Pria Acharya

The science of happiness

Gratitude, Happiness, Outlook, Philosophy Comments Off

Apr 302010

Maya being the epitomy of happiness at Easter

According to a feature on The Today Show, 50% of how happy we feel is based on genetics. We can control the other half. There is a level of hard-wiring in terms of how happy we feel, but we can work around it.

Perspective, attitude, and optimism matters. There are ways to be more optimistic and studies have shown that optimists are much happier. They appreciate what they have and don’t think about what they don’t have.

Tips on being happy

5 random acts of kindness per week
keep a gratitude journal – focusing on what you are thankful for keeps you in that positive space
forgive – it releases you from a psychological imprisonment
write someone a thank-you letter – pen to paper, not email. The process of thanking someone makes a difference.
getting enough sleep
having fun
think about what’s true for you, e.g. don’t force yourself to find all your happiness from motherhood if that is not true for you.
make your bed! There is something about the tangible act that helps people feel there is order in their lives and that they are starting their day right. I have been trying to tell my husband and son this! I am a stickler about a bed being made first thing.
strong relationships – joining a group, throwing a party, and just showing up.

Source: The Today Show, 4/30/10

Honoring our 40th Earth Day

Causes, Composting, Environment, Finding Meaning, Finding Purpose, Gardening, Recycling Comments Off

Apr 222010

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and it’s a great day to reflect on ways we can be more environmentally-conscious. Being conscious of my actions on the environment is a daily part of my life. Ways that I maintain this consciousness on a regular basis include recycling and being a vegetarian.

I have been a vegetarian my entire life. My diet and lifestyle began as a result of being from a vegetarian Indian family. I’m glad I was raised that way as it seems much easier to just remain in the lifestyle rather than switching. I chose to give my kids that gift by raising them vegetarian.

As a teenager, I researched vegetarianism and decided the lifestyle made sense to me at numerous levels, including environmental. I was interviewed by the Vegetarian Times regarding my thoughts and beliefs. I chose vegetarianism as my topic for Original Oratory in debate class competitions in high school. I memorized the speech overnight and competed the next day with veterans. I ended up being a quarter-finalist in the state of NC. Judges told me that the speech opened their eyes and they would consider the diet. I think the part of my speech that stood out the most for them was regarding the composition of hot dogs.

As an adult, I’m devoted to recycling. My husband might call me somewhat of a hoarder at times because I don’t like to waste anything. I was the first in my neighborhood to request an extra green bin from my town to hold my recycling and had my second regular black bin picked up (never need it). In my family, we are trained to evaluate every piece of trash and determine if it goes into our recycling bin or regular trash bin. This includes my preteen son.

I rarely use paper towels, preferring dish cloths for wiping up spills. We regularly use cloth napkins at meals. We use energy-efficient bulbs throughout the house along with any appliance purchases. Left-over food is stored for future meals or given to our dogs. Dogs can help a lot with recycling and preventing waste. We make sure our dishwasher and washing machine is completely full before running it. I remind my husband at least a few times a week to stop idling when I’m in the car with him.

We also compost. We have a compost bin in our yard and are trying to perfect the art and science of composting. Next to our trash and recycling containers in my kitchen pantry, we also have a compost container. In there we put our vegetable scraps and anything else that can be composted, like dryer lint. My husband and I debate somewhat the ingredients that will result in perfect compost. It is a shared interest and goes perfectly with my gardening interest. I like that not only am I not wasting and creating more junk for landfills, but helping my yard and garden out at the same time.

At my boutique, I offer environmentally-conscious fabric gift bags. They are reusable, affordable, and save trees by replacing paper.

Fabric gift bags at Komal Style Boutique

What are ways that you honor the Earth in your life?

Talking deeply, being happier

Attitude, Communication, Finding Meaning, Happiness Comments Off

Apr 212010

It has been reported recently in the New York Times that those who talk deeply are happier. I’ve assumed this at some level and have always had a desire to engage deeply in conversations. Blogging about finding balance and meaning is my way of talking deeply (and not) to anyone willing to read my muses.

Finding others with such an interest is not very common, particularly in the dating scene I experienced. Small talk can get boring fast if it doesn’t lead to more depth. To engage in deep conversations, people have to be willing to expose themselves at some level.

