GET UP!!! SITTING KILLS (c) By Polly Guerin

The computer is like a magnet once you sit down and start working most individuals with long hours of task work never get up. What’s more according to the American Cancer Society “the more people log in a chair, the greater their risk of early death.” WHEW!!! Even if you exercise regularly you are still at risk. Stationary ways of spending hours at a time in a chair has proven to be the worst thing you could do to endanger your well-being. Quite frankly, I declare, it is frightening to admit but your chair is sure to kill you.

DANGEROUS SIDE AFFECTS The excesses of sitting in a chair all day can really turn your body into an ugly mess; sitting inflates your spare tire, lowers levels of beneficial HDI, and raises levels of inflammation and blood fats. Researchers at Mayo Clinic confirmed that sitting for extended hours, without taking a few “get up” and walk around breaks, could face the onslaught of illness including heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and thrombosis. Back problems are another result of excessive sitting; nerve damage and other problems including neck pain. Dr. Scott Keller, Caycean Chiropractor at  Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. New York Center confirmed, "Long periods of inactivity, particularly sitting, cause pressure on the inter-vertebral discs, which then result in predispositioning the body to injury and degeneration of the discs." He also explains that many of his patients complain of severe muscle spasms in their shoulders and lower backs and that are attributed to long periods of inactivity.

GETTING OFF YOUR DUFF Well, as I am writing this article I just took my own advice and got out of my chair; did a few head rolls and stretch exercises . I also have my printer placed away from my desk thereby requiring me to get out of my chair to retrieve a print out. Don’t text your colleague in the next office; get out of your chair and pay them a visit or go to the office kitchen and take a mini break with a glass of iced or hot tea. Standing, especially when talking on the telephone, can give you another life-saving break up from the chair. Set a reminder to get out of your chair at regular intervals. Trainer Sean Hyson suggests NakedAlarmClock.com, which lets you schedule a recurring prompt on your pc. Airline travelers taking long flights are also cautioned to get up and walk around in order to avoid leg thrombosis.


Remember active bodies mean active brains so don’t let your brain get sluggish and your body bloat. SAVING YOUR LIFE is as SIMPLE as GETTING OUT OF YOUR CHAIR AND MOVING AT REGULAR INTERVALS! BELIEVE ME IT’S WORTH THE EFFORT, SO GET OFF YOUR DUFF NOW!!! Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. New York Center, the American Association for Research and Enlightenment of New York Inc. is located at 241 West 30th Street, 2nd floor (btw.7th 7 8th Ave.) New York, N.Y. 10001. Tel: 212-691-7690.    edgarcaycenyc.org

SMILING MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE (c) By Polly Guerin

“Smile Though Your Heart is Aching, Light Up Your Face with Gladness” As the refrain laments, frequent smiling may even lengthen your life. Yes, smiling can be good for your health, but it has to come naturally or with practice become a daily ritual. Why? Because a smile brings certain benefits; with each and every broad smile you give to each day's encounter your stress zone calms down. What’s more, in social situations smiling is one of the easiest ways to win over new acquaintances who will perceive your personality as one who is friendly and open to conversation. When it comes to greeting and meeting business associates a polite smile, even in the board room, can give you the upper hand and open up the discussion. A full smile uses the muscles around the mouth and eyes and that is good news because the more you engage in a full smile and happier you will be for it.

IT’S HARD TO SMILE FEELING BLUE yet, with practice you can conjure up a smile and feel the clouds of sadness or melancholia soften and disappear. However, you have to evoke a genuine full smile to get full benefits. The face like any other part of the body is made up of bones, blood vessels, connective tissue, fat, nerves and voluntary muscles (twenty-six). If the muscles of the body can be brought back to tone, so can the muscles of the face and by the same means: smiling and exercise. Of course, positive thinking is another factor that can be reflected in your face. One expert claims that blowing up balloons and making faces can tone the face. For starters, try on a full smile, commonly referred to as a Duchenne smile, after the 19th century French neurologist who first described it, which activates major muscles around the eyes and mouth.

WHO WROTE THE LYRICS? Most people are surprised to learn that the music to this favorite was written by the legendary silent film star Charlie Chaplin, whose “Little Tramp” character is one of the all time enduring images of the silent film era. DA Jack Hayford, editor of the popular music reference website, Events-in-Music said, “Chaplin wrote the theme music for his silent film, Modern Times, released in 1936. But the song did not become known as “Smile” until lyrics were added by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons in 1954. It took off and reached the #10 spot on the Billboard charts the same year when it was recorded by Nat King Cole. “Smile” has been recorded and released countless times, including Tony Bennett/Barbra Streisand collaboration on Bennett’s 2006 Duets album.”

