A short video of me walking my cat Silas at UNM.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Know Thyself - It can make you happy!
Greetings to all,
As we change and transition into the next semester, let us know our internal selves a little better. Here is a great website to study. It is a more extended read, but well worth the time: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-myers-briggs-type-indicator-2795583
As we change and transition into the next semester, let us know our internal selves a little better. Here is a great website to study. It is a more extended read, but well worth the time: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-myers-briggs-type-indicator-2795583
The Development of the Myers-Briggs Test
Both Isabel Myers and her mother Katherine were fascinated by Jung's theory of psychological types and recognized that the theory could have real-world applications. During World War II, Myers and Briggs began researching and developing an indicator that could be utilized to help understand individual differences. By helping people understand themselves, Myers and Briggs believed that they could help people select occupations that were best suited to their personality types and lead healthier happier lives.
Myers created the first pen-and-pencil version of the inventory during the 1940s, and the two women began testing the assessment on friends and family. They continued to fully develop the instrument over the next two decades.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Times of Change and Transition - You are Not Alone
Greetings to all,
As we near the completion of our course this summer, I have a website to share with you all: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/bible-verses-change It is a rapid read. I promise you it will fill your heart with joy and positive expectations!
13 Bible Verses For Times Of Change & Transition
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Moments of Lucidity and Alzheimer's
Greetings to all,
I had a unique experience at work today that made me happy. I will now share the experience.
My client and I stood together in her kitchen, looking out the kitchen window into her garden. The plums, pears, and apples ripe, filling the trees with their fruits heavy laden created a picturesque scene. It was four o'clock, and the sun-filled the yard with light enhancing the green grass. Jenny washed and polished six small bright purple plums that had been picked from her garden. She handed me three plums and kept three plums. Together we enjoyed the sweetness of the fruit and the beauty and bounty of her garden. She was lucid and thoroughly enjoyed the moments in her kitchen, gazing into her beautiful garden, eating her plums. Her lucidity made me happy as I could sense her willingness to share, her pride and contentment in her creation.
When I got home and had time to contemplate the aforementioned incident I did some research and found a website on Alzheimer's that explains:
I had a unique experience at work today that made me happy. I will now share the experience.
My client and I stood together in her kitchen, looking out the kitchen window into her garden. The plums, pears, and apples ripe, filling the trees with their fruits heavy laden created a picturesque scene. It was four o'clock, and the sun-filled the yard with light enhancing the green grass. Jenny washed and polished six small bright purple plums that had been picked from her garden. She handed me three plums and kept three plums. Together we enjoyed the sweetness of the fruit and the beauty and bounty of her garden. She was lucid and thoroughly enjoyed the moments in her kitchen, gazing into her beautiful garden, eating her plums. Her lucidity made me happy as I could sense her willingness to share, her pride and contentment in her creation.
When I got home and had time to contemplate the aforementioned incident I did some research and found a website on Alzheimer's that explains:
Alzheimer’s Patients Can Have Moments of Perfect Lucidity
Many people who care for those with Alzheimer’s can often tell you about times where their loved one has had moments of complete, stunning lucidity. Sometimes it lasts only a few moments, other times a few hours, even sometimes an entire day.
Some caregivers have reported that their loved one with AD actually had an entire week of relative clarity. And then, her dementia returned.
As the illness gets worse, the lucid episodes will happen less often. But when they do happen, it can be a very striking and precious time.
A recent article in Huffington Post provides a few examples of the author’s experiences with this momentary lucidity in her husband, who has Alzheimer’s. She had an interview a few years ago for a new job and it went well. She went back for another interview and it also went well, but she was sad that she would not be able to share it with her husband, as he could not understand. She had told him about the job possibility a month earlier and he could not understand anything.
However, after the second interview, she decided to tell him about it, and shockingly, he completely understood! He said, ‘that’s wonderful! Congratulations! With all of your talents, you are sure to get the job!” Her ‘old’ husband was back, if only for a few moments.
Those lucid moments can last in some cases, and it also may allow the person to be aware briefly that they have dementia. This obviously can be painful for both the caregiver and the patient."
If any of you have family or friends with the disease you may relate to why today's experience is a happy memory that I now cherish.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Friday, July 17, 2020
Time, Space, Money, Right Livelihood, Existence, and Consciousness
Greetings to all,
I was not anticipating that work would take up as much energy as it is. It is said that time is energy. In a sense, this is true. It is also said that time is money, and that energy is money. The word is - is usually associated with an equal sign. In the instance of my work this summer, I would say that time is energy is money is disproportionate. The equation needs to be rewritten to include the variations of levels of emotions involved with the work. Also, the purpose of existence needs to be part of the equation. I am contemplating this as I walk today.
