A Special Guest

The Roland Park Country School.

David Brock, who teaches upper school science at ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL (RPCS) in Baltimore, had some thoughts to share in a blog article. He had read an article in the Baltimore Sun from October about two women, who had started this company, SISU GLOBAL HEALTH. Their company creates inexpensive and life-saving technologies for health care providers in developing countries. The two women, Caroline Yarina and Gillian Henker, had developed a Hemafuse device for the purpose of recycling blood during surgery, reducing the need for transfusions, particularly for use in areas where that would not be an option.

As he read about the backgrounds of the two women, who had earned degrees in areas other than the biological sciences, he began to think about the opportunities presented if the students (all girls at an all-girls school) whom he teaches could meet with these young inventors, who were in their 20's. That's where the challenge came in, since the article had provided no contact information and had mentioned that they were "very busy people".



However, undeterred by the challenges, Mr. Brock presented his idea to the STEM teaching team and all agreed that it would provide a wonderful opportunity for the 52 STEM students in grades 9 to 11. The idea became a reality on December 4, when Gillian Henker came to RPCS for a wonder hands-on workshop about developing medical technologies for developing nations with the students.

During the ninety-minute workshop, Ms. Henker took the students through brainstorming and design of alternate mobility technology for people who had lost portions of their leg(s). Part of their learning included some of challenges presented in countries still engaged in development. They came up with a Pathway Paws-er, which was a sled that used dog power, and a Wiggler, which used energy from the nervous system to provide movement.

STEM subjects have long been part of RCPS' curriculum.

In total, the participating students came up with nine different designs. The experience showed the girls their actual capabilities in being able to solve problems, while also showing how their STEM skills could be used in real-world situations. It was a rather unique experience for students to be working with someone who designs products that make a difference.

Students brainstorming during the workshop.

Thanks to information from this article by David Brock in The Red Blog: http://redblog.rpcs.org/wordpress/nothing-ventured/.

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How To Prevent The Fear From Getting To You

Gallup poll results.

I'm sure most of us are familiar with fear, especially these days. Ever since September 11, 2001, we in the US have realized the reach of terrorism. That day we tried, also, to find the part of us that goes on, even with that new understanding, without stereotyping others just because of appearance.

Something happened, though, between then and now, more than ten years later. We've all seen so much violence perpetrated here, not just by terrorists. There have been more than our share of multiple killings, mostly at the hands of a gun. Indeed, there have also been other terrorist attacks, played out in other parts of the world.

Certainly, the attacks that occurred in Paris have struck a chord. Then there was the all-too-real attack that occurred at a Christmas party in San Bernardino, by a couple devoted to the Muslim religion. The male shooter had worked with many of the victims - fourteen died and 21 were injured - devastating the ranks of San Bernardino County workers, since most of the victims were social services workers from that county.



But somehow, since then, fear has taken over. It has shown the ugly side of Americans, the side that classifies and stereotypes people on the basis of appearance. While fear is understandable, especially since many people viewed clips of the violence, this time the fear has gotten hold of lawmakers, who are leading the fear-mongering. Ugly incidents of violence towards those who practice the Muslim faith have happened; mosques have been defaced and burned. Only two people who practice the Muslim faith, plus a neighbor who aided them, have been deemed responsible for the acts (the latter is accused and hasn't had a trial; the former died), yet many are vilifying all of those who practice the Muslim faith, even given the fact that all of those are innocent, bystanders like those Americans who weren't there.

Why did this palpable fear, with its expressed and demonstrated hate towards a group of people, get started - and keep going? What stoked these emotions? Even the fact that statistics such as the knowledge that more people are killed and injured in auto accidents per year than were killed in Paris and San Bernardino combined won't reduce the fear.

