Weekly Health Blog Returns: My Thoughts on Facebook

The social media hype: Facebook, YouTube and Twitter (what’s that?) are going to change how we communicate, get news, and live. Okay, sure. But remember you weren’t born with a Facebook profile.  Real life, with all its joy and pain, is happening right now. Your human connections and this moment are more important than your status updates (this 3 minute “Antisocial phone tricks” clip makes it clear). (more…)

Swine Flu Information

Swine Flu news coverage exploded this past weekend. I want to put your mind at ease: Student Health has NOT seen this strain of flu (Influenza A) for the entire month of April. Doctor Elizabeth Downing, Director of Student Health, Doctor Mary Ferris, Medical Director of Student Health, and Dr. Yonie Harris, Dean of Students, talked over the weekend and also participated in a conference call from the California Department of Health about current recommendations regarding the swine flu. Here are some facts and recommendations:
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Fortunately / Unfortunately

Unfortunately, I’m not average. According to the Kinsey Institute the average 18-29 year old American has sex 2.15 times a week. I’m more like 1.6 times a week, the .6 being that there are times my partner and I have sex more than once per week. But there are also mornings when we start snuggling and one of our Takahara ninja kids sneaks into our room and says, “Good Morning!” Remind me to get a lock for my bedroom door.

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The Dalai Lama and Value of Positive Emotions

The Dalai Lama is coming to UCSB on April 24. His two talks are sold out and craiglist scalpers are charging $250 – $300 per ticket. Stubhub is even more: some sellers charging over $800.

If you don’t have a ticket already and can’t afford to pay a scalper, read his book “Ethics for the New Millennium.” It is the UCSB/Santa Barbara Reads’ Book (http://ucsbreads.library.ucsb.edu/) for 2009. You can check it out from our local libraries for free.

In it he writes “. . . while we have no hope of finding enough leather to cover the earth so that we never prick our feet on a thorn . . . (having) enough to cover the soles of our feet will suffice.” Or as the Chinese proverb says, “You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.” In other words, while we can not change our circumstances, we can change our attitude.

A positive attitude does more than help us deal with our circumstances. Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson, the principal investigator of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab at the University of North Carolina recently blogged in Psychology Today (http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/positivity/200903/what-good-is-positivity), “First, when we experience a positive emotion, our vision literally expands, allowing us to make creative connections, see our oneness with others, and face our problems with clear eyes (a.k.a. the broaden effect). Second, as we make a habit of seeking out these pleasing states, we change and grow, becoming better versions of ourselves, developing the tools we need to make the most out of life (the build effect).” The broaden and build effects of positive emotions literally allows us to learn more and learn more effectively.

Dr. Fredrickson gives the example of enjoying basketball. Not only do you get the pleasure “of the moment (of playing ball),” but you also develop your physical, intellectual, psychological and social connections. She writes, “Physical activity leads to long term improvement in health, the game-playing strategies develop problem solving skills, and the camaraderie strengthens social bonds that may provide crucial support at some time in the future (“The Value of Positive Emotions,” American Scientist, Volume 91).”

This all might sound a little too much like Bobby McFerrin’s song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” But neither Dr. Fredrickson or the Dalai Lama are saying just ignore your problems. Rather it is important to build up and make a habit of our positive thoughts and emotions (like love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, and humility) in our daily lives. Why? Because by doing so we will develop the skills and the relationships that will help us deal with the problems and suffering we all experience in life.

Welcome back. Have a great spring quarter, ya’ll.

Michael Takahara is a health educator at Student Health. Post comments, suggestions, questions or your wellness tips here or email Michael.takahara@sa.ucsb.edu.

You Are Beautiful

“You’re SHORT, Mrs. Takahara!” an almost-too-honest second grader told her teacher.

She replied, “Yes. Isn’t it great that people come in all shapes and sizes?”

The girl slowly smiled, “Yeah . . . It is.”

Somewhere between second grade and high school, we stop believing that the diversity of body shapes and sizes is great.

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