After walking and contemplating the aforementioned ideas, I found a website that made me very happy because it gives insight into the above contemplation. This is the website:
https://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/Philosophers/Schopenhauer/schopenhauer.html
I hope you take a few moments to look at this website and view the ideas of some of the greatest minds that have contemplated consciousness, man, and existence.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
I was not anticipating that work would take up as much energy as it is. It is said that time is energy. In a sense, this is true. It is also said that time is money, and that energy is money. The word is - is usually associated with an equal sign. In the instance of my work this summer, I would say that time is energy is money is disproportionate. The equation needs to be rewritten to include the variations of levels of emotions involved with the work. Also, the purpose of existence needs to be part of the equation. I am contemplating this as I walk today.
After walking and contemplating the aforementioned ideas, I found a website that made me very happy because it gives insight into the above contemplation. This is the website:
https://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/Philosophers/Schopenhauer/schopenhauer.html
I hope you take a few moments to look at this website and view the ideas of some of the greatest minds that have contemplated consciousness, man, and existence.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Cinema Therapy and Stress Release
Greetings to all,
The last few days at work have been very stress filled. I walk, dance, practice yoga, meditate, journal, and yet the pressure remains. I decided to watch the movie "My Spy." It made me laugh. After watching the movie, I finally was able to relax a little. Then I started thinking and researching, "Why does viewing a movie support relaxation?" Here is what I found.
https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-watching-movies-can-benefit-our-mental-health/#:~:text=Movies%20bring%20us%20a%20sense,which%20produces%20feelings%20of%20pleasure.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
The last few days at work have been very stress filled. I walk, dance, practice yoga, meditate, journal, and yet the pressure remains. I decided to watch the movie "My Spy." It made me laugh. After watching the movie, I finally was able to relax a little. Then I started thinking and researching, "Why does viewing a movie support relaxation?" Here is what I found.
https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-watching-movies-can-benefit-our-mental-health/#:~:text=Movies%20bring%20us%20a%20sense,which%20produces%20feelings%20of%20pleasure.
"Aside from being a few hours of fun with friends and family, watching films can also be a form of therapy. Apart from the obvious — escaping our own lives and problems for a short time — there are many documented benefits to watching movies. In fact, it even has a name: cinema therapy."
Birgit Wolz, PhD., MFT, who facilitates cinema therapy groups, says:
Well, cinema therapy worked for me today! I am grateful that I enjoyed the movie and experienced a sense of stress release after watching the film."Cinema therapy can be a powerful catalyst for healing and growth for anybody who is open to learning how movies affect us and to watching certain films with conscious awareness. Cinema therapy allows us to use the effect of imagery, plot, music, etc. in films on our psyche for insight, inspiration, emotional release or relief and natural change."
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Finding Balance through the Gravity of the Situation
Greetings to all,
It was 6:55 am, and I went outside on the back patio to wait for my employer to arrive at 7:00 am. I was preparing to leave after a 13-hour shift at work. Grey clouds filled the sky. I looked up at the apple tree in the center of the yard and saw a hummingbird rest upon a branch for a blink of an eye; I saw an object fall from the tree, then heard a loud "thud!" A golden-green apple had hit the ground. I thought of Isaac Newton and his epiphany when an apple fell on his head, and he was lead to define his law of gravity. Then I thought of Galileo's experiment.
It was 6:55 am, and I went outside on the back patio to wait for my employer to arrive at 7:00 am. I was preparing to leave after a 13-hour shift at work. Grey clouds filled the sky. I looked up at the apple tree in the center of the yard and saw a hummingbird rest upon a branch for a blink of an eye; I saw an object fall from the tree, then heard a loud "thud!" A golden-green apple had hit the ground. I thought of Isaac Newton and his epiphany when an apple fell on his head, and he was lead to define his law of gravity. Then I thought of Galileo's experiment.
Galileo's Famous Gravity Experiment | Brian Cox | BBC Two
"You probably know that two objects dropped in a vacuum fall at the same rate, no matter the mass of each item. If you've never seen a demonstration of this, then you really should, because it's incredible to watch.
Here is perhaps the perfect example, brought to us by physicist Brian Cox. He checked out NASA's Space Simulation Chamber located at the Space Power Facility in Ohio. With a volume of 22,653 cubic meters, it's the largest vacuum chamber in the world.
In this hypnotizing clip from the BBC, Cox drops a bowling ball and a feather together, first in normal conditions, and then after virtually all the air has been sucked out of the chamber. We know what happens, but that doesn't stop it from being awesome, especially with the team's ecstatic faces."
full-length experiment: https://youtu.be/E43-CfukEgs
After watching this, I thought about how negative thoughts can hit one like a bowling ball and crush one's positive emotional state and how a positive psychological impression can touch one like a feather and bring a sensation of soft pleasing pleasure.