SO LIGHTEN UP YOUR FACE WITH GLADNESS. REMEMBER PEOPLE WHO SMILE MORE NOT ONLY UPLIFT THEIR LIFE WITH GREATER HAPPINESS THEIR SMILE TENDS TO HAVE A REAL POSITIVE IMPACT ON OTHER PEOPLE.

SMILE FACTOR: Happiness (c) by Polly Guerin

People don’t seem to smile enough these days. I can just feel the tension building up and it’s only 8 a.m., and everyone is rushing to work and their faces are devoid of the inner light of smiling as they pursue a new day. Yet, when you smile, it lightens your mood, helps you to buffer an awkward situation, and invites you to make new friends. Most of all smiling improves your happiness and attracts more positive vibes into your life. Smiling also crosses all borders and when you are in another country people generally respond to tourists who smile. It sends a message that you are friendly and non-threatening.

THE POSITIVE VIBE When you smile your body and mind are sending positive vibes to you that everything is okay, life is great, and it help you to alleviate feeling down and depressed. So even when you’re alone practice smiling more and continue during the day to spread happiness vibes to everyone you meet. I’ve heard people say, “Isn’t she a nice person,” all because you brightened their day with your generosity, the gift of a smile, which at the same time it makes you feel great too.

A CHEERY SMILE Makes you appear younger because your whole face lights up, your eyes glow, your cheeks get a natural uplift and your whole countenance is one of youthful vigor. Don’t ever force it, a fake smile doesn’t work. Just think of pleasant things, conjure up a recent happy celebration, a present that amazed you, a compliment that gave you reason to feel appreciated; and smile.

A MOMENT OF KINDNESS There are many opportunities to be spontaneous and engage in an unexpected moment of kindness that garners smiles for everyone. If your basket is full at the checkout counter, let the person behind you with one item go before you, when you purchase a newspaper from the old guy on the corner let him keep the change, send an encouraging note card to a needy friend and watch smiles beam at the other end.

WEAR CLOTHES THAT SMILE Black may be sophisticated, but when I see an entire wardrobe in the gloomy shade I think funeral. Instead choose colors that represent the color of happiness. Blue is a heavenly color and has a calming effect, while red glares and may insight anger. Warm colors like yellow and orange are friendlier choices and should be incorporated into your wardrobe as a signal that you are friendly and that your smile is genuine.

SMILING MAY NOT MAKE MAJOR ISSUES GO AWAY; IT JUST HELPS TO EASE THE PAIN. SMILING HAS HEALTH BENEFITS, TOO AND CAN MAKE YOU FEEL MUCH BETTER EMOTIONALLY BECAUSE IT RELEASES ENDORPHINS, BRAIN CHEMICALS THAT HELP TO INCREASE HOUR FEELING OF CONTENTMENT. SO, AS THEY SAY “SMILE THOUGH YOUR HEART IS BREAKING,” remember those feeling are only temporary. DON’T LET THEM BE SETBACKS, INSTEAD SMILE YOUR WAY THROUGH EVERY DAY’S CHALLENGES.

