The Joy of a Healthy Brain: May

 "It is Better to Give Than Receive"

We can all appreciate the feeling of joy that we experience when we receive a greeting card or gifts. Sometimes even the expectation of receiving something special, because of an upcoming holiday, adds another level of happiness to that state of joy. May 9, 2010-Mother's Day-- is one of those special days when many of us know that we will be "spoiled" by our children or by other family members and friends. Sometimes we may think about how "entitled" we are to be "spoiled" on Mother's Day, because of the many acts of love and sacrifices that we made for our family.  There is no doubt that mothers are the "backbone" of many families. However, this year, and for the sake of our own brains, let's put a new "twist" on Mother's Day. Let's focus on giving rather than receiving; let's surprise someone with a special and different "act of love."

Many personal testimonies have shown that people reap even more pleasure from the act of giving than they do from the act of receiving. Our brains benefit when we maintain active involvement with others and when we live a life of "purpose" and remain "upbeat." With this in mind, let's forge ahead with our own special "Mother's Day Project."

Here are some suggestions of how we can help someone else celebrate Mother's Day (sometime during the month of May-even if it isn't exactly on May 9^th):

• Visit someone at a local hospital or nursing home, and take a homemade greeting card.
• Remembering that 30 minutes of walking 3-5 days each week is good for the body and the brain, invite a friend to meet you at the local shopping mall for an early morning "mall walk." Afterwards, stop by the mall's coffee shop for your favorite breakfast drink and conversation with your friend.
• Treat someone at your social center to a bag of almonds (or another food that is high in brain-enriching Vitamin E).
• Invite a friend to your house for an afternoon of board games or just some heart-healthy Green Tea.
• Send a card with a tea bag inside to someone too far away to visit; tell her the day and time that you will call her. You will have a long distance tea party-- over the phone.
• One other "twist" on this special Mother's Day project is to make cards for your own sons/daughters; put a photo of yourself with them as children, and tell them (in the card) how blessed you feel to be their mother.

Sharing happy memories and enjoyable social experiences with others continues to play an important role in maintaining an "upbeat" mental state and a healthy brain.