Then I thought how meditation could create an emotional vacuum in one's consciousness so that there is "no crush of a bowling ball" and "no soft sensational feather." There is just observing the fall of the emotion (negative or positive) in an airless vacuum.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Monday, July 13, 2020
Panda Mei Mei and Her Cub
This started my Monday off well! Why is it that fluffy, adorable animals melt our hearts and make us happy? I know in my head that they are wild animals and ould likely hurt me, but this just made my heart sing a well as melt!
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Baby Turtle Alert
Musing about Happiness in Online Discussions
One of the reasons I created this blog is to encourage us all to interact with each other and by doing do help make ourselves and each other happier. Research indicates strongly that interacting and sharing our ideas with others even briefly can actually increase positive thinking and personal well-being. Yet, I know many of you-- and myself included-- have a hard time always keeping up with such interactions.
While our Happiness for Honors Students class does not really represent my usual teaching style in a regular class, I typically require some type of regular online/digital interaction between students. Yet, in those classes as well as this one, I sometimes feel that students are simply checking off requirement boxes instead of really engaging in authentic, useful discussion that encourages all of us to learn from each other. My students also frequently tell me they feel online discussion in classes that use Blackboard/UNM Learn tends to come off as something they do for a grade, not because it fosters and improves their learning in the course.
So, I am asking you to help me think about and learn from you about how I can establish really strong, vibrant, engaging online discussion forums in my future classes this fall. I would really like to know your honest thoughts on this and promise that nothing you say on this topic will lower your grade in this class.
Below are some possible questions that might help you focus your thoughts on this. But, as you think about this, please try to imagine yourself in my position as a college Honors teacher. I want my student not just to get a degree but to learn skills and better understand themselves and others in ways that will make them more successful in their futures (meaning happier and more fulfilled, not making more salary!). I prefer to encourage and trust students, rather than police and doubt them, which means I want to spend my time reviewing and grading work that inspires them to do their best and truly reflects their learning. Spending tons of my time grading "busy work" each day is not what I consider either conducive to student learning or to my own or the most useful way for me to spend my time. To sum up: I want my classes to matter to your future in ways that are meaningful; I don't want my classes to be simply requirements you have to get through.
On to some questions! Feel free to come up with different questions of your own.
-- Have you ever had interesting or good online discussions with others you don't know well? What made those discussions good?
-- How much supervision do you need to have productive online discussions? In other words, would you work best if I leave you mostly alone or comment on every word?
-- What best motivates you to go online to discuss something related to a class?
-- What if each student was assigned to lead, develop, foster online discussion for a week or two of each class? Would that encourage you to take more ownership of the online work for your assigned weeks? Would you be more inclined to help out your peers in discussions for their assigned weeks?
-- Would making online discussion optional and ungraded have any value? Would you be likely to interact in online discussions if they were not required?
-- Would it be useful to have a basic level of required participation in online discussion and then another level of optional participation that could be used to replace a different kind of assignment?
-- Would it help the liveliness and collaborative quality of online discussions if you were required to post a brief video summary of each of your own assignments (papers, presentations, etc.) on the online discussion at the same time you turn in the regular assignment to me? Doing so would be part of your grade, though the videos would not be graded individually but points would be deducted if you did not turn in the video on time or it did not meet very basic expectations.
These are some of the questions I am mulling over as I work to prepare my fall classes. Any help you can give me would be much appreciated and would help make me happy! Also, if you would like to share this with others you know and get their responses, too, I would welcome that as well.
While our Happiness for Honors Students class does not really represent my usual teaching style in a regular class, I typically require some type of regular online/digital interaction between students. Yet, in those classes as well as this one, I sometimes feel that students are simply checking off requirement boxes instead of really engaging in authentic, useful discussion that encourages all of us to learn from each other. My students also frequently tell me they feel online discussion in classes that use Blackboard/UNM Learn tends to come off as something they do for a grade, not because it fosters and improves their learning in the course.
So, I am asking you to help me think about and learn from you about how I can establish really strong, vibrant, engaging online discussion forums in my future classes this fall. I would really like to know your honest thoughts on this and promise that nothing you say on this topic will lower your grade in this class.
Below are some possible questions that might help you focus your thoughts on this. But, as you think about this, please try to imagine yourself in my position as a college Honors teacher. I want my student not just to get a degree but to learn skills and better understand themselves and others in ways that will make them more successful in their futures (meaning happier and more fulfilled, not making more salary!). I prefer to encourage and trust students, rather than police and doubt them, which means I want to spend my time reviewing and grading work that inspires them to do their best and truly reflects their learning. Spending tons of my time grading "busy work" each day is not what I consider either conducive to student learning or to my own or the most useful way for me to spend my time. To sum up: I want my classes to matter to your future in ways that are meaningful; I don't want my classes to be simply requirements you have to get through.
On to some questions! Feel free to come up with different questions of your own.
-- Have you ever had interesting or good online discussions with others you don't know well? What made those discussions good?
-- How much supervision do you need to have productive online discussions? In other words, would you work best if I leave you mostly alone or comment on every word?
