Nature Music Video Helps People Learn Meditation!

Let The Peace Of Nature Become Part Of Your Life!

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

This morning Long's Peak had a mantle of white but the warm morning sun was a reminder that winter's here...but spring is coming!

To celebrate that, I've added a video, "Spring Comes To The Mountains," as an attachment at the end of this article.  Just click the attachments link to get to it, or go to the Free Stuff Tab above and to the left, and click that, and it will be on the list of attachments to that article, or click this link: http://www.gooddayjournal.com/freestuff

The video features my wildlife photography and music by jazz great Mark Sloniker, from right here in Fort

Collins.  For more of his music see this link: http://marksloniker.com/  Mark is a great fan of meditation and mindfulness, I'll vouch for that!  He's taught me a lot about that.

What is the advantage of this video?

You can download it to your computer and use it to practice meditation.  Just listen and look at it. Don't add anything to your experience by using words to think about it.  Life would be alot less stressful if we could take some "breaks" during the day to do just this.  Be in the moment.   Yes we have to think about what we are doing during the day, but we don't have to do that all day, without stop, relentlessly burning ourselves out.

It is important to slow down, pace yourself, and take breaks periodically throught the day, so you can stay on top of your game, whether your at work or at school or at home!

With this, or other videos, or instrumental music or nature sound audio files like "The Power Of Spring" audio file on the free stuff page, you can practice this mindfulness training too.

Just look and listen.  Don't add a layer of emotionality to what you are experiencing.  Keep the words out of your head.  Just let the sights and sounds wash over you.  You've let the peace of nature come into your mind.

Have a good day!

"The Power Over Stress" Teaches Stress Managment

Strategies That Help Fight Negative Thinking

It's Free On The Free Stuff Page That Is Getting More Than 200 Page Hits Per Day!

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

I checked the hit count on The Free Stuff Page this morning.  We got 10 inches of snow, I had several patients who couldn't make their visit, so I visited my web site...and surprise!  I saw The Free Stuff page got 2,449 page hits in the past 90 days.  Wow, and the hits come from people all over the world.  In the past, I've seen hits come from Europe, England, and countries all over the world including Brazil, as well as from all over the US. 

One item people check out there is the free book, "The Power Over Stress."  It is Book 1 in the list of attachments at the free stuff page at this link:http://www.gooddayjournal.com/freestuff

I thought I'd review that little book so people can know a little more about it.

Positive thinking is very weak, actually. The book is about optimism. When people are optimistic they hope for the best...and anticipate the worst and are ready for it, and ready to learn from it. That is different than just, simply, "hoping for the best."

Where I grew up, in North Dakota, people were often positive thinkers or pessimists.  The positive thinkers had read, sometimes, The Power Of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale.  That is a good book, and teaches people to also anticipate problems, with rational thinking and prayer.  I'm all for that.

But as a teen I'd lapsed into being pessimistic.  I looked at problems as being bigger than me, so I didn't believe in myself.

Then I met John Curtis.  He was my camp director at 15, a perfect gentleman and head of 20 staff members at Metigoshe Scout Camp.  And an optimist by nature.  Just the antidote for my pessimism.

That is where this book picks up.  I wrote it after taking pictures around the Scout Camp.  I went back to visit the camp with Professor Curtis and remenisce about the "good old days", and so I included pictures from that trip in the book.

I owe so much to the good professor!  I hope those who read the book get something out of it and learn that special kind of magic that optimistic thinking has for those who practice it.

(Here is a picture of me at my office on a warmer day)

HJ

Health Club Membership For Weight Loss

Full Spectrum Lamp

And Other Medical Care Services Prescribed By A Doctor Can Be A Possible Tax Write OFF!

Lower the cost of taking care of yourself!

by Harris Jensen, MD
Editor, Good Day Journal

Dogs, Cats and Horses Can Be Used To Heal Us!

Here's How People Use Our Animal Companions To Heal Illnesses All Over The World!

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

Like a few psychiatrists, and many psychologists, I have a dog in the

of

fice.  They are wonderful!  Kind, caring, friendly, devoted.  A fabulous addition to create a warm and inviting, and yes, therapeutic office environment.

Just to pet a dog can soothe anxious nerves, lower blood pressure, help a person turn thoughts away from problems and onto finding solutions.

That's right!  A warm and friendly dog with a wagging tail can help a person change their thoughts and behaviors to change their feelings!  That is the essence of cognitive behavior therapy, that changing cognitions (thoughts) and behavior (actions) can over time change emotions.

Wikipedia has a great article summarizing the world wide history of animals being used this way to better our lives.  Here is the link to that article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal-assisted_therapy

Why are animals so helpful? 

They in part have a need to please those they've bonded to.  It helps they can read our body language too, seeing our level of distress from our facial expressions, tone of voice, and some dogs can even understand words on the level of a 1 or two year old child.  They can even smell odors we give off when we are sad or anxious.  Isn't that amazing.

