Tag: dr stephanie smith

The Picture of Happiness – Dance Jam

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May is The Picture of Happiness month on Dr. Stephanie.

Today’s guest is Sarah Zook.  She says:

Pure happiness is sweat, laughter, loud music and choreography. I teach a class called Dance Jam three times a week at Life Time Fitness. We have dancers, stay at home moms, working women, men, wallflowers, all ages – all young at heart. Whether or not they think they’re the worst dancer or best dancer, it never matters. We just come to have fun, and burning lots of calories is the added bonus. You can be whoever you want in a Dance Jam. Dance Jam doesn’t care, Dance Jam helps you let down your hair!

Sweat + music + choreography = happiness for trainer Sarah Zook

Sweat + music + choreography = happiness for trainer Sarah Zook

Here's me at at "Wear your wedding dress bunco party" where we didn't play a lick of Bunco. Just more like wear your wedding dress because it's fabulous. I am a group fitness instructor and personal trainer at Life Time Fitness. I've been fitness teaching and training since 1997 and love seeing people get stronger, more fit, become empowered inside their bodies and be able to have a good time while doing it.

This is Sarah Zook at at “Wear Your Wedding Dress Bunco Party” where she didn’t play a lick of Bunco – but looked fabulous.  She’s a group fitness instructor and personal trainer at Life Time Fitness. She’s been teaching fitness and training since 1997 and loves seeing people get stronger, more fit, and more empowered about their bodies -  and to be able to have a good time while doing it.

The Picture of Happiness – Fresh Air and Hard Work

It’s The Picture of Happiness Month!

Today’s guest is Pam Mellskog, she says:

Working with my Dad on the farm in Galena, Ill., where I grew up makes me happy because it gives me a practical way to thank him and my Mom for all the ways they have loved and helped me over the years.

I shot this photo on April 23, 2006, during my first visit back home to the Midwest from Colorado after becoming a new parent that February with the birth of my son, Carl.

I took off my gloves and took a break from repairing a barbed wire fence in the field with Dad that afternoon to shoot this photo and others — reminders of the countless afternoons we have spent working together in the fresh air since I was a kid.

Fresh air + childhood memories + giving parents = happiness for Pam Mellskog

Fresh air + childhood memories + giving parents = happiness for Pam Mellskog

Pam Mellskog has reported for Longmont’s newspaper, the Times-Call, since 2001. In 2008, she ventured into writing in the first person. She posts her “Mommy Musings” parenting blog on the newspaper’s website at http://mellskog.pmpblogs.com/. Between the lines, readers may sense how the bedlam her three young boys bring to family life simultaneously shreds her nerves and blesses her to the core. For this reason, she likens childrearing to breadmaking. However tedious the kneading, however long the rise time, nothing satisfies her yen for wholesome living more than smelling bread baking, buttering it hot out of the oven and sharing it around.

Pam Mellskog has reported for Longmont, Colorado’s newspaper, the Times-Call, since 2001. In 2008, she ventured into writing in the first person. She posts her “Mommy Musings” parenting blog on the newspaper’s website.
Between the lines, readers may sense how the bedlam her three young boys bring to family life simultaneously shreds her nerves and blesses her to the core. For this reason, she likens childrearing to breadmaking. However tedious the kneading, however long the rise time, nothing satisfies her yen for wholesome living more than smelling bread baking, buttering it hot out of the oven and sharing it around.

The Picture of Happiness – Cookies

It’s The Picture of Happiness Month!

Today’s guest is Megan Schimmelpfennig, she says:

No food brings happiness to me like a warm chocolate chip cookie!  So when we discovered our favorite restaurant while living in Arizona, I fell in love when I first tried their pizza cookie dessert… a half-pound of a half-baked chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla bean ice cream. YUM.  Since we have not found anything that compares here in Colorado, I’ve learned to make them at home and I may or may not make them on a weekly basis!

gooey cookie dough + ice cream = happiness

gooey cookie dough + ice cream = happiness

Megan lives in Erie with her husband and three kiddos and is excited to be coordinating her church's very first MOPS group this year. In her 'spare' time she runs her online children's boutique, Trendy Tots ~n~ Polka Dots (trendytotsnpolkadots.com) and enjoys writing on her blog, Cherishing Motherhood through Faith, Friendship & Happy Hour (faithfriendshipandhappyhour.blogspot.com).

Megan lives in Colorado with her husband and three kiddos, and is excited to be coordinating her church’s very first MOPS group this year. In her ‘spare’ time she coaches her daughter’s basketball team, runs an online children’s boutique, Trendy Tots ~n~ Polka Dots and enjoys writing on her blog, Cherishing Motherhood through Faith, Friendship & Happy Hour.

The Picture of Happiness – Photo Therapy

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It’s The Picture of Happiness Month!

Today’s guest is Dr. Deborah Serani.  She says:

I love using photos to help give a lift to my mood. In fact, I call the experience “Antidepressant Photo Therapy.” I have hundreds collected that make me happy, but here’s the one I keep as a screensaver.  This beautiful black kitty makes me smile because he totally kicks ordinary curbside dwelling up a notch with his top hat.

Cat + Top Hat + Good Photographer = Happiness for Dr. Deb Serani

Cat + Top Hat + Good Photographer = Happiness for Dr. Deb Serani

 

Dr. Deborah Serani is an award winning author and psychologist. She spends her time writing about depression and trauma and has made finding positivity in life her motto.

Dr. Deborah Serani is an award winning author and psychologist. She spends her time writing about depression and trauma and has made finding positivity in life her motto.

