Hurray for Summer!
Why, you may ask, am I so excited about summertime and why am I taking you along with me on my journey? Because summertime is Mother Nature's way of allowing us to safely overdose on the strongest and most potent medicine she has to give us! I'm talking about sunlight. The abundance of sunlight during the summer months (as well as spring and fall in some areas of the nation) helps bring about such wonderful healing. There is exhaustive research proving the positive effects of sunlight on our physiology as well as our psychology.
Physiclogically speaking, sunlight helps the body produce Vitamin D. This nutrient, when in ample supply in our bodies, helps prevent depression, lethargy, and sleeplessness, as well as a craving for carbohydrate-rich foods. You'll quickly notice that these symptoms are running rampant in many people during the winter months. And psychologically speaking, a mere 30 minutes out in the sun can surely turn your frown upside down! We feel better, happier, and energized.
Summertime sunlight also motivates us to get out of the house, be active, and exercise. Even at it's most mild, exercise has a tremendous effect on mood- specifically depression and anxiety. Some evidence suggests that exercise positively affects the levels of certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise may also boost feel-good endorphins, release tension in muscles, help you sleep better and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also increases body temperature, which may have calming effects. All of these changes in your mind and body can improve such symptoms as sadness, anxiety, irritability, stress, fatigue, anger, self-doubt and hopelessness (Mayo Clinic, 2005).
So, you see- Summertime is here for your total gratification.
Take advantage!
Manuel
Posted at 2012-04-26 01:55:12
Hi I don't have cancer yet I do have anetohr big nasty' condition as I label them.I too am unable to get out/about hardly, a complete life turn round from my workaholic/adrenalin sports by myself, with my children and friends.I think of being in retirement early, your dad is nealy twice my age. It is difficult, learning to live a life the complete opposite to what we chose to live before. All because of a disease/illness.Keeping in contact with others is essential, even if its something like on here yahoo answers. It helps to make a positive outcome from our own sad situation. It reminds us the world still turns.Puzzles, reading, D.I.Y, drives out..anything except to ponder on the cancer and what may be.If he feels up to it he can get involved in charity work, too many men don't get diagnosed with prostate cancer as they (and quite understandably so) don't want to talk about their body part,maybe he can mentor others?This is my message to your dad and you his family. It is ok to be angry at the cancer for what upset this has bought. That its important to understand that him as a person, is still the same person. I like to think of my condition as living with a very annoying horrid mother-in-law.Even though your dad is tired, the body is working really really hard. So he is going to feel more tired, just imagine whats involved with the body in healthy everyday functions we don't even think about, breathing, heart beating, kidneys etc etc.I think of it as a chance to live life in a way I would never have tried before aka life in the slow lane. Its not that bad when you get used to it.I used to feel really unhappy on what I was missing out on. So I did the things I could still manage. Going to listen to live bands playing. I left early tired, in even more pain,and not being able to have a drink and dance. I soon realised I missed only the happy memories. Some things are just not the same no more, better to live with happy memories and leave the activity on a High, then keep trying to do it, until the only memory is I never want to do that again'.I wish your dad, you and your family the very best
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