So you say you want to feel better...

 I am an angry person. I don't know if I have always been this way, but it's hard to deny it now. As I was stewing the other day about things like not having my Facebook posts liked enough and people ignoring me and whatnot, it occurred to me not only how miserable I was, but how miserable it must be for those who have to put up with me!

While not denying that other people can have issues of their own, the cold hard truth is... I am a grump, and no one wants to be around a grump (I'm also pretty moody, which is even worse).

So, what's a poor old moody grump to do? I'm sure counseling would help, a $25,000 bonus wouldn't hurt, and I imagine not just a few people might suggest a 2x4 upside the head.

Well, I stumbled onto two articles that honestly seemed divinely placed. One was on the benefits of SMILING and the other EXERCISE.

The first article is 'Neuroscience Says Doing This One Thing Makes You Just As Happy As Eating 2,000 Chocolate Bars.' While I think it a somewhat odd title, it was actually a quite helpful read. They cite studies noting how the simple act of smiling does something to our brain. It not only makes us feel better (even if we don't feel like it), but it makes those around us feel differently too. 

This is something I have practiced from time to time. Being conscious of putting a smile on one's face literally does change you. The problem seems to be all the times I forget to do it! They say 14% of us smile fewer than 5 times a day. But you know who smiles as many as 400 times a day? Children. Maybe that's why Jesus said we should be more like them...

The other article 'Here's the Type and Amount of Exercise You Need, WHO Advises,' shares the benefits of exercise. Again, this is nothing I didn't know. It's also another of those things I haven't been practicing lately.

I like how this article accounts for different age groups needing different levels and types of exercise. Children up to 17 need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous cardio exercise each day. Sometimes the key is getting them to do it in ways they don't necessarily think of as 'exercise' (like play or simply 'going outside'). Adults need at least 2 1/2 hours of moderate to vigorous exercise per week, but older adults need weight training more than younger. What I was really surprised by was the advice for people with disabilities and chronic conditions to also get more active. 

Anyway, both these articles are pretty short and easy reads, and I think both worth your time... especially if you want to feel better.

So, what do you say we all smile big and go for a walk? Or something...

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John 5:6

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"