-- What best motivates you to go online to discuss something related to a class?
-- What if each student was assigned to lead, develop, foster online discussion for a week or two of each class? Would that encourage you to take more ownership of the online work for your assigned weeks? Would you be more inclined to help out your peers in discussions for their assigned weeks?
-- Would making online discussion optional and ungraded have any value? Would you be likely to interact in online discussions if they were not required?
-- Would it be useful to have a basic level of required participation in online discussion and then another level of optional participation that could be used to replace a different kind of assignment?
-- Would it help the liveliness and collaborative quality of online discussions if you were required to post a brief video summary of each of your own assignments (papers, presentations, etc.) on the online discussion at the same time you turn in the regular assignment to me? Doing so would be part of your grade, though the videos would not be graded individually but points would be deducted if you did not turn in the video on time or it did not meet very basic expectations.
These are some of the questions I am mulling over as I work to prepare my fall classes. Any help you can give me would be much appreciated and would help make me happy! Also, if you would like to share this with others you know and get their responses, too, I would welcome that as well.
Friday, July 10, 2020
Quantum Entanglement versus Quantum Non-locality
Greetings are to Happiness for Honors Students,
The other day I watched "A Wrinkle in Time" on Disney Plus. At the beginning of the movie, the father and mother characters are scientists and study quantum entanglement, which produces only a 75% success rate compared to studies with quantum non-locality. Watch this video to understand the difference and why quantum non-locality can yield results of 100%:
https://youtu.be/5_0o2fJhtSc
Search Results
This
This video makes me happy because of the advancements being made in Quantum Mechanics. Sincerely, April Vihilidal
Baby Elephant Video
While this seems like it will be sad, it made me happy yesterday when I first saw it. Of course, I am fascinated by elephants and they always bring me joy!
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Positivism is not for Wimps! It Takes Mental Strength!
Greetings are to all in Happiness for Honors Students,
This Ted Talk inspired positivism at the end of a challenging day. It made me happy, and therefore I would like to share it with you this evening: https://youtu.be/TFbv757kup4
13,558,390 views
"Everyone has the ability to build mental strength, but most people don't know how. We spend a lot of time talking about physical strength and physical health, but much less time on mental strength and mental health.
We can choose to perform exercises that will help us learn to regulate our thoughts, manage our emotions, and behave productively despite our circumstances - the 3 basic factors of mental strength. No matter what your goals are, building mental strength is the key to reaching your greatest potential. Amy Morin is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. Since 2002, she has been counseling children, teens, and adults. She also works as an adjunct psychology instructor. Amy’s expertise in mental strength has attracted international attention. Her bestselling book, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, is being translated into more than 20 languages. Amy’s advice has been featured by a number of media outlets, including: Time, Fast Company, Good Housekeeping, Business Insider, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Success, Glamour, Oprah.com, TheBlaze TV, and Fox News. She has also been a guest on dozens of radio shows. She is a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc., and Psychology Today. She serves as About.com’s Parenting Teens Expert and Discipline Expert. As a frequent keynote speaker, Amy loves to share the latest research on resilience and the best strategies for overcoming adversity and building mental muscle. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx"
I hope you find this inspiring.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
This Ted Talk inspired positivism at the end of a challenging day. It made me happy, and therefore I would like to share it with you this evening: https://youtu.be/TFbv757kup4
The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong | Amy Morin | TEDxOcala
•Dec 4, 2015
"Everyone has the ability to build mental strength, but most people don't know how. We spend a lot of time talking about physical strength and physical health, but much less time on mental strength and mental health.
We can choose to perform exercises that will help us learn to regulate our thoughts, manage our emotions, and behave productively despite our circumstances - the 3 basic factors of mental strength. No matter what your goals are, building mental strength is the key to reaching your greatest potential. Amy Morin is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. Since 2002, she has been counseling children, teens, and adults. She also works as an adjunct psychology instructor. Amy’s expertise in mental strength has attracted international attention. Her bestselling book, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, is being translated into more than 20 languages. Amy’s advice has been featured by a number of media outlets, including: Time, Fast Company, Good Housekeeping, Business Insider, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Success, Glamour, Oprah.com, TheBlaze TV, and Fox News. She has also been a guest on dozens of radio shows. She is a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc., and Psychology Today. She serves as About.com’s Parenting Teens Expert and Discipline Expert. As a frequent keynote speaker, Amy loves to share the latest research on resilience and the best strategies for overcoming adversity and building mental muscle. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx"
I hope you find this inspiring.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Our Ancient Origins and a Personal Synchronicity
Greetings to All in Happiness for Honors Students,
I am very interested in Sanskrit, quantum physics, synchronicity, and humanity's ancient origins via the study of the Precession of the Equinoxes. The article provided herein is an excellent article on such things. The material is recent concerning ancient knowledge!
