On the road to 100-years-old, Rowena Smith is a sharp-minded senior citizen quick to warn people to not quote her. “You never know what I might say,” Smith quipped. “Being 93 isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.” One of about 250 Broward residents who receive daily calls as part of the 2-1-1 Broward Senior Touchline program, Smith doesn’t have to say much more than “I am ok, thank you” when she receives her personal daily “wellbeing call” from 2-1-1 Broward. The service is free and the calls last only a few minutes. The calls can be a lifeline, […]

Researchers have discovered one of the two types of smiles can have amazing effects on your health and your brain functions. What are the two types of smiles? The first type of smile is the regular, “slightly turn up the corners of the mouth,” pleasant smile. The second type of smile is described by researchers as a full-faced “Duchenne Smile” that includes both the mouth and the muscles around the eyes. I like to call it ‘The Big Smile!’ You’ll discover here that the benefits of developing a Duchenne Big Smile habit are much more than expected. Getting started First, […]

When we are young we often see ourselves as invincible, but sometimes our health can become an every present struggle. At 31, happily married with two little girls, aged four and two, life was good. We celebrated no more diapers with a weekend camping trip to the Keys with friends. While others went out on the boat I watched our children in a wooded play area. That evening I noticed that my legs were covered with bites. The following Monday I developed flu like symptoms, followed by a strange pain in my foot. X-rays showed arthritic changes in my toes. […]

When discouragement causes us to feel depleted, considering the medicinal effects of laughter can prove beneficial. Disappointment is simply a part of our world whether it’s jobs, careers, family, romance, school, church, justice, health or anything else. Life will let us down at some time and on some level. When it does, we may be surprised by the therapeutic results laughter can deliver. My daughters are all grown up now, but I remember marveling how one of my daughters in her youth handled disappointment. It struck me because I thought it unusual for such a young person to redirect hurt […]