diet high in fish and vegetables and low in animal products. These centenarians are living examples, as they suffer from very little heart and liver disease and have negligible rates of cancer and degenerative diseases.

Environ-Mentality
When it comes to longevity, environment is half of the equation. From the verdant valleys of Ecuador to the rugged mountains of Armenia to the pristine foothills of the Himalayas, centenarians live in environments that exhibit the same characteristics: clean air, good water, low stress, close communities, and unspoiled nature.

Take a tip from these centenarians and drink only clean, filtered water. Connect with your community in a positive way. Find every way you can to bring nature into your life, from planting more trees in your area to more plants in your home.

Avoid the environmental factors that are damaging to our wellbeing and know what to look out for. Just a few things to avoid include xenoestrogens, which are present just about everywhere, pesticides used on vegetables, hormones injected into meats and poultry, phthalates leaching from plastic bottles, and dioxins from bleached paper products. You can avoid these chemical compounds if you buy organic foods and use glass containers and unbleached paper products.

Keep it Simple!
Centenarians' lifestyles are simple. The centenarians I have known lead active lives and get plenty of rest. They are dedicated lifelong learners and avid travelers. Enjoy your years and you will have many more years to enjoy!

Happy Earth Day!

10 Easy Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Every Day:

1. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: For a recycling center near you click here.
2. Lighten up: Use energy efficient light bulbs like these.
3. One click for man, one giant leap for the planet. Adjust your thermostat up one degree in the summer and down one in the winter to drastically reduce emissions.
4. Use your off switch. Turn off electronic devices, lights, and appliances when you are not using them.
5. Get dirty. Plant a tree. Don’t have a green thumb? That’s no excuse. Here’s how.
6. Take your foot off the gas. Carpooling and using public transportation reduces emissions and is cost effective. Find a carpool near you.
7. Out with the old, in with the new. Replace old appliances with energy efficient ones. There are many to choose from and they’re not too pricey.
8. Go local. Farmers markets and independent stores are less likely to ship products or use harmful pesticides. You use less gas shopping locally too!
9. Organic is your friend. Don’t be afraid to try organic products. They taste, feel, and smell the same but they are natural instead of processed. Price differences are minimal but the nutritional benefits are massive.
10. And this little baggie went to market… Bring your own bags to the market. An average American family acquires 60 plastic bags per week and rarely reuses them. Try ECOBAGS® Shopping System or Classic String Bag and help us save the planet, one bag at a time.

Happy 115th Birthday, Edna!

Maybe it was a lifetime of chores on the family farm that accounts for Edna Parker's long life. Or maybe just good genes explain why the world's oldest known person will turn 115 on Sunday, defying staggering odds.

Scientists who study longevity hope Parker and others who live to 110 or beyond — they're called supercentenarians — can help solve the mystery of extreme longevity. "We don't know why she's lived so long," said Don Parker, her 59-year-old grandson. "But she's never been a worrier and she's always been a thin person, so maybe that has something to do with it."

On Friday, Edna Parker laughed and smiled as relatives and guests released 115 balloons into sunny skies outside her nursing home. Dressed in pearls, a blue and white polka dot dress and new white shoes, she clutched a red rose during the festivities.

Earth Hour

Phoenix was one of the US cities involved in Earth Hour. I think we would have participated even if we lived elsewhere. It was great to turn off all of the electricity and sit quietly by candle light. I'm all for Earth Hour every month!

According to some initial results, it appears that Earth Hour not only inspired people around the world to have some creative fun in the dark, but also tamped down pollution that fuels global warming.

Earth Hour, organized this year by the environmental group WWF, asked governments, businesses and individuals to shut off their lights for one hour Saturday night. The exercise was meant to show people how little actions could make a difference in the fight against global warming, to reinvigorate community-centric activity ... and, yes, to actually make a small difference in the rate of emissions of carbon dioxide.

By switching off lights, Chicago saved an estimated 420 tons of carbon dioxide, according to the local utility, ComEd. Because most U.S. electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels, especially coal, reducing electricity use reduces pollution by reducing the amount of fuel burned.

Find this article at: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/earth-hour-47033102

Depression or Midlife Crisis?

The March issue of Embrace Your Midlife Journey explores depression. Request a free copy at: michelle@holisticmenopause.com and take the depression self test, here.

Carl Jung identified 5 main phases of midlife:

• Accommodation (meeting others' expectations - actually, this takes place in the first part of life, but is the context in which midlife processes take place)
• Separation (rejecting the accommodated self)
• Liminality (a period of uncertainty, where life seems directionless and meanders)
• Reintegration (working out 'who I am' and becoming comfortable with that identity)
• Individuation (facing up to and accepting the undesirable aspects of our own character)

Think you might be experiencing a 'midlife crisis'? If so, you might experience a wide range of feelings, such as:

• Discontent with life and/or the lifestyle that may have provided happiness for many years
• Boredom with things/people that have hitherto held great interest and dominated your life
• Feeling adventurous and wanting to do something completely different
• Questioning the meaning of life, and the validity of decisions clearly and easily made years before
• Confusion about who you are, or where your life is going.