SEAGLASS, THE MESSAGE IS IN THE SEA (c) By Polly Guerin

The Message is in the Rainbow, my book on the powerful psychology of color as it affects mind, body and spirit, also includes the rainbow of colors that emerge from the sea as seaglass; those broken pieces of glass that travel from faraway lands and crash up on the shoreline of beaches. You may have to wait until summer to discover sea glass on a sandy beach, but at times when seaglass is not readily available, you can purchase, color transparencies, in an art supply store. Like seaglass. these color transparencies help you to discover the power of color and its amazing affect on your mind.
RICH RED VIBRATIONS Remember the saying, ‘The red badge of color’? Well, red is a strong seaglass color that promotes courage and represents the life force of powerful energy itself. When you are feeling lackluster wear red to perk up your spirits and stimulate your mind. Red awakens our creativity and pulsates with emotional characteristics. The Swiss painter, Ferdinand Hodler, for example, attributed symbolic meaning to the colors in his paintings and associated red with passion. To re-energize your outlook gaze upon red seaglass to evoke more passion for living life to its fullest with boundless energy. If pink seaglass washes up on shore it will bring with it more love into your life.
ORANGE UPBEAT I always think of an orange creamscile on a stick with its juicy orange outer coat and soft creamy inside; it brings back the joy of remembering a carefree summer day. This color is the most emotionally warming and cheerful color on the spectrum. As you lull away a summer’s day look into orange colored sea glass and feel the happiness well up and your creativity surge. Orange governs happiness, confidence and resourcefulness. As you gaze into the depths of orange seaglass feel recharged as the self-assured; the enthusiastic and happy person you are, spreading cheer all around.
YELLOW BRIGHTENS ANY DAY To continue on a happy note and keep your mood sunny surround yourself with yellow; it is a creative color that provides you with increased awareness and curiosity. As you gaze into the sparking yellow seaglass absorb the vibrations of confidence and self-worth increase. For an extra dose of feel-good take yellow to heart and notice how yellow energy connects to your mental outlook. Some may say, “You have a sunny disposition,” and you know immediately that happy yellow brightens any day and anyone who comes into your yellow orbit feels the benefit of your optimism.
LOVABLE GREEN Green is the great connector to unconditional love and balances your whole being. Gazing at green seaglass therefore relaxes your muscles and gives you a feeling of renewal, harmony and peace. When people say, “She is green with envy,” that means he or she is envious of your serene persona that seems so much in tune with everything around you that brings with it vibrations of understanding, sympathy, compassion and love. The ancient Greeks revered green as the most fruitful of all hues, and the renewal of every spring’s verdant green display of hope, calm and in the green cast shadows trees silhouetted on a lake. Green is a color that also brings prosperity to the beholder.
BLUE, THE COLOR OF SPIRIT This is a mentally-relaxing color fused with serenity and calming vibrations. Just gazing at blue seaglass evokes more confidence, clarity and improves communication and speech. Blue is associated with the feel-good sky. Think of the refrain, “My Blue Heaven,” and find yourself pacified by the sea and the sky captured in the blue seaglass from foreign shores. The Swiss painter, Ferdinand Hodler attributed blue with spirituality and in blue seaglass we find the same spirit of holiness manifested in loyal and trustworthy characteristics.
CROWNING GLORY: VIOLET/PURPLE On a higher note of beauty, creativity and inspiration, gazing at violet/purple seaglass represents the union of your higher self with spirituality and brings with it guidance, wisdom and inner strength to fulfill your destiny by enhancing artistic talent, creativity and innovation. Indigo, a deep richer, almost midnight purple, often sweeps up on the shore from exotic lands. Just gaze at its deep color to strengthens intuition, imagination, psychic powers and ability to dream more vividly.

TREASURES FROM THE SEA, SEAGLASS TOSSED ON THE SHORE LINE; ALL FREELY SENT FROM DISTANT LANDS, BRINGS MESSAGES ABOUT THE POWER OF COLOR.

GRATITUDE and ATTITUDE (c) By Polly Guerin

On the aftermath of the hurricane, Sandy, there is no better time than the present to offer up expressions of gratitude. Even despite grave losses that so many have suffered there are still viable reasons why gratitude is such a healing benefit; for it reminds us how truly fortunate we are to still be here to acknowledge our gainful presence in the world. Our mind is so powerful it creates the reality in which we live in. The old adage said it all, ‘What we think is what we create.’ Dwelling on losses, disappointment and despair over world conditions fosters negativity and if we think negative thoughts, the Universe will always mirror this back to us.
HEALING TOOL OF THE MIND Gratitude, therefore, transcends our vibrations to a level where pain and suffering cannot exist. So being grateful and thanking the creator opens up a positive feeling in the physical body and fills the enlightened person with light. Therefore, stewards of the family or teachers who express gratitude and ‘thank you’ create love and positive feelings that affect everyone around them, especially children. When a person holds onto negative thoughts about themselves or others, they only fill their body with toxic feelings which can result in physical or emotional trauma.
PINK BUBBLE LOVE Whenever someone acts improperly and offends my friend Tony Carroll Terman says, “Put them in an imaginary pink bubble of love and send them on their way with positive thoughts of healing their negativity.” It seems to me that that is sound advice. In other words, let the slings and arrows of outrageous conduct never overtake you, just send people with those thoughts off to enlightenment in the pink bubble. When you choose to be positive and go forward with an attitude of gratitude, you create harmony and happy vibes in everyone you meet. Consider yourself an ambassador of love and positive thinking.
ENTERTAINING HURT Some people never seem to want to let it go. Conjuring up old hurts and disappointments keeps them rooted in negativity and their health can be affected, even their physical demeanor. They may not realize it, but when they are in a negative zone their life is in jeopardy of not meeting the right people or finding the right circumstances to co-exist. However, when anyone is positive they become a powerful communicator that spreads harmony with whomever you come in contact with.
FORGIVE AND FORGET That’s the golden rule for existing as a healthy and happy person. If a relative or someone isn’t interested in your friendship, despite your friendly calls, don’t fret, just know that it is out of your hands to make amends. Let them be, and instead you should cheerfully go on your way associating with people who really love you. The attitude of gratitude should be applied to every single thing in your world where positive energies move you forward to create a full and healthy lifestyle. Be thankful and say, “Thank you for my family for my friends, my environment and the food I eat and the bed I sleep in.” The list of ‘thank yous’ can get quite long extending through the place where you work and the people there, to social activities you engage in. Once you start the list you’ll find it amazing just how much you have to be grateful for. Best Advice: Get in the habit of gratitude and reap the benefit of contentment.

