Anything under the sun: short stories, poems, opinions, random thoughts, musings, remembrances, feature articles. Just need to write, write, write.
Maski paps (maski paano in Tagalog), mish-mash,hodge-podge... a veritable cornucopia
I love the Fall foliage so much so that I thought it deserved
its own post before the cold of Winter brings shivers to my fingers and my mind.
Autumn is smacked between the sweats and bugs of Summer and the dreary, slushy Winter. For me, Autumn is a season of glorious splendor.
Autumn shows off the vibrant colors of red, orange, and
yellow against the bright blue sky. The leaves are dancing in the wind, as the trees
hold on to their crowning glory, even as the chlorophylls, anthocyanins, and
carotenoids work behind the scene.
There is music as I walk on a carpet of
leaves. The air is crisp and smells of pumpkin-spiced latte. And I get to wear warm and cozy sweaters to
cover my belly flab and saggy arms.
The mosaic of colors brings a sense of warmth and peace, triggering my orbitofrontal cortex. Breathe in, breathe out. My serotonin-booster.
The Fall season ushers in nostalgia for traditions that bring comfort and joy. As the trees prepare to hibernate, it is also the time to rest and contemplate. To snuggle with a fuzzy blanket, a great book, and hot cocoa.
Autumn is a chance to wind down from the hectic activities of the Summer, reflect on the past, and plan for the future, even if just to mentally strengthen for the rigors of the winter season.
It is the time to give thanks for God's blessings.
"How silently they tumble down / And come to rest upon the ground / To lay a carpet, rich and rare / Beneath the trees without a care,"- Elsie N. Brady
Yesterday, I should have been happy to have a day off from work.
But the gloomy scene outside my kitchen window was not a great mood-lifter. The
hard rain was beating a staccato rhythm against the window pane, the morning
skies were cloudy, and the yellow leaves from my backyard tree were valiantly
holding off to dear life.
I turned my back from the melancholy and checked my pictures
on my phone from my recent hike in Alley Pond Park, where I basked in all of
Autumn’s glorious riot of colors. The vibrant red, yellow, and orange foliage
filled my heart. I was transported back to those magical moments where the only
sounds I heard were the leaves crunching under my feet, the chirping of the
birds, the susurration of a brook, and the soft camera clicks from my niece. I
was happy.
On my recent trip to Los Cabos, Mexico, I was one of the
instructors for the Wellness Conference organized by the 1199 Union
organization for their RN members. I taught about finding joy in our personal
and professional lives to fight nurse burnout. As the world rises out of the
chokehold of the pandemic, healthcare workers are still struggling with the
nursing shortage and other hospital inefficiencies.
There are many problems in life, and in healthcare, that may be beyond our control. There are also many ways to cope. Sometimes, the nurses are so consumed with taking care of others that they forget to care for themselves. To continue caring for
others, I urged the nurses to love themselves first. Be mindful of self-care
and mental health, and actively seek and find joy. Embrace your joy triggers,
I showed photos that make me happy. Pictures are excellent
memory prompts to reminisce about happy occasions and serve as our emotional
bubble against the troubles of this world. Numerous research has shown the
connection between pictures of beloved family members, pets, beautiful scenery,
vacations, and the reduction of cortisol and adrenaline hormones. Of course,
nothing beats the real thing of feeling the Boracay breeze on your skin, but
the picture of pedicured toes on the white sands brings on happy memories.
According to a 2021 Environmental Research and Public Health
article, even looking at pictures of nature can calm the brain's orbitofrontal
cortex, thereby reducing stress and anxiety. I surreptitiously checked the
audience's reaction when I shared my happy photos with the class. The audience
reacted as I expected. They ooh’d and aah’d and smiled at the stunning images of nature, cherry blossoms, a beautiful bench in Home Goods, coconut trees and flip-flops,
rainbows, and lavender fields.
Happy Kids/Young Ones
Sunrise and Sunsets
Beaches
Fall Foliage
BTS
During the class, I could not help but fangirl. When my favorite band BTS flashed on the screen,
a few looked confused (they must be living in a rock if they don’t know the
biggest musical group in the world), but several squealed in delight. Of course,
I went to my fellow Army and high-fived them.
So, yes, pictures can heal the mind and spirit. They are
instant mood-lifters during a gloomy, rainy day. Post pictures in your office, save them to your phones, or buy those digital photo frames to enjoy those reminders that life is wonderful.
