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January 14 - January 20, 2023
“social cohesion”—the glue, the bond, among people who live in the same area.
Social cohesion is not necessarily a product of income or social class.
there’s a role for green space in telomere health.9
Being in nature provides a dramatic change in context. It can inspire us with beauty and stillness.
Exposure to green spaces is associated with lower stress and healthier regulation of daily cortisol secretions.
Once you have basic needs met, having more money doesn’t seem to help further—there are no consistent relationships between gradients of how much money you make and your telomere length.
Try not to microwave plastics, even the ones that say they are microwavable. It’s true that microwaveable plastics won’t warp when you heat them, but there are no promises that you won’t get a dose of plastics in your food.
it feels so good to belong to a cohesive group. It feels good to be in connection with others—to give or receive advice, borrow or lend something, work together, or share tears and feel understood.
having more of these mixed-quality relationships is related to shorter telomeres.
It’s stressful when a friend misunderstands your problems or doesn’t give you the kind of support you really want.
Marriages come in all flavors, and the better the quality of the marriage the better the health benefits,
We are interconnected in ways we cannot see, and telomeres reveal these relationships.
Go greener. Buy more house plants: two per one hundred square feet is ideal for keeping your air filtered.
Add art. A mural or even a beautiful poster can infuse a drab area with hope, truth, faith, and positivity.
Social capital is an invaluable resource that predicts good health.
Cook or bake a little extra and drop it off at your neighbors’ house on a small plate.
Leave a welcoming note for newcomers to the neighborhood,
You could also join the trend of opening a Little Free Library in front of your house by putting out a wooden cabinet where books are shared. (See https://Little FreeLibrary.org.)
Smiles matter. Acknowledge people you pass...
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Give them a smile and eye contact, and they feel more connected.
Show gratitude and appreciation. Say, “Thanks for doing the dishes” or “Thanks for supporting me at the meeting.”
Be present. This means not looking at a screen or around the room. Give your full, sincere attention. That is a gift you can give another person, and it doesn’t cost a dime.
Did you often or very often feel that no one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? Or that your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?
“I’m so sorry, honey. Do you want to talk about it?”
Small noises, like the running of the refrigerator motor, bothered her.
One aspect of temperament is stress sensitivity. Stress-sensitive children are more “permeable,” which means that for good or for ill, their environment doesn’t just bounce off them. It penetrates.
These kids have bigger stress reactions to light, noise, and physical irritations.
when they are in classrooms or families with warm, nurturing adults, they actually do better than the average child.
Boyce calls these stress-sensitive children “orchids.” Without exquisite care and attention, an orchid won’t bloom.
Sensitivity orchid
Put it in the optimal conditions of a greenhouse, though, and it produces flowers of surpassing beauty.
Orchid children benefit from warmth, gentle correction,
Severe childhood trauma is linked to shorter telomeres.
Parents can support their young children’s telomeres by practicing warm, nurturing attunement.
When a cell phone is present on a nearby table, people engage in conversation that is more shallow, and their attention is more divided.
Digital conversations limit the opportunity for full empathy and connection.
“Wow, that seemed like a tough situation. What was that like for you? How are you feeling?”
BE A MODEL OF LOVING ATTACHMENT
A human being is part of the whole, called by us “Universe,” a part limited in time and space.
A long life of good health and wellbeing is our hope for you.
Our telomeres are responsive, listening, calibrating to the current circumstances in the world.
Sweden, which has the lowest income gap of all countries, also has the highest wellbeing,
We are connected to one another and to all living things at all levels
The mitochondria that live in our cells today are the legacy of these bacteria and this interdependence. We’re symbiotic creatures.
telomeres are transmitted through the generations.
What is your cellular legacy? Each of us has a time-limited opportunity to leave a legacy.
we are a world of interdependent people. We all have an impact on the world, whether we realize it or not.
Every day, each of us has the chance to positively influence the life of another person.
Become more self-compassionate and compassionate to others.
Practice thought awareness and mindful attention. Awareness opens doors to wellbeing.
Develop a sleep ritual for more restorative and longer sleep. Eat mindfully to reduce overeating and ride out cravings. Choose telomere-healthy foods—whole foods, omega-3s, skip the bacon.