I am very interested in Sanskrit, quantum physics, synchronicity, and humanity's ancient origins via the study of the Precession of the Equinoxes. The article provided herein is an excellent article on such things. The material is recent concerning ancient knowledge!
6 JULY, 2020 - 18:35 PIERLUIGI TOMBETTI
The Search for Deep Reality: Ancient Hindu Texts and Quantum Physics
“In 1929 Heisenberg spent some time in India (…) He began to see that the recognition of relativity, interconnectedness, and impermanence as fundamental aspects of physical reality, which had been so difficult for himself and his fellow physicists, was the very basis of the Indian spiritual traditions.”
- Fritjof Capra, ‘ Uncommon Wisdom,’ Flamingo, 1989
The ancient Hindu texts known as The Vedas possess elements common to both quantum physics and the concept of Synchronicity.
Why?
Ancient Hindu Texts Teaching Quantum Physics: The Vedas and The Upanishad
“The access to the Vedas is the greatest privilege this century may claim over all previous centuries.”
- Robert Oppenheimer
The Vedas are a collection of Hindu sacred texts gathered in four fundamental collections (Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and Atharva-Veda) which preserve the millenary religious wisdom of the Aryans, a population settled in north-western India around the 20th century BC. The oldest part, the Rigveda Samhita, dates back to an age between 1500 and 1200 BC. These are hymns, poems, mantras, and mythological tales written in Vedic Sanskrit. Despite being counted among the oldest texts of mankind, these present extremely interesting concepts for physicists and mathematicians.
Please take time to look here: https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-ancient-writings/hindu-quantum-physics-0013945
This article made me happy because I resonate with it on so many different levels.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Jams and syrups!
One of the key things I’ve been using in my mindfulness practice is scents.
As you all know I love to cook/bake, but this week I’ve tried making syrups. This week I’ve made mango syrup and blueberry lavender syrup. They smell delicious. They take about 40 minutes and the whole house smells sweet and herbal.
I usually use my essential oil diffuser, but I love the smells of syrups fill the whole house and create a perfect environment for mindfulness! If you like foraging or growing herbs, try making them into a simple syrup and doing your mindfulness practice simultaneously. It was extremely relaxing.
Headspace Student Plan
Hey guys! If you are in need of some guided meditations and easy home workouts, I 1000% recommend the Headspace app. I originally discovered Headspace a while ago for their sleep soundscapes, but they also have a ton of courses for working through specific mental health issues.
My only problem was that the subscription was $70 annually, which is a lot for me as a broke college student. Thankfully, the creators of Headspace offer a Student plan for only $10 a year! It's super accessible and is now my number one source for meditations and workouts.
You can purchase the Headspace Student plan here.
My only problem was that the subscription was $70 annually, which is a lot for me as a broke college student. Thankfully, the creators of Headspace offer a Student plan for only $10 a year! It's super accessible and is now my number one source for meditations and workouts.
You can purchase the Headspace Student plan here.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Positivity in the Workplace
Greetings to all on this 4th of July 2020,
Greetings to all on this 4th of July,
I hope you are finding ways to celebrate our independence safely!
After working today, I had many thoughts about how being positive around a person with Alzheimer’s can be helpful to them. It is on the 4th of July, and I dressed as Captain Marvel. (My sister sent me a dress.) I made the workday a day of celebration for my client. She enjoyed herself, and we had a good time.
I found an article that I like about positivity in the workplace. I shall share the first four paragraphs. I hope you will read it in its entirety. It helped me a lot to maintain my attitude of positivity. When working with an Alzheimer’s patient, there are many waves of various emotions and moods that the patient may move through. If the caregiver can remain positive, it helps the patient to stay positive.
How to Develop a Positive Attitude in the Workplace
By Jennifer Post, Contributing WriterOctober 1, 2019
When something is going wrong, the first thing people usually say is to “stay strong” and “stay positive.” Those little affirmations sometimes do work, and it’s important to remember that words can go a long way during a time of negativity, especially in the workplace.
Always looking on the bright side “may sound cheesy, but just positive thinking, smiling, and positivity, in general, are the main staples of a positive personal attitude,” said Amy Finlay, co-founder of Edinburgh IFA. But what does a positive attitude have to do with the workplace?
Having a positive attitude in the workplace won’t necessarily make you better at your job, but it will improve the way people view you as a person, so they may be more inclined to help you succeed and cheer you on.
“[A positive attitude] is important for many reasons, but one of the main reasons for having a positive attitude in the workplace is because it can rub off on everyone else,” Finlay said. “Exuding positivity can be infectious and, over time, can influence your co-workers.”
Here is the link to read the rest of the article: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6912-develop-positive-mindset.html
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Fecundity, Fidelity, and Longevity
Greetings to all in Happiness for Honors Students,
Today my thoughts focused upon fecundity, fidelity, and longevity which are the three main components of a meme. We read:
"In relation to memes, copy-fidelity is the ability to replicate accurately; fecundity is its speed of replication; and longevity its stability over time. Certain memes, he said, will be more successful than others because they fulfill a cultural need or are uniquely suited to a specific circumstance."Nov 16, 2013
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/MEMES.html
So I thought about the meme of positivity. Here is one I would like to share with all of you.