It is quite possible that seeing, experiencing the violent end results of these two attacks has actually resulted in PTSD symptoms in a wide population. Some of the sounds and sights that remind those individuals of the attacks can trigger flashbacks, then an automatic physical response. Human beings are prone to be on the alert after traumatic experiences because our bodies give us heightened sensations in order to protect us from dangers. But most often the responses triggered are just that, responses felt viscerally, without the presence of a real threat. That response then becomes dangerous to the individual reacting, creating a stress response that can lead to the development of chronic illnesses, both physical and psychiatric.

Then there is the group mentality and human beings striving to belong. The fact that the group has pointed towards people with a certain look from a certain faith background can lead - and has led - to lack of empathy and caring, a sense of blaming, even a misclassification of people, while holding them universally responsible for the source of our fear. There is even the misplaced sentiment of the group that deems it courageous to inflict physical pain and verbal vilification toward the so-called out-group, those that the group has identified as practicing the Muslim religion.

Just as there is a large group of people willing to classify those who practice the Muslim faith, there are others seeking for a way to stop this intolerance. But how is this done? The first step is observe the problem and recognize what it is. It isn't courage to attack others because you fear them. It is courage to defy a large group of intolerant individuals and help those of the Muslim faith, even at risk to ourselves.

That means following the guidance of a true leader, President Obama, when he said at the G20 summit, "The people who are fleeing Syria are the most harmed by terrorism, they are the most vulnerable as a consequence of civil war and strife. They are parents, they are children, they are orphans, and it is very important...that we do not close our hearts to these victims of such violence."

Stereotypical terms used for those who practice the Muslim religion.

President Obama went on, "When I hear folks say that, well, maybe we should just admit the Christians but not the Muslims, when I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which person's who's fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted...that's shameful. That's not American, it's not who we are. We don't have religious tests to our compassion." Indeed, these are the very people who need our help. To give our help because it's the right thing to do, no matter what the clamoring crowd is yelling, is the essence of courage. Honoring those differences and finding the humanity is great compassion. People who practice the Muslim faith are human beings, just like those who practice Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, or even atheism. This is a land where people can freely practice whatever religious faith they wish. Let's make sure that tolerance of that faith guides our lives on this planet.

Remember the positive ways to work together and offer help.

Thanks to information from this article by the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-bernardino-shooting-live-updates-htmlstory.html; and this article from Greater Good: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_fear_hurts_us.

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A Profitable Enterprise Scrap By Scrap

Business poster for Peace By Piece.

Do you know that there are places where public education isn't provided free of charge? Where does a family get the money when that family is just scraping by, earning a small income from what is raised on the family farm? Then, after that, how do you afford the school uniforms, which must comply with strictly enforced standards, much less school supplies? If you don't have what is required, then the children in the family miss out, narrowing their future choices.

Something of an answer started out as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) project, the PEACE BY PIECE PROJECT. Nicole Travis and Mohamed Ali noticed that local tailors around Masindi, Uganda, had leftover Kitenge fabric, which they would burn, instead of finding another use for them. What would happen if these scrap fabrics could be used to make such things as pillow cases and quilts? Maybe, if villagers could make these items, they could earn enough income to provide uniforms for school-aged children. Of course, that would require that those interested use new sewing techniques, so the first step was to train those interested. Besides learning the mechanics of constructing the items, villagers were also trained in financial literacy and business development, so they could run this enterprise without the Peace Corps' involvement. According to Nicole and Mohamed, "[we] want to ensure we leave enough knowledge and resources to continue the great work they are doing by providing for their families, creating sustainability and serving the greater community."



In addition, in order to support these new enterprises, a place where supplies could be readily obtained, was needed. So, a tailor supply store was opened for this purpose. Before Nicole and Mohamed moved on, their project had earned enough funds to supply the children of two different schools with uniforms.

The Peace By Piece Project continues its work today, with even more challenges. Many of the parents are single parents, caring for their own children, as well as providing assistance for orphaned children in the community. The proceeds from the sale of quilts and pillow cases now provide the necessary shared funds to pay for housing, utilities, medical needs, school fees, and even business expansion. In addition, villagers now make headbands, aprons, oven mitts, laptop cases, pants, and skirts.

One of the workers at a sewing machine.