The article states that “substantive conversation seemed to hold the key to happiness for two main reasons:

human beings are driven to find and create meaning in their lives
we are social animals who want and need to connect with other people.

By engaging in meaningful conversations, we manage to impose meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world. And interpersonally, as you find this meaning, you bond with your interactive partner, and we know that interpersonal connection and integration is a core fundamental foundation of happiness.”

If talking deeply has not been your thing, you can experiment by trying to do some more every day and see how you feel, perhaps with your significant other. You may find that you two become more intimate. If you are male, I can almost assure you of it as a female. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a female friend complain that her mate spoke too deeply with her.

Source: New York Times

First signs of Spring

Finding balance, Gardening Comments Off

Apr 142010

Mint in March

It’s been exciting seeing signs of Spring and being able to get started on the gardening season. I was hopeful when I saw a few new mint leaves and my bulbs start to peek out. My crocuses have been showing off their lovely purple colors in the sun. How uplifting! Only in Colorado can you have snow on the ground in the morning and be able to garden in the afternoon as I have been able to do last month.

Crocus in March

Here in Denver, we’ve been blessed to have a few days since March from the 50s to even 70. We were even able to bathe our dogs. One day, the temperature would be in the high 60s and then we would have a storm coming in the following day dumping about 7 inches of snow. That means Denverites have been desperately trying to make use of any pleasant weather to get out and perhaps tend to their yards as I have tried to do.

I have also been fortunate that my 1 year-old has been cooperating with me by peacefully playing on a blanket near me outside while I squeezed in some gardening. I was able to plant spinach and Asian radish. We’ll see how it goes! Last year, I was some-what successful with the spinach. I was able to use some before the insects got to it.

My suburban garden

Finding balance, Gardening Comments Off

Apr 132010

My beloved irisis that beckon Spring

Gardening has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been fascinated by things growing and nurturing them. It must have to do with having a nurturing quality that maybe all gardening enthusiasts share.

Gardening Joys

It’s exciting and rewarding to nurture something to its full potential and enjoy the results, whether in appearance and aroma as with flowers or by enjoying its taste with vegetables. There is the added sense of productivity one gets with successfully growing something edible that they can enjoy and share with family and friends. It may even be a cost-saving measure, particularly in today’s economic climate. We are reminded of victory gardens and feel a sense of empowerment in being able to grow our own food. We not only save money (not always!); we can also appreciate knowing that our family is eating something fresh and possibly pesticide-free.

My Gardening Experience

I am not quite an expert gardener. I just enjoy getting my hands dirty and am very interested in learning all I can and continuously improving my gardening experience and harvest. My family can attest to my many successes and failures. Last year, I wanted to get in sunflowers before my daughter was born. They are symbolic to the meaning of her middle name and I just thought they would be colorful.

Maya enjoying her first Spring May 2009

Gardening Maintenance

Well, having a child doesn’t allow a whole lot of time to get out there and maintain one’s garden. So there were times I probably needed to pull and transfer some rogue sunflower seedlings before they got overgrown. I wasn’t able to do it and at times it seemed we were being invaded by sunflowers. Birds ate some sunflower seeds which they excreted and planted sunflowers in areas I had not intended.

By August, many were too big (over six feet) to try to move. By Fall, some had to be hacked down. I wanted my husband to at least try to cut some so they could be used as cut flowers. So I made a note to self for this year; to not allow an invasion of sunflowers.

Maya and Me August 8, 2009 - when she turned 6 months

Successes and Failures

The sunflowers from last year were a success and failure. My attempt to grow tomatoes were a failure. I bought a few plants that grew but didn’t yield much or ***gasp***I didn’t get to in time and they got over-ripe and fell. The spinach was kind of successful – got some to use, but a lot was enjoyed by insects.

I got ambitious with some vegetables. A broccoli plant turned into a big flowering weed. Cauliflower plants got out of control, where I didn’t even see some heads, which got over-ripe and had to be composted. An artichoke plant grew and promptly died at the first sign of drought in July. The pepper plants produced a little but didn’t quite make it. All of these experiments were on a side plot (behind me in the picture below) that I newly created by removing lawn and rock. I used a little amendment, but could probably use a lot more.

