Halloween has past and Christmas is quickly approaching.  In fact, two days after Halloween I saw an outdoor Christmas decoration while walking my dog!  That’s a bit early for me but it did make me smile.

     Smiling or just being happy is important to our overall health and well being. It gives us a greater sense of everyday satisfaction. Constant stress and negativity can release certain stress hormones that can have an adverse affect on our health. It can aggravate high blood pressure, cause ulcers, headaches and cause us to gain extra fat. The increased weight can also contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes and put more weight on our joints. The list goes on.

      Many people are hindering their happiness by being angry about anything they can.  They seem to be offended by nearly everything.  I believe those people just like to feel angry.  As long as they are aggrieved by something they feel their anger is justified. 

     Although things do go wrong sometimes it doesn’t mean that someone did something purposefully against you.   When these things happen, most times instead of a verbal attack a conversation can clear things up rather quickly resulting in a mutually satisfactory solution for all.

     The holiday season is typically a time for reflection.  We all need to remember that each of us comes from different places, backgrounds and sets of experiences.  Acceptance, patience and understanding are paramount to our health and that of others.