The products made by Peace By Piece Project have decorated the rooms at the New Court View Hotel, and can be found for sale at the gift shop in Paraa Lodge. The enterprise launched by the Peace Corps Volunteers has certainly become a valuable community enterprise for the people in Masindi.

One of the villagers modelling an apron and oven mitts.

Thanks to information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/nicole-travis-peace-piece/; and this article from Educating The Heart And Mind In Uganda: http://wp.kings.edu/uganda2015/author/jenniferjeanjacques/.

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A Case Of Online Bullying

Kaitlyn Collins, Green Bay Packers cheerleader.

Amidst all of the holiday preparations, it may be easy to forget the issues that evoke the most passion. Those issues, whether political (like what political party or spectrum you support), religious, sports favorites, entertainment personalities, can point to extremes in opinions. In the anonymous world of cyberspace, some of the passions can lead to ugly sentiments being expressed in print or video. Some of those attacks even become personal, with some individuals making vicious, personal attacks upon individuals whom they may not have met.

No one is ever really excluded from becoming a target. Even an NFL cheerleader can find herself subjected to attack. While rooting for a team can lead to some trash talk in the stands, that isn't usually directed at any one player or fan, but applies to the opposing team of the moment. Those expressions aren't what this is about. It's when the sentiment becomes personal and veers into hurtful, hateful words, that the attacks take on a different dimension.



No one knows that better than Kaitlyn Collins, who was a GREEN BAY PACKERS cheerleader back in 2013. Green Bay was slated to take on the CHICAGO BEARS. Before the game, one of the Bears fans posted a photo of Kaitlyn, along with a statement, "Like if you agree the Packers have the worst cheerleaders in the NFL," on Facebook. Fan comments following called her "ugly", "fugly," an "eyesore" - and those were the quotable comments. There were others that don't bear repeating.

But Kaitlyn wasn't standing for these bullying fans. She posted a video that contained written cards that explained her feelings and response to these vicious fans, along with her commitment not to define herself as just her appearance, not that there was anything wrong or unusual about it. She wrote, "Most comments on the photo were too horrible to repeat, but had the same theme...UGLY. This is bullying in its newest form - cyber bullying. Thankfully, I have an amazing support system full of wonderful friends and family telling me that I AM BEAUTIFUL. What about the people who don't have that at home? What will happen when something like this happens to them?"

Kaitlyn actually had a point. There have been enough children and adolescents who have been bullied in school, and that bullying has been compounded by social media posts. Those children haven't had the maturity to figure out how to respond to personal attacks, some of which have even threatened bodily harm.The rejection and hatred expressed in these types of posts are painful to the person targeted, as much as the most severe physical pain that a person could experience. It isn't for no reason that young people (and older ones, too) feel so badly that they may even resort to suicide. It's not okay to post these types of sentiments, especially when you realize that you may hold someone's life in your hands. Do you really want to be responsible for someone killing him/herself?

One of the cards Kaitlyn used in her video response.

There was this other purpose that Ms. Collins had in mind when she posted her video response, something that she hoped would help save lives and give others in her position a way to fight back. She affirmed, "It's hard to just brush it off your shoulders. No matter how confident a person can seem and appear - words hurt." If there is anything we take away from her experience, it is to treat those we address online the same way we would if we were face-to-face. We are generally less inclined to say hateful, spiteful words when we talk to someone in person. Remember, it's okay to be passionate; it's not okay to insult, defame, threaten, bully anyone. Let's keep our words kind and compassionate. Be free to disagree, but leave behind the personal attacks.

Kaitlyn's 21st birthday photo.

Thanks to information from this article on Little Things.com: http://www.littlethings.com/kaitlyn-collins-vcom/?utm_source=LTcom&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=inspiring.

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Student Art Works In A Museum Exhibit

The McDonogh School campus on a winter day.

