Start the day with a success.
 
If I get a run in in the morning, then my worries about the rest of the day go down such a great deal.
 
It is like my brain says, “We just did this big accomplishment! Whatever else we get done are cherries on top.”  And you know what? So much MORE gets done!
 
Physical and psychological reasons here, if you want to break it down. Physically, moving is getting the muscles warmed up, blood pumping through my body, giving my brain extra help in ‘waking up’ so to speak. Endorphins are increasing, aka the happy hormone, making me feel good all around. Being outdoors is therapeutic, both physically, vitamin D, and psychologically, nature is known to reduce stress.
 
    “endorphin

1. any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. They are peptides which activate the body's opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect.”

--”analgesic” literally refers to the relieving of pain!--

Imagine a different scenario….Wake up, still in pajamas, groggily open the emails and see one hundred problems that need solving and where do I start??  Start the day with a success, and it will set you on the right path for the rest of the day.  Bonus if that success involves getting your brain and body WOKEN UP. 

Additionally, by beginning your day with a task that involves more effort than just sitting on your couch or diving right into work, you are sending a multitude of positive signals to your brain.  You are saying, YES WE CAN.  We accomplished this, now we’re ready for what’s next.  And a physically involved task is getting that body warm and woken up, as well as the brain.

If you ‘google’ this topic, there are thousands of results touting the benefits.

What are some similar accomplishments for you?
Taking a walk? A yoga class? Writing outside (no screen, pen & paper!)? Ten minutes of dancing around to your favorite songs?

Something beneficial for your brain and body, that ‘gets things going’ for the day.

 
Here’s to tomorrow!
Kate

Viewer submissions highlighted this week (and I ALWAYS love getting good news, so feel free to share anytime!)

COVID survivors, vaccine hope, a father fighting ALS, Bill Nye, & more...

Just continuing in the sharing of happy things.
Look for the good :)

Yesterday, I took Jeff's CitiBike key and set off on an adventure around Manhattan.

Have I been going a bit stir crazy (is that the way to describe it?) here in Midtown? Yes. I have to admit it. So grateful for everything we have, but it''s okay to still admit a bit of an antsy feeling after remaining in an apartment or within a ten block walk radius for so long :)

I was on a mission yesterday to get to the Union Square Greenmarket, and find some goodies...namely flowers....while supporting small, local businesses instead of a big grocery store chain.

Me + bike + Manhattan streets = NO, so I decided to go along the perimeter of the city, on the bike path, down the west side, around the tip, and up the east side, only biking on a few streets as I moved across East Something-or-other Street to get a bit closer to the market before docking.

Well it almost worked. 
​
I got off the bike path a bit too early and ended up having quite the tour of the Lower East Side.  Streets I had never heard of, seeing a completely different part of the city, thankful for not much traffic as I tried to navigate the streets....
​Eventually I got to Union Square!

And wow the market was hopping. I didn't expect so many vendors to be there during covid, but they were-- and doing a good job of enforcing distancing, signs for customers not to touch the items, and contactless pay. Good job!

I found some apple cider donuts for Jeff from a local NY farm, blueberries from Milford, NJ (minutes from my parents!), and a beautiful hand-picked bouquet of flowers from another NJ farm.

Always loved seeing people on those cute old-fashioned-looking bikes with flowers bursting out of the bike basket. I attempted to recreate....Maybe not as cute with a CitiBike, but a success nonetheless!

Why am I writing all of this to you today?  To ask you a question:
What are you doing to bring a bit of sunshine into your life today?

For me, that rather 'small' change of pace and finding locally grown flowers brought me such JOY.

It doesn't have to be a 'big' change/purchase/adventure/etc. Something as simple as a bouquet of flowers made me smile, brightened my day, and continues to give me a dose of happy each time I look at it.

It's the little things.

What are some ways you find sunshine in your day?
​

Some (More) Good News Episode 8

How has it been eight weeks already?!

This week's episode: Rapid Fire Good!
How much good news can I fit into 5 min??
Just continuing in the sharing of happy things.
Look for the good :)