This is one of my favorites by Albert Einstein: http://www.ldssmile.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/50-Inspiritational-Motivational-Thoughts-quotes-and-memes-9.jpg
Here is an entire website of positive memes:
http://www.ldssmile.com/2013/10/26/50-inspirational-motivational-thoughts-quotes-memes/
"For those who don't know, S.M.I.L.E. is an acronym that stands for Spiritually Minded is Life Eternal stemming from 2 Nephi 9:39." Jewelry to purchase that helps people to pass on a positive meme. https://lds-s-m-i-l-e.myshopify.com/products/s-m-i-l-e-necklace-spiritually-minded-is-life-eternal
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Today my thoughts focused upon fecundity, fidelity, and longevity which are the three main components of a meme. We read:
"In relation to memes, copy-fidelity is the ability to replicate accurately; fecundity is its speed of replication; and longevity its stability over time. Certain memes, he said, will be more successful than others because they fulfill a cultural need or are uniquely suited to a specific circumstance."Nov 16, 2013
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/MEMES.html
So I thought about the meme of positivity. Here is one I would like to share with all of you.
This is one of my favorites by Albert Einstein: http://www.ldssmile.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/50-Inspiritational-Motivational-Thoughts-quotes-and-memes-9.jpg
Here is an entire website of positive memes:
http://www.ldssmile.com/2013/10/26/50-inspirational-motivational-thoughts-quotes-memes/
"For those who don't know, S.M.I.L.E. is an acronym that stands for Spiritually Minded is Life Eternal stemming from 2 Nephi 9:39." Jewelry to purchase that helps people to pass on a positive meme. https://lds-s-m-i-l-e.myshopify.com/products/s-m-i-l-e-necklace-spiritually-minded-is-life-eternal
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Thursday, July 2, 2020
A Boost of Positive Thinking
Greetings are to all on the path of positive growth,
Here is motivational YouTube on positive thinking I believe you will all take great benefit from watching. https://youtu.be/Qaa0BmL6tJ8
Please let me know what you think. I would like to have a conversation with someone about this presentation.
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Here is motivational YouTube on positive thinking I believe you will all take great benefit from watching. https://youtu.be/Qaa0BmL6tJ8
Tony Robbins (2020): "THE SECRETS OF POSITIVE THINKING"
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Neural Plasticity and Happiness
Greetings to all in Happiness for Honors Students,
As I was looking to add memory to my computer today, I found the following website https://www.brainhq.com/brain-resources/memory/types-of-memory. This website is not about memory for the computer, but the types of memory humans experience. As I have stated in other Blog Posts, I am a caregiver for a woman with Alzheimer’s. This web site helps me to understand and to codify the different types of experiences my client has as to related to which type of memory is being challenged by the current state of her Alzheimer’s. It is said that Alzheimer’s patients lose neural plasticity. The music therapy helps my client with increasing her neural plasticity.
This web site gives exercises to improve one’s neural plasticity. Therefore, I was delighted and excited to learn about this web site. I hope you all take a few moments to look at it and see all it has to offer to keep your brain and neural plasticity healthy and functional.
From the site, you will find: “If you are one of the people staying at home during these challenging times, our CEO Dr. Henry Mahncke has some thoughts on keeping your brain healthy. http://ow.ly/oXuT50z3C1r.”
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
TWA Flight 260 Crash Site Hike
Hey all,
For the more outdoorsy people here, I wanted to share an amazing hiking trail in the Sandias my family and I got to check out this past weekend. This trail is about 7-8 miles round trip and should take the average hiker maybe 6 hours, but plan for longer to be safe (we got lost at the top of the trail and only made it down to the car at 9pm, and I wouldn't want to face a bear or mountain lion in the dark!). I would heavily recommend hiking with at least one or two other people, bringing PLENTY of water, especially in this hot season, and wearing good running or hiking shoes with LOTS of tread.
In 1955, a Trans World Airlines 40-passenger flight crashed into a rocky pillar just below Sandia Crest after communications equipment malfunctioned (or the pilots conspired to crash the flight purposefully - nobody yet knows for sure!). All 16 people aboard the flight perished - 13 passengers and 3 crew - and much controversy was generated in finding an appropriate person to blame for the tragedy. The wreck site was cleaned up over time and later memorialized by the son of one of the victims, and all that remains now is various large parts of the aircraft strewn across the forest floor.
