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Studies have shown that expressing gratitude improves physical and mental health, reduces aggression, helps you sleep better, and fosters closer relationships with others. Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has demonstrated through various studies that gratitude effectively increases happiness.
Read moreOne of the issues about the pandemic is clear: Mental health has suffered with every demographic.
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My beautiful little piece of western Loudoun needs attention, but I am weary of all the grass mowing and putting down fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides to grow it more so that I can mow more. It’s not rational, because lawns are not very good for the environment.
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The 2000 election between George Bush and Al Gore, and the wild vote recount that followed, hold important lessons for the 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, lessons grounded in the Constitution.
Read more“A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.” This is the guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control related to trick-or-treating safety this year. The CDC goes on to label traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating as a “higher risk” activity for potential transmission of COVID-19.
Read moreI wish I had some good news this October. Since we are still in the midst of this distance learning, low socialization era, good news is hard to find. Since this whole time period is also new to us, we don’t have a frame of reference to guide them. We can’t say: “I remember when I was cooped up in my house for seven months.” This is uncharted territory for us and our kids.
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This is a story of transformation—first, of a house, then of the land on which it stands, and then of us, the “transformers.”
Read moreWhen this period in history is over, future generations will ask us what it was like to live through quarantines, lockdown and social distancing. Most of us will quickly forget (in fact, many of us cannot wait to forget). Capturing our thoughts and feelings in a journal not only records rich details about what life is like during this historical time, but the mere act of writing could make us healthier in the process.
Read moreWe, as parents, are in uncharted territory with distance learning. Since our generation has never experienced learning in this way, we are making it up as we go along. Fortunately, learning experts have begun seeing certain trends and have been developing suggestions on how to make the best of our new situation. In this month’s column, I will share some tips and ideas that will ease some of the stress and exhaustion of our new learning environment.
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September is Suicide Awareness Month, with Sept. 6-12 designated as National Suicide Awareness Week. And this year it’s more important
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