Let's use our imaginations and imagine that any of us had had an opportunity for our art works to be placed on display at an art museum. That's not an everyday occurrence, even for an adult. Now, take your imagination and imagine that this happened to you while you were still in elementary school. Not at all common, but this happened for 27 lower school students at MCDONOGH SCHOOL, located in Owings Mills, MD.

The exhibition was coordinated by McDonogh's own Lower School art teacher, Joan Newcomer and Susan Dorsey of the Walters Art Museum, which was the site of the exhibit, which ran through Dec. 20. The exhibit also included art works by students of twelve other member schools of the ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT MARYLAND SCHOOLS (AIMS).



At the opening reception for the exhibit, which was held on December 5, former Head of the Lower School, Loreen Lidston, discussed the value of art education for children, "I would like to take just a moment or two to reflect on five of the many reasons why art education is important for ALL children in our schools, not just the ones whose artistic ability sets them apart from others.

"First art develops creativity and self expression - all without having to rely on spoken or written language. Therefore art is one of the first outlets open to children who think that grass should be purple or that a cloud should smile.,,,No speech is required to create art, especially the kind of art that leaves us speechless.

"Secondly, art teaches the value of work. Maybe that is why we call it artwork! It takes time and effort to finish a work of art, and in the process, the artist can learn a lot about the joy that comes from work done for its own sake and to the best of one's ability.

"Third, there are no 'right' or 'wrong' answers in art...or there shouldn't be....Nowhere else are boundaries so limitless, judgment so blind, and possibilities pasted with so broad a brush!

"Fourth, art is all about problem-solving. Artists must constantly ask and answer questions. 'How do I draw a dog with proper proportions?' 'What does anger look like?'...Nothing develops problem-solving skills faster than being left alone with an assignment and a blank piece of paper!

Fifth, and last, art is a powerful and potent venue for examining both human values and cultural differences. Themes such as 'home and family, work and play, nature and environment, beauty and ugliness, violence and love' (NAEA) recur in artwork from around the world and remind us of our shared humanity. Art's visual images teach us about the values that make us human and the cultural differences that make us unique."

Ms. Lidston's son, Colin Lidston, was previously a student of Joan Newcomer. She must have had an influence in inspiring him, since he had continued his education and received his BA from Rhode Island School of Design and then complete his MFA in painting from Indiana University in Bloomington. He is currently an art teacher at a charter school in Brooklyn, NY. When his mother asked him about the concepts he was teaching, what he was doing with his students, and what their art looked like, he responded, "Mom! It is children's artwork! It is beautiful!"

An overhead view of the crowd at the Walters to view the exhibition (top).

That statement by Colin Lidston could probably apply to the artworks created by the 27 lucky exhibiting students from McDonogh, with the addition that their talents lent the works that something extra. For part of December, Baltimoreans could share in that inspiration.

Art is an important part of the curriculum at McDonogh.

Thanks to this article from McDonogh School: https://www.mcdonogh.org/news/1923/503/walters-exhibit-celebrates-art-education-; and the above links.

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United In Support Of Animals

A protest at Denver airport against Delta Air Lines' transporting of animals to labs.

It began a few years ago. At the time, Delta Air Lines was engaged in transporting animals to research laboratories, where those animals faced a grim future. That is something that concerned Amanda Schemkes. She wanted a way to bring this practice to the attention of a public not necessarily aware that the airline they patronized was engaged in this horrible practice. So, she started a tour to visit Delta's hub airports and offices with a campaign, The Bunny Alliance Gateway To Hell Tour, seeking to educate the public about this issue and also engaging those interested in activism workshop training. As Amanda said, "This project is about ending the transport of animals to labs, and so an end to the use of animals in labs."

As the cause grew, the organization became known as THE BUNNY ALLIANCE and broadened its activities. They built alliances with similar organizations in other parts of the US and internationally, holding protest actions in support of their partners. Their most recent campaigns were raising public awareness of the practices of Air France, ABX Air-DHL, and Chinese Southern Airlines. The latter, which was the last airline that transported primates out of China to vivisection laboratories, stopped all of those shipments.

