Bah-humbug!

This totally describes a dear friend’s mood when the holidays roll around.  Every year… he could easily be a stand-in for the Grinch. Bah-humbug! He gets really grumpy! The mere mention of hanging lights and decorations… grrrrr!!!! and double Bah-humbug!!! OK… maybe WWIII…. just sayin…here’s his idea of hanging lights…

Maybe that’s you this time of year… NO JUDGEMENT!  I get it! The year-end is full of stressors… things that HAVE to be completed… the holidays… family obligations… work obligations…. leading to hectic, over-stressed, over-shopped, over-spent chaos… it is just TOO MUCH!!!

If you are like my friend, I urge you to consider changing your tune. Here’s why:

According to a study published in Psychological Bulletin, having a positive outlook can dramatically decrease your chances of having a heart attack, a stroke or cardiovascular disease. Should I mention that my friend has high blood pressure?

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health reviewed over 200 studies from two major scientific databases. They found that optimistic people were around 50 percent less likely to experience an initial cardiovascular event compared to their sour-puss peers.

They also had lower blood pressure, healthier biological function, and a more ideal body weight. [Read more…]