PETS KEEP US HEALTHY (c) By Polly Guerin

I am always amazed how people react to my little poodle dog, Colby. A smile instantly comes over their grime city face and they sometimes ask, “Can I pet him?” Well, these little furry angels dispense a whole wealth of canine therapy to make us feel happy and less stressed. However, people in different age groups benefit from pets in different ways. It’s a well known fact that therapy dogs and even cats are already dispensing love and comfort in hospitals and long term care facilities and nursing homes, not to mention being a great distraction from feeling ill. Studies verify these facts and have shown that having a pet has a positive impact on physical and emotional health.
THE FEEL-GOOD CURE It’s been recognized by the sage medical doctors and therapists that pets can improve your life by bringing unconditional love, not to mention providing a constant and comforting companion. No wonder there has been a surge in dog ownership. You do not need a doctor’s prescription to reap the benefits of animal communication, just own a pet of your own. However, if your lease has a ‘no pets’ policy you can still interact and get some puppy love at your local animal shelter. At the same time your volunteer time there will give some love back to needy animals waiting for adoption.
PET PRESCRIPTION So when you’re feeling blue, stressed out, and tied in knots take time out and just communicate with your pet. They welcome pets and it's amazing how they listen so intently. However, you need to consider just how much time you can spend with the animal. Although a pet, especially interacting with a dog, can help to relieve stress, if you do not have the time to devote to a pet, you can cause the animal great stress and anxiety, even excessive barking while you are away too long.
TRAVEL/VACATION ARRANGEMENTS If your work requires travel you also have to know what arrangements can be made to take care of the animal during the time you are away on business or during time away on vacation. Many dog groomer businesses also offer overnight and even weekly accommodation in their facilities, but this service is usually quite costly. If you are lucky enough to have a relative who will accommodate your pet in their home, while you are away, that would be a feel-safe advantage.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS While many people acquire their pet through a private breeder or a reliable pet store, there are also many dogs and cats in animal shelters with pedigree breeding. I highly recommend you investigate what kind of dog or cat is available there first or look up ‘rescue sites’ on the Internet for a specific breed you are interested in. There are also financial considerations like costs for pet food, grooming and veterinary care. These costs of pet maintenance can be expensive but I opt for reasonable clinics like the Humane Society of New York’s clinic on East 59th Street in New York City.

Since Scientific studies prove that petting your dog increases the level of pleasure hormones and lowers the stress hormone this may be the time to get one of these furry angels of your own.

CELLPHONES CAN MAKE YOU SICK (c) By Polly Guerin

Electronic devices---cellphones, IPhones and Blackberrys may be the source of modern communications but they are also the reason a lot of people are getting sick. Really? You ask. Can this be so? Yes, indeed, these modern tools of convenience also bring and harbor germs with them. According to a medical study bacteria from a phone can cause flu, pinkeye and even diarrhea. Germs are lurking everywhere and people need to be careful about sharing photos with strangers. Even members of a family sharing phones can transfer germs between one another. The proximity of a cellphone to your ears, nose and mouth are the perfect environment for germs to lurk undetected.

THE HEALTH RISK Once it was thought that all we needed to do was to wash our hands to safeguard our health, but most everyone is at risk today. Even though you may clean your computer, pens, keys and landline phones very little thought seems to go into cleaning cell phones, which attract bacteria in an unsuspecting but alarming rate. The cause can be attributed to the fact that these devices have become like extra appendages to one’s body. People take them everywhere---plugged into their ear on the street, to the health club, to the restaurant and even into public bathrooms. There the greedy little cell phones zap up bacteria in an alarming rate.

CLEAN IT NOW You don’t go anywhere without your electronics so keep it clean and remove dirt, grim, fingerprints or facial oils, and ladies ‘makeup,’ that may prevent your smart phone from working properly because of the germ buildup. It is important to ‘not’ use the usual household products to clean electronics, but to find a line of cleaners intended specifically for electronic devices. In any case to sanitize the product it is best to read the advice in the manufacturer’s manual. It usually cautions about using aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol, ammonia or abrasives, all of which may harm screens.

BE A HAPPY-GO-EVERYWHERE ELECTRONIC USER BUT KEEP IN STEP WITH YOUR HEALTH AND FIND PRODUCTS SPECIFICALLY FOR MOBILE PHONE CLEANING.