The Bunny Alliance had also sponsored tours, modeled after the original. This was the educational arm that provides the details of what the campaigns are about and why it is so important to prevent the air transportation of animals to research labs. For those of you concerned, research does not need to involve live animals. Advances in technology, along with cellular research, have enabled research to proceed without removing animals from their natural environments and subjecting them to painful and maiming procedures in a rather stark setting that doesn't provide any enrichment. So, you're talking about torturing animals for no good reason.

Then, during the summer months, a dentist from Minnesota, took a trip to Africa, and shot a beloved lion on land that belonged to a nature preserve. And that sparked even more attention to the issue of airlines transporting dead trophy animals, some in danger of extinction, to decorate a hunter's lodge wall. In combination with the issue of lab animal transport, the public's attention and outrage was raised, prompting some airlines, including Delta, to stop allowing the transport of these animals on any of their flights.

A poster from the March Against Air France.

In October, Amanda announced the end of The Bunny Alliance as an organization. The information, up to that point has been left online to show how far its cause has traveled. As for Amanda, she still has her passion for animal liberation and other causes supported by The Bunny Alliance. She has been active in Action For Animals Taking Sides, a larger organization with a broader agenda, where she is now vice president.

The conditions that prompted the response to halt animal transport to labs.

Thanks for the information from this article at Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/amanda-schemkes-bunny-alliance-gateway-hell-tour/; and the above links.

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A Courageous Survivor

The arson fire and the children killed and injured.

Back in May 2013 a family with young children was living in an apartment in upstate New York. Then came the day that some unknown person set fire to the stairs leading to that family's apartment, consuming that home in flames. The fire devastated the family, killing the father, David Terry, and three of his children, all under the age of 3. There was one survivor, Safyre, whom the father shielded with his body, allowing her to continue to breathe. That act saved the little girl's life.

Although still alive, Safyre was severely injured, burned over 75 percent of her body. She has had over 50 surgeries since then, to help reconstruct her ravaged body and she has lost her left foot and right hand. That is in addition to the family she lost. Life will never be the same for her.



But this young girl, now 8 years old, has soldiered on. Her aunt, Liz Dolder, stepped in to provide Safyre with a secure home and family. Through all of the difficult treatments that Safyre has endured, Aunt Liz Dolder has been there with her. It's not always been easy either, considering how painful the treatments and rehabilitation are for one who has survived severe burns.

Aunt Liz Dolder recounts, "Safyre lost everything - her father, her mother, her sister, her brothers, her home, her favorite toy, her favorite outfit - everything that was familiar to her. She even lost the one thing we all take for granted - her reflection. But she wakes every morning with a smile on her face. She is the true definition of hope, faith, and love."

Through everything, though, Safyre is a devoted celebrator of Christmas. So, Aunt Liz had wanted to make sure that the celebration is special for her young charge. When she asked Safyre what she wanted for Christmas, this young girl told her she wanted Christmas cards - and a lot of them. So, Ms. Dolder took a picture of Safyre with the empty Christmas tree card holder on a facebook page dedicated to her and posted the request for Christmas cards.

Liz reported, "Everything is magical. I went to Goodwill and bought a Christmas card tree. And she helped me put it up. When we got our first Christmas card, she was so excited....It was just incredible."

By Dec. 9, as Safyre's wish started spreading, she had received 50 cards, some from strangers that the family had never met. Said Ms. Dolder, through her happy tears, "It's so overwhelming. I'm crying buckets, because when you've seen the ugly in the world, and then you see the world come together for her, it's just more than words can say. I'm so moved."

Safyre checks out the mail she has received.

But that was just the beginning. Even more cards, gifts, letters, donations, have come in for this brave little girl with the simple wish for Christmas cards. As of yesterday, the NY Times reported that lovely, young Safyre has received 430,000 cards and more than $338.000 in donations to help pay for her medical expenses. Despite all she has been through, no one has turned out this child's light, and it shines forth, inspiring a Christmas outpouring of love and kindness for a girl who so much deserves it.