Self Love and Tips to Get You There

February is National Self-Esteem Month! Enjoy these 10 steps to self love from my friend Andrew at www.PeacefulMind.com                                                                                                                                    

Self Love and Tips to Get You There

Self-love is probably the most important love we can do for ourselves AND others. It is very important that we love ourselves, first. When this truly occurs, the Universe allows all things to fall in to place very nicely!

Self examination is the only way to know.

1. To live feeling fully alive is our own choice and responsibility. There are many examples of people living their passions from many different walks of life. These choices re-affirm the love and respect for ourselves.

2. Self-Love is NOT Selfishness. Selfishness is always voluntary, showing regard to our own interests and gratification, which is sought after and indulged at the expense, and sometimes, to the injury, of others.

3. Having the courage and determination to feel good is our personal business.

4. Deciding to feel good, to whatever degree we can manage, is the most important decision that we can make.

5. Spending even a few moments each day doing something that simply delights us, increases our feeling of well-being and makes it easier to do even more of our soul's passion and allows us to find the confidence to love and respect ourselves that much more.

6. The renewal and invigoration received from doing the activities we find absolute passion in, is so vital to the quality and performance in all aspects of the rest of our lives, that without this "fire" for our creative soul's desire, all else positive in our lives begins to diminish and become depressed.

7. When something is so wonderfully important to our overall well- being, it is essential that we pursue it!

8. Self-love can often be found by doing something that brings out the passion in our lives. Doing exactly what it is that makes us happy. When we follow the path that we long to follow, we can always find this love in ourselves.

9. It is this passion, which gives us reason in our lives. It allows us to "see" the reasoning behind why we are here in the first place.

10. Bring your love and light to others by truly loving and respecting yourself, first.

Go Green for a Long Life

Go Green for a Long Life

Dr. Mao

There are places in the world where a concentrated number of people routinely live to 100. From the lush valleys of Ecuador to the peaceful island of Okinawa to the pristine hills of the Himalayas, these centenarian clusters all have something in common: an environment conducive to a healthy, long life-clean air, pure water, and nature unspoiled by the modern world. In our Western world, we have to contend with the toxic by-products of our technological advances. Not only have we made our environment cancerous for ourselves, but we have also made it harder for other organisms in nature to thrive. By living in harmony with nature, we bring health to ourselves and to the planet.

Make Our World Less Plastic

Plastic, lightweight, durable, and versatile is everywhere in our modern world - bad news for the environment and our health. Many plastics release vinyl chloride and other harmful gases or contain phthalates that can lead to cancer, birth defects, and lung and liver disease. Some plastics are right out in the open, like the ones found in our TVs, computers, telephones, coffeemakers, water bottles, and food containers. But some plastics show up in places where you might least suspect them, in carpeting, chewing gum, cosmetics, mattresses, sanitary napkins, polyester clothing, tissues, toilet paper, and upholstery. Minimize plastic usage to cut your health risks. Use glass water bottles, wooden toys, personal care products and cosmetics made with natural ingredients, and natural fiber clothing, bedding, and mattresses.

Unbleached Paper for the Planet

Paper products do not come naturally white. All white paper is bleached with chemicals that leave behind harmful residues of dioxin, which is a known carcinogen. These residues are found in coffee filters, diapers, lunch bags, napkins, paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper. When dioxin enters the landfill as waste, it leaches into the soil, contaminating groundwater. Using unbleached paper products is good for both you and the earth.

Green your Clean Routine

Seeking longevity means protecting ourselves from products that are dangerous to our health. Household cleansers containing bleach or chemicals are harmful to inhale. Instead of these, choose natural cleaning products that have recently come onto the market, which are safe and will not pollute the environment. You can use natural brands sold in your local health food stores.

Look no further than your own kitchen for these simple, homemade cleaners:

• Stovetop: sprinkle baking soda on, let it sit five minutes, then scour with steel wool or scrubber. For stubborn spots, mix dishwashing liquid, borax, and warm water, spray the mixture on, and let it sit for 20 minutes before scouring.

• Diluted vinegar is an effective cleanser in the kitchen and bathroom, and will work for tiles, windows, toilet bowls, mirrors, and even carpets. The acetate acid in vinegar also helps inhibit bacteria and mildew. Try this formula: mix one cup of distilled white vinegar with one cup of water and use it just like you would use any other cleaning product. For those jobs requiring elbow grease, avoid chlorinated powder and scour with baking soda instead.

Eat with Environmental Edge

Commercially grown produce is filled with pesticides, herbicides and toxic chemical residues. Conventional meat, poultry, and dairy products contain high amounts of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotic drugs that are harmful to your health. These toxins show up in a variety of places, including the water supply, breast milk, and urine. They cause degenerative changes, hormonal problems, immune system disorders, and cancer in both people and animals. For your own wellbeing and the health of the planet, search out organic foods; whenever possible, buy only organic and free-range poultry and meat.