The hike to the crash site, following the Domingo Baca trail towards the crest of the Sandias, is a beautiful, serene trek into the foothills, starting above the Northeast Heights and climbing deep into a sheltered canyon directly below the cables of the tramway. The wreck site, nestled below the outcrop the plane collided with 85 years ago, is easily accessible from the lightly maintained and well-sheltered trail, and the whole journey is full of wonderful photo ops and places to sit and enjoy the mountain air. While most of the trail is well sheltered in the trees, a couple high points will give you amazing views of the mountains and the foothills all the way down to the city. The trail isn't exactly for beginners - unmaintained paths and some steep inclines require a fair level of fitness and proper gear - but don't be afraid to try it regardless of your skill level, as there's plenty of places to stop and rest and other hikers will often have helpful information about the trail ahead.
I'd also like to inform you all that the area may or may not be haunted - whether you're a superstitious person or not, it will feel slightly strange climbing to a place where 16 people died tragically and remained for days before their bodies were found, and it's worth approaching the site with respect and solemnity. On the way up and back down my group was wholly shaken by a couple of strange events, including finding an entire mountain lion skeleton, freshly abandoned and still bright white, stripped clean to the bone and spread across a 40 foot area in a clearing... not unexplainable, but a little bit nerve-wracking when it's just you and the rest of nature out there. Don't let the fear of the unknown put you off from attempting this amazing journey... but do be careful, and don't go alone!
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Fun Lamp!
I would like to share with everyone this lamp I bought! It brings me the purest joy! It was only $5.99 at my local Savers. I've had it for two weeks now and every night when I turn it on it makes me giggle, I thought you might enjoy!
And yes, it is a chest of drawers, that is also a teapot, that had a mini record player and a set of mini records on it!
-Alysandra
And yes, it is a chest of drawers, that is also a teapot, that had a mini record player and a set of mini records on it!
-Alysandra
Equanimity in Caregiving
Greetings are to all in Happiness for Honors Students,
I am so excited to share this excellent website with all of you:
https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/ about self-compassion and caregiving.
Caregiving has its ups and its downs. This website is a rich source for finding balance in the caregiving profession. Even if you care for a cat, dog, turtle, fish, or parrot, the first meditation guides one through the process of feeling equanimity.
The first meditation is a lovely Self-Compassion for Caregivers [Video - 9 minutes], and it only takes nine short minutes from your day. In return, you will feel so balanced after listening to it. So please give it a try for the one about whom you care: https://youtu.be/jJ9wGfwE-YE
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
I am so excited to share this excellent website with all of you:
https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/ about self-compassion and caregiving.
Caregiving has its ups and its downs. This website is a rich source for finding balance in the caregiving profession. Even if you care for a cat, dog, turtle, fish, or parrot, the first meditation guides one through the process of feeling equanimity.
The first meditation is a lovely Self-Compassion for Caregivers [Video - 9 minutes], and it only takes nine short minutes from your day. In return, you will feel so balanced after listening to it. So please give it a try for the one about whom you care: https://youtu.be/jJ9wGfwE-YE
Sincerely,
April Vihilidal
Sunday, June 28, 2020
The Robustness of Reciprocity
I wanted to share this article I saw about how people are inclined to help others, even at cost to themselves. The research described supports the idea that people will give to others regardless of differing motivations.
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/23/eaba0504
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/people-try-to-do-right-by-each-other-no-matter-the-motivation-says-new-scientific-study/
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/23/eaba0504
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/people-try-to-do-right-by-each-other-no-matter-the-motivation-says-new-scientific-study/
Friday, June 26, 2020
Glasses for Color Blindness
I had never heard of glasses for people who are color blind until today. I am not color blind but have several friends who are. So this seems fantastic to me and makes me really happy to have learned about this!
https://nymag.com/strategist/article/color-blind-glasses-enchroma.html
https://nymag.com/strategist/article/color-blind-glasses-enchroma.html
Thursday, June 25, 2020
32 Ways to Make Someone Happy Today
The following is a link for ways to make yourself happy but more importantly to spread happiness!
I have also copy and pasted the contents of this link here for our convenience:
Just thought I’d give all of you a nice list of things to think about. This isn’t an in-depth post, but more of a thought for the day — is there someone you’d like to make happy today?
Making others happy is one of the best ways to have a great day yourself. It can brighten the world around you.
This list is just to spark some ideas, and please note that not every item on this list is appropriate for every person in your life. I trust you to figure out which actions go with which people.
Make someone happy today!
- Smile.
- Help them carry something.
- Send a thank-you email.
- Call just to see how they’re doing.
- Pick them flowers.
- Cook them a nice meal.
- Tell a joke and laugh your butts off.
- Clean.
- Write a love letter to a loved one.
- Give them a cherished book.
- Bake cookies.
- Praise them publicly.
- Thank them for a job well done.
- Listen.
- Be there when they’re in need.
- Give a free hug.
- Spend time with them, having fun.
- Do errands or chores for them.
- Say I love you.
- Help them get ahead.
- Be proud of them.
- Babysit if they need it.
- House sit if they need it.