Safyre with some of the gifts she has received, along with a heartfelt thank you.

Thanks to information from this article from the UK Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/arson-survivor-safyre-terry-who-lost-father-sister-and-brothers-only-wants-one-thing-for-christmas-a6766171.html; this article from People: http://www.people.com/article/8-year-old-burn-victim-christmas-wish; and this article from Newser: http://www.newser.com/story/217756/arson-survivor-gets-christmas-miracle-but-no-justice.html.

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Innovators In Social Enterprise

One of the Details workers removing bricks from a chimney.

Baltimore is fortunate to have an organization like HUMANIM, INC. within its metropolitan area. This organization is a social enterprise, providing social services, job training, working within the school system, forming partnerships with other social enterprise organizations, to fill needs in various niches in which there are people in need. Within the larger organization are smaller programs, which serve various communities.

One of the programs is DETAILS, which provides employment opportunities for individuals who face various barriers to being able to participate in the work force. Their focus is on deconstruction, basically tearing down deteriorating building structures, while utilizing the materials salvaged by selling them to construction companies. That makes what they do an environmentally friendly enterprise, with about 90% of the building materials recycled.



In another sense, though, Details also helps to recycle the lives of those employed by the program. By getting people, who had previously faced barriers to employment, back into the workforce, through their own program, Details enabled their workers to establish trustworthy work records, which would then increase their employablility in other types of enterprises.

Recently, the Details team won a prestigious award from the Maryland Daily Record as Innovator Of The Year, This award recognizes this program as one that has a positive effect on their business, industry, and/or community.

Originally started as a pilot program that was working with the City of Baltimore, the program has now become a model for business leaders to remove blighted and decaying buildings and clear the land for future green space. It also provides training and jobs to those who live in some of Baltimore's underserved neighborhoods, The program is doing so well, that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Deputy Housing Commissioner Michael Braverman gathered with other officials to declare this program a success.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake stated, "Removing blight, developing green space, and creating jobs through the deconstruction pilot has tremendously impacted this community [1800 block of Etting Street] and others throughout Baltimore. The pilot has been a huge success. I look forward to making it a permanent part of our demolition program."

It's hard to believe that the program only started in April of 2014. In that short time, it has grown from 50 buildings to 63 and still counting. It has provided jobs, complete with training and benefits, to 26 workers, who faced employment barriers. Bernadette Buckson, who is now a crew leader in the program, shared, "This job has meant so much to me. I had the opportunity to start my life all over."

Proud group of Details workers in front of deconstruction project.

This program is giving growth opportunities to community members who need them. They may lack the skills in the beginning, but their willingness and enthusiasm for this organization, which showed it believed in them, has added happiness, independence, and pride in their own capabilities.

One of the workers with some of the salvaged bricks.

Thanks to the information from this article by Humanim: http://www.humanim.com/news/197-details-team-named-innovator-of-the-year-city-pilot-program-declared-a-win-win.

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Providing Assistance During The Dying Process

John Bruce (right) with Ram Dass.

Most people have heard of doulas, who assist women through the birth process. But in the last few years, through what are called death cafes, more people are discussing the experience of death. Such discussions focus on how people would like to leave this world at the end of life. This movement focuses on creating experience and supporting the individual. That has led to the development of programs that help people become certified as end of life doulas, who form relationships with those who know they are dying and help them experience death in a way that is meaningful for them.

Two young men, John Bruce and Pawel Wojtasik, life partners who also have backgrounds in film-making, started the END OF LIFE PROJECT as a platform for stories about about individual journeys through the dying process. Both young men are also certified end of life doulas and have created a feature-length movie about their experiences as end of life doulas. Besides carrying stories about the dying experience, the envisioned web site would also have links to specific resources.



The good news is that the web site has opened, but it is still a work in progress, with a vision of implementation. It builds upon the full-length movie and the work of Mr. Bruce and Mr. Wojtasik as doulas. In its current form, this website can lead to discussions of how people would like to design and experience the dying process, including conversations with close family members and friends. It focuses on dying as a sacred process, a culmination of a life that has been lived fully and is experienced fully, as well.

