Happiness and a Healthy Body

Brain chemistry is a fascinating topic. It can shift and change as quickly as color hues on an oil slick. Laughter, play, curiosity, spirituality, love, exercise and creativity - all impact the body through supporting the generation of those "good feeling" chemicals. Those good feeling chemicals bathe the brain and reinforce a healthy immune system. Even the manner in which the muscles of the face activate influence mood.

Simply smiling can produce an outburst of coping chemicals. Feeling blue and just can't smile? Place a pencil in your mouth like the rose in the Flamenco dancer's lips. Doing so inadvertently activates your smile muscles and in turn, can alter your mood.

Engaging in child's play serves in multiple ways to enhance and bolster the body's defense system. When we were children our muscular-skeletal system functioned the way it was designed to. Like a well oiled machine. Nostalgic muscle memory triggered when we re-enact activities from our youth; such as swinging, bouncing on a ball, climbing, jumping rope, playing on a trampoline - all tap into our "functional selves" and provide excellent exercise benefits.

Visit a playground. Dare yourself to be a kid again. Tackle the playground swings. The repetitious motion subjecting the body to centrifugal force and momentum serve to aid drainage of the lymphatic system. It takes creative problem solving to climb the monkey bars, swing on rings and hit the tether ball.

Exercise shouldn't be a chore, it should be a pleasure, and something you not only love doing - but can't wait to do again. Pick your exercise wisely through recalling what you loved doing as a child. Treat stress relief the same way.

As a child I had a microscope and would spend hours at the local swamp catching frogs and salamanders, and collecting samples of organism rich pond water to study under the lens. It engaged my senses. Today I can recapture all of that intrigue and fascination through a trip with my grandchildren to a local salt water beach. The hidden benefit is that it serves to calm me, it soothes my nerves.

So, regardless of your age or your level of fitness...go play. Go investigate the world of nature. Revisit your childhood. Smile, laugh and love. Your body will thank you.