- Buy them movie tickets.
- Create a care package.
- Coffee. Mmmm.
- List the things you love about them.
- Secretly leave them thank you notes.
- Give a back rub when appropriate.
- Deliver a nice lunch to them when they’re having a rough day.
- Love them, completely.
- Be happy yourself.
Any ideas on how to make people happy? Add them in the comments!
Tin Can Alley
A couple days ago I went to this spot called Tin Can Alley. It was a really cool environment, but the most packed I have seen since the pandemic hit. Seems like a good location to hang out at without a doubt!
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
A (little) Way I Feel Important
Hi all,
I've been getting into baking and cheeseboard design lately because of a friend's inspiration. Here's the first creation I'm really proud of! I made it for my best friend's birthday.
I've been getting into baking and cheeseboard design lately because of a friend's inspiration. Here's the first creation I'm really proud of! I made it for my best friend's birthday.
I really love looking that the new skills people have honed over the quarantine. It helps me to stay really positive. I also find that the task of assembling something beautiful relaxes me and having people enjoy what I make makes me feel important (even if only a little bit) to other people. I mostly stopped cooking when I went to college to I'm really grateful for the opportunity to get back to it!
Meet Scarface
Hey guys! I came across this video on r/Albuquerque a few weeks ago and it brought me a lot of joy. Thankfully Scarface has found a loving home but you can still watch the excellent ad that led to his adoption.
Monday, June 22, 2020
An amazing YouTube channel for anyone interested in DIY or home science
Hey everyone,
In the spirit of finding things to occupy your time while we all sit out the quarantine, I thought I'd share a favorite YouTube channel of mine.
Mark Rober puts a great amount of effort into high-quality, engaging, and wholly positive videos, loaded with super interesting science- and technology-related content, and I have been watching through many of his videos recently when I am at a loss for other things to do.
If you're at all into science or technology, or you just like watching cool people make cool things for fun and to give back to their community, I heavily recommend checking out his channel and showing some support.
I hope you all find it as enjoyable as I did!
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Url (Not Earl)
Remember when I said I wasn't just going to post cute animal pictures all summer? I guess I lied, because I wanted to share this fun picture of my dad's cat, Url (pronounced "Earl"). Url is so named because he used to be Ursula at the shelter before they realized he was actually a boy cat, so they named him Ursa. But my dad didn't like the name Ursa, so he named him Url. He didn't realize until later that it had a double meaning.
Url is very curmudgeonly. He likes to sit by the sink and meow for people to turn it on so that he can drink out of it, which is what he's doing here. He also only likes my dad and refuses to sit on anyone else's lap. He only plays with toys at 3:00 in the morning - he wouldn't want the humans thinking he's undignified. Url brings me great happiness.
Url is very curmudgeonly. He likes to sit by the sink and meow for people to turn it on so that he can drink out of it, which is what he's doing here. He also only likes my dad and refuses to sit on anyone else's lap. He only plays with toys at 3:00 in the morning - he wouldn't want the humans thinking he's undignified. Url brings me great happiness.
Volunteering as a source of happiness
Hello, everyone!
This summer I have been volunteering weekly at the Road Runner Foodbank. It has been a source of structure and happiness in my life, so I thought I would share it in case some of you are interested!
The Foodbank is in need of volunteers to work in their warehouse. Tasks include packaging, labeling, and sorting food for distribution. You can sign up for 2+ hour shifts. It is so gratifying and I 10/10 recommend, for more information click this link!
-Emily
This summer I have been volunteering weekly at the Road Runner Foodbank. It has been a source of structure and happiness in my life, so I thought I would share it in case some of you are interested!
The Foodbank is in need of volunteers to work in their warehouse. Tasks include packaging, labeling, and sorting food for distribution. You can sign up for 2+ hour shifts. It is so gratifying and I 10/10 recommend, for more information click this link!
-Emily
Friday, June 19, 2020
Why Ta-Nehisi Coates is hopeful
I personally find this article incredibly hopeful and being hopeful makes me happy. So, I hope it makes you happy, too. If the content is too overtly political and offends you, please let me know so I can avoid such posts in the future. My point with this is not to spread my own politics, but to spread hope for everyone in our world!
Why Ta-Nehisi Coates is hopeful
And, happy Juneteeth!
Why Ta-Nehisi Coates is hopeful
And, happy Juneteeth!
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Focus on the Positive
For today's blog post I just wanted to remind everybody to stay positive!I personally have trouble doing this at times because I like to focus on the negative side of things which I have realized does not make me feel happy at all! If you seek positivity you will surely find it because your mind was focused on that. I think the problem that people often have is that when something negative happens during the day it's hard to get past our emotions of anger or sadness because we can't stop thinking about that certain event! Let it go. Move on. There is so much more to come of your day so please do not let one thing ruin the whole day, you may not be able to control what happens but you can certainly control how you react!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)