by Jane Tornatore | Jan 24, 2011 | Musings |
Crying is powerful. When we cry we release. We release our fears, our sorrow, our anger, our beliefs that hold us back.
I am in the uniquely wonderful position of witnessing the healing qualities of crying. So many of us are taught not to cry in front of others (or at all); we apologize and hide our face. We are afraid we are weak and look ugly when we express our pain. Who came up with that silly idea?
The idea that something so natural and cleansing looks unattractive and is weak is, simply put, wacky.
I say let’s embrace the grace and release that crying brings. If we could all cry to let go our emotions when we feel them, instead of stuffing them in and holding them in our body, we would be so much healthier and content.
So, the next time someone cries in front of you, consider thanking them for their bravery. Even better, next time you cry, thank yourself for your courage.
by Jane Tornatore | Jan 18, 2011 | Musings |
Wholeness. That’s it. That is why I run my groups for women over 40 without children. I lead those groups as a pathway for women to see themselves as complete and whole.
Complete whether or not they have children. Complete whether or not they have partners. Complete whether or not they have jobs, friends, a house, a degree, whatever it is by which we judge our wholeness.
The 7th group for women over 40 with out children started yesterday, on the Martin Luther King Holiday. A couple of the women mentioned the freedom they have in their lives because they don’t have children. They gave thanks for the freedom they have as women, freedom our foremothers didn’t have.
To see ourselves as whole, regardless of our external or internal circumstances is freedom–perhaps the greatest freedom we can have.
by Jane Tornatore | Nov 24, 2010 | Musings |
“The heart of authenticity is the courage to be vulnerable.”
~Brene Brown
by Jane Tornatore | Nov 10, 2010 | Musings |
“There is a peaceful relief when judgment and criticism are abandoned because they cause constant unconscious guilt as well as fear of retribution.”
~David Hawkins
by Jane Tornatore | Nov 8, 2010 | Dr. Jane's Brain Health Tips |
By Jane Tornatore, PhD, and Liz Taylor
“Use it or lose it” has become a popular — and well-researched — motto for keeping our muscles working and healthy through exercise as we age.
Now increasing numbers of companies are using the same expression to claim that, by using their computerized “brain games,” moving to their retirement community, learning a new language or playing their crossword puzzles, older people can exercise their brains enough to avoid one of the most frightening illnesses of all, Alzheimer’s disease.
But is this use of “use it or lose it” accurate?
Is it possible to exercise our brain through new and rigorous mental activities so that it will stay supple and cognitively intact?
We decided to see what some of the most recent (2006-2010) research literature says. The results are decidedly mixed.
Of the approximately 15 articles we reviewed, it’s clear that no overwhelming evidence exists to show that brain games or anything else prevents Alzheimer’s. It’s a disease of extraordinary complexity that has medical science still scratching its head.
On the other hand, there is some evidence that stimulating your brain can improve brain functioning, at least for a time. There’s also no evidence that computerized brain games are better for the brain than other stimulating activities. However, if you like to use brain games, keep it up — and introduce new activities along the way. It’s the new activities that help — they form the new neural pathways in your brain, keeping your mind moving! None of it hurts (except, perhaps, your wallet), and there’s a chance that, even if nothing prevents Alzheimer’s, some of these efforts may keep you functioning normally longer, or at least make you a bit sharper as you go about your day.
The bottom line: staying healthy the old fashioned way is still the best way to keep your body and brain sharp as you age — exercising, eating well, reducing stress, and having an active social life. Stimulating your brain in ways you enjoy is just an added bonus.
Here are three of the most recent articles we reviewed:
“Data Lacking on Prevention of Alzheimer’s, Cognitive Decline,” Health-System Pharmany News, June 15, 2010
http://www.ashp.org/import/news/HealthSystemPharmacyNews/newsarticle.aspx?id=3341
“Do Brain Trainer Games and Software Work?” Scientific American, July 2009 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=brain-trainings-unproven-hype
“Brain Games: Do They Really Work?” Scientific American, April 28, 2009 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=brain-games-do-they-really&page=2