The Picture of Happiness – My Apple Tree

It’s The Picture of Happiness Month here on Dr. Stephanie.

Today’s guest is Dr. Kaycie Rosen Grigel.  She says:

Our apple tree blooming in spring is a sweet reminder of my daughter’s birth and of the fruits yet to come.

 

For Dr. Kaycie Rosen Grigel, Springtime + Apple Trees = Happiness

For Dr. Kaycie Rosen Grigel, Springtime + Apple Trees = Happiness

 

Dr Kaycie Rosen Grigel owns the Golden Naturopathic Clinic, LLC in Golden, Colorado. She specializes in hormone balancing, digestive disorders, immunity, and head and neck pain. She loves gardening and cooking and can often be found having outdoor adventures with her husband, two daughters, and dog Sultana.

Dr Kaycie Rosen Grigel owns the Golden Naturopathic Clinic, LLC in Golden, Colorado. She specializes in hormone balancing, digestive disorders, immunity, and head and neck pain. She loves gardening and cooking and can often be found having outdoor adventures with her husband, two daughters, and dog Sultana.

The Picture of Happiness – My Container Garden

It’s The Picture of Happiness Month here on Dr. Stephanie.  To find about more about the event, click here.

Today’s guest is Angel Brownawell. She says:

Happiness is my container garden of vegetables and herbs. My favorite day of the year is when I trust that spring is finally here, and I can play in the dirt and make things grow.

 

Spring + Container Garden = Happiness

Spring + Container Garden = Happiness

 

Angel Brownawell is an animal-lover who lives outside of Washington, D.C. She is the Integrated Media Manager at the American Psychological Association.

Angel Brownawell is an animal-lover who lives outside of Washington, D.C. When she is not fostering dogs, gardening or watching Glee, she is the Integrated Media Manager at the American Psychological Association.

The Picture of Happiness

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What is happiness?

Is it the absence of sadness? The presence of contentment? Freedom from mental illness?

When I was in graduate school over a decade ago, I had a professor who frequently said:

Happiness is not a hot dog

I have pondered the meaning of that statement ever since.  Does it mean that hot dogs really aren’t that delicious? That the pleasure you get from eating a hot dog isn’t real happiness? That happiness cannot be achieved in the consumption of material things?  It remains a mystery.

In the interest of unraveling that mystery, I am dedicating the month of May to learning more about happiness. I have invited colleagues, friends and family to contribute pictures of what makes them happy – even if the happiness gained is only momentary.  They couldn’t send pictures of kids, pets or lovers – that’s too easy! But had to come up with other things that made them glow with pleasure.  I can’t wait to see what they come up with!

In the meantime I will be looking for the one thing that makes me the happiest.  Here are a couple runner – ups:

I took this photo while at the top of a ladder and holding the camera over my head. Is there anything happier than robin's eggs?

I took this photo while at the top of a ladder and holding the camera over my head. Is there anything happier than robin’s eggs?

The are few things that make me happier than paddling a canoe or kayak.

The are few things that make me happier than paddling a canoe or kayak.

Weddings: The bring me happiness. So do white shoes, good photography and lace

Weddings bring me happiness. So do TOMS shoes, good photography and the color white.

Technology and Mental Health

I am excited to share the footage of the television program I was a part of earlier this week: Studio 12 What’s New in High Tech.  I had a great time hearing from Denver Post writer Andy Vuong and Google Glass expert Rob Rusher about all the cool new gadgets available.  (Who knew you you could program your sprinkler from your phone?)  I provided some insights into how technology affects our mental health, including our social and emotional well-being.

Host Tamara Banks was smart, warm and delightful – I felt right at home in the studio!

Click on the photo below to watch the segment (caution: it’s a hour long)!

Thanks for having me Colorado Public Television – I hope I get to come back soon!

Mad at Your Spouse? Eat An Apple

San Fran 2009 115

Did you see this new study recently published by PNAS?  The authors found that when couples had lower blood sugar, they were more apt to be aggressive.  The “takeaway” of the study, according to CNN’s The Chart, was that couples should have tough conversations either during or after dinner when their blood sugar levels are higher, and avoid conflict when they are hungry.

I couldn’t agree more.  While I am no couples expert (in fact, I rarely work with couples in therapy – it’s just too complicated!) I have always believed that hunger and fatigue are two of the major contributors to fights within romantic relationships.

You know that saying: “Never go to bed angry!” I couldn’t disagree more.  We SHOULD go to bed angry, because chances are we will wake up feeling more rested and less angry than we were the night before – decreasing the chances of a nasty fight.  And it sounds like we should also add “have a snack” to our list of strategies for getting along with our partners.  Sounds easy enough to me!

When’s dinner?

Boston Marathon: Managing the Memories

The comfort dogs rest in Boston, April 2013. (Courtesy Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs)

The comfort dogs rest in Boston, April 2013. (Courtesy Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs)

People around the world will turn their eyes to Boston on Monday for the first anniversary of the marathon bombing.  This will obviously be a difficult time for those who were directly affected by the attacks; and even those of us who have no connection to Boston or the running community may find ourselves feeling sad, anxious or angry next week.

If you do find yourself struggling in the days ahead, check out some of the resources below for tips and ideas about how to cope in healthy ways:

The Boston Marathon Attacks and Coping with Traumatic Events – via Dr. Stephanie

Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting – Via APA Help Center

Psychologists Prepare to Provide Support at Boston Marathon – via APA Practice Central

Comfort dogs are returning to Boston for marathon weekend – via Yahoo!

Helping People After the Unthinkable – Via APA Monitor