They also have a need to comfort members of their family.

Commonly in my office, a patient will come in the front door and my black or brown lab will greet them at the door!  I haven't taught them this, they just figured it out on their own.  That I find amazing.  Once a patient checks in with Becky, and sit down to read some magazine in the waiting area, the dog greets them again.

Charley, our chocolate lab, he's five years old, will sit with head held up and proud, just the right distace away so he can be petted.  They he will show his total love for all the adoration showered on him.  He'll squit his eyes in happiness, raise his nose, scoot closer to you for more petting.  He's really loving this affection and hoping you are too!

Elsker, our black lab, now 11 years old, will sit near the patient and gets some petting, then give someone a kiss and lay at their feet to warm them...emotionally.  Both Charley and Elsker can lay at your feet as if to show you that you are accepted here, appreciated, included...and the dog wants to be with you.

For some, Charley and Elsker will lean against you.  That is another expression of acceptance, only deeper.  Yes, our labs are "leaners."

Charley and Elsker can lean their heads onto your lap or against your leg or hand, Elsker (pronounced El Ska, which is "Friend" in Norwegian...she was born on May 17, Norwegian Independence Day) will also look into your eyes to emphasize her effort to accept you and feel close to you, but Charley is a male, eye contact can be seen as a display for dominance so he avoids that out of respect for you.  What does leaning their head hard on you mean?  It means they understand you are "family."

No wonder dogs are such great comforters.  They are masters at the art of comforting and soothing others!  Hurray for our animal companions.  I've had them coming to my office for 11 years now.  Or in Dog Years, that would be 77 years I guess.  What great members of our office they are!

Simple Savings Card Cuts Costs On Medication!

Big Savings For Uninsured People!

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

Discount cards are cutting expenses in a big way for people on expensive medications!

The Key is...you have to know what are the good cards and you may have to hunt for a pharmacy that will accept the discount card.  But some people are saving THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR with the help of these discount cards!  This is great news for thousands of people who find that the best medication for them ends up costing hundreds of dollars per month.

Here is an example of making a discount card REALLY WORK.

A woman recently went to her pharmacy and the bill for her clonazepam medication was $150.  With the Simple Savings Card, presented to the pharmacist, it didn't do anything to the bill.  She went to a different pharmacy and got the medication for about $50, a savings of over $100.

For more on the card and the money it can save you, go to this link

http://www.simplesavingscard.com/HowItWorks

You can google search "prescription discount cards" and see what you get.

One reader gave these links for help on finding good discount cards:

http://www.agelity.com/agelity/
http://www.superrxcard.com/
http://www.benefithouse.com/free_prescription_card/default.html

Another recent problem has been, if you can afford a medication, sometimes the pharmacies have run out of a supply of the medication.  This has become a problem with adderall and ritalin in recent months.

Here's another reader's feedback on that issue:

" I have found as far as adderall and ritalin and dexedrine are concerned--
that pharmacies that are not so popular like K-mart, Target, Good Day
Pharmacy are most likely to have prescribed strengths patients need of these
particular medications."

Again, thanks to all you readers out there for your feedback on what you are doing to make your life better.  These little tips and tricks you send to me, I turn around and write an article about them, and your information goes out to the thousands of people who see my web site every year!  This web site gets about 100,000 page hits per year, thanks to readers like you!  Power to the internet!

HJ

Got questions on your health?

Ask the National Library of Medicine!

Medline Plus gives great summaries of science and medical information for the public

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

What herbal medicines are useful?  What is the best way to treat depression or bipolar?  What can be done to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease?

Science informs us a whole lot more than expert opinions on questions like these...but who has the time to read all those scientific studies?

This herbal preparation can help onset of sleep

A plant root can really heal some people's insomnia!

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

I've been hearing from people for 15 years that valerian root pills, taken one to several hours before sleep, helped them get to sleep and stay asleep.

Now there's some science to that.

The Herbal Medicine Physician Desk Reference confirms studies show some people have less anxiety and better sleep with this medication. 

A healthy lifestyle means you'll live longer and healthier!

Sixty percent lower rates of cancer and heart disease with a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Katz says

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

See Dr. Katz web site for more details!

http://www.davidkatzmd.com/

HJ

Bird songs identified on sound track of Rocky Mountain River!

Many thanks to the birders at Cornell Lab Of Ornithology and graduate student Matt Young!

Learn to identify bird songs with this sound track and links to Cornell Lab web site!

"Backyard Birdsong Guide" quite helpful in identifying  birds by sound!

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

Bird songs and stream sounds help heal the soul!

Free sound track included in this article!  Helps stress managment!

Great for background sounds for studying too for college students!

by Harris Jensen, MD

Editor, Good Day Journal

I recorded in stereo the wonderful sounds of a mountain creek in spring, along with these singing birds, back in May, 2009.  I used a stereo microphone with a Sony voice recorder, edited the works in Garage Band on my Mac.