The video clip on the site is a good introduction to the topic, with Ram Dass' thoughts about how the topic of death inspires fear in its contemplation. Then two women who are facing death have quiet conversation with the film-makers or with family members. John Bruce explains his sentiments about bringing the issue of death to public notice. He feels that by "engaging viewers in [objective] questions by way of intimate stories and resource options presented, we can progress towards greater compassion and care for the dying."

John Bruce, with one of his clients.

With the aging of societies in developed countries, death does become an appropriate topic for national conversation, as well. As Mr. Bruce and Mr. Wojtasik continue to develop their web platform, it will present unique ways of individualizing and enriching the experience as part of the life process.

Pawel Wojtasik

Thanks to this article by Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/john-bruce-end-life/, and the above link.

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How To Have Longer-Term Happiness

Choose to do an activity.

Science indicates that some times of happiness provide an uptick in happiness levels for only a short time. These include such things as winning the lottery or scoring that new job with the pay raise. On the other hand, bad events can decrease your happiness level for only a short time, too. Those events, such as totaling your car, losing that sale with one of your customers, even that one failing quiz grade; they just cause a short blip in your happiness level. That's all information from scientific studies.

However, are there any proven ways to increase happiness for a longer time? Well, some people are just naturally happy; maybe it's something in their genes, they grew up in a family that was naturally happy, or they were just born with a happy disposition. In any case, this is something that is beyond your control. But what about those things that are under your control?



Scientific research has shown there are some things that can produce a longer-term increase in happiness. Some of these include:

Companionship: It's being with people, a sense of belonging. This includes spending time with both family and friends. People who spend time with others are generally happier than those who don't.

Control: Those who have less control over their life circumstances tend to feel more depressed. That means those who are in prisons or in nursing homes tend to feel more depression than those who aren't. These types of institutions have found that the more often they offer choices to inmates/patients, the better the mood of those in those settings. Even when they would offer such choices as the furniture arrangement, whether or not to participate in an activity, or the type of music to listen to, all of these helped to decrease depression.

For the average person, increasing control can mean such things as choosing to work on a hobby, or engage in a marathon movie night, or even using that McDonald's gift card, It doesn't matter what your choice is, as long as you are the one making the decision.

New Things: It's novelty; we all love new things. The benefit comes in two ways, increasing the amount of dopamine in your brain (a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happier) and it makes time seem longer. Part of the effect may actually come from the anticipation of something new, such as that party to which you were invited, or even that new pair of glasses you were getting. When you learn something new, it requires more engagement with active thinking, while that which you have already learned can be completed quickly, with minimal thought.

Exercise: The phenomenon of various forms of exercise increasing brain endorphins was discovered years ago when research was done utilizing patients who were suffering from depression. The mood of patients improved when they engaged in walk groups, and that same effect was found to occur with other forms of exercise, as well.

Sleep: This is rather an important consideration in this hurry-up world that we inhabit. So many people want to skimp on sleep. Yet, the feeling of grogginess, the decrease in alertness, drags people down and decreases energy levels to the point that it becomes very difficult to experience happiness.

Doing good: Selfless acts, giving gifts, volunteering, saying thanks, giving a smile or a compliment, help the giver as much as the recipient. It really feels good to extend yourself to another being. It helps people connect with each other (more of that feeling of belonging, combined with generosity) not only increases happiness, but adds to personal resilience.

Being with family.

So, when you aren't feeling as happy as you would like, doing one of these things can help lead to a sense of longer term happiness. And there is one other important way to add to happiness. Even when you don't feel happy, try putting on a smile and acting like you are happy. Before long, even that suggestion becomes the real thing, and you are really feeling happier.

David Pogue's book.

Thanks to this article from Business Insider and especially the thoughts of the author David Pogue: http://www.businessinsider.com/5-science-backed-habits-that-lead-to-long-term-happiness-2015-12.

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