This year, I am excited about the beginning of gardening season and am starting to dream about what I want to plant. Probably the big lesson from last year I should keep in mind is to not get too ambitious, so I don’t end up with a jungle that overwhelms me! Still, I will allow for some sense of gardening adventure.

I look forward to sharing my gardening adventures, large and small. Maybe there will be lessons for all of us. Hopefully, you will learn from my mistakes so you can enjoy more gardening successes in your gardening adventure. Good luck, and happy gardening!

In the back of our suburban home 8.09

Top foods for Spring

Fitness Comments Off

Apr 122010

These food choices can improve your body in and out.

Great foods for your:

liver: dandelions – in salad or as tea – increases bile production
kidney: ginger – helps remove toxins, also an anti-inflammatory
brain: blueberries – lots of antioxidants
heart – flax seed: omega 3 fatty acids and protein
skin: avocado – for a youthful glow
eyes: spinach
hair: broccoli – helps production of sebum, making our hair glossy
teeth: celery – cleans teeth fights bad breath
sinus issues: jalapeno
mood booster: sunshine (and for vitamin D)

Stay away from processed food and keep it colorful!

Source: The Doctors

Learning to live balanced – literally

Finding balance, Fitness Comments Off

Apr 072010

Goodbye slip-on heeled shoes!

We all have to learn to keep living our lives as balanced as we can. Women and Moms in particular can get caught up in multi-tasking and a juggling act that takes over our lives at our expense. While we may be aware of needing to learn to slow down to maintain balance in our lives in general, we may not think of being balanced in a literal sense. I was not thinking about it when I lost balance on a step, fell, and fractured a hand, requiring surgery.

Now I am recovering and going through challenging physical therapy. The experience has made me more aware of safety. I would not be in this situation if I had taken off my slip-on heels before going down the steep steps to the basement or chosen different shoes. Since my accident, I’ve been drawn to observing the shoes women are wearing. I imagine that as the weather gets warmer, more heels will be worn.

I’ve debated what to do with the shoes I fell in. I thought I might keep them and just be more careful – they were my favorite pair, a treat from Nordstrom. I looked them over and noticed they were somewhat worn and realized I’d never really looked at how worn my dress shoes are getting. I bet this is common for women – we normally have many pairs that we occasionally wear and don’t think we are wearing them out. We certainly wouldn’t think of a potential safety concern from a worn heel. Mine ended up with some ridges that got caught on Berber carpeted stairs.

I decided to donate my shoes and am now giving more thought to the shoes I plan to wear in the future. I’ve heard of vague concerns regarding heels being damaging and decided to do some research. I came across a Washington Post Article with diagrams showing the effect of heels on the body. Not surprisingly, there is nothing positive. For myself, I am planning on steering away from heels. Perhaps what I will gain from literally losing my balance and getting injured is healthier feet and legs for the long-term.

Adjusting to the unexpected

Attitude, Finding balance, Outlook Comments Off

Apr 012010

My left hand post-surgery

I hadn’t expected to be nursing a fractured hand at the beginning of April, along with related lifestyle changes. This includes not driving. Today marks the two-week anniversary of my fall fracturing my hand and also of not driving. I probably haven’t driven for longer but it was good to know that I could. I have also had to have help doing some basic things like opening a jar and anything requiring two hands. Most significantly, I’ve had to have help caring for Maya.

For the first week following the accident, I leaned on Colin during his Spring break. He maintained a good attitude while helping to carry her up and down the stairs, in and out of her high chair and even during diaper changes. He held her down with his eyes closed and holding his breath while I used my right hand for the dirty work. Although it wasn’t an ideal Spring break for him, it was probably healthy for him to be needed and to be helpful to his old lady! I have to get him trained for when I’m older. 😉

This past week, we have been able to utilize the assistance of a 23 year-old neighbor who has not been working. It’s been a good match since she has been able to make some money while we are getting some flexible help. As an added bonus, we got to know of some general babysitting assistance for when we are ready to go date. We may end up with a choice of four sitters, whereas two weeks ago, we knew of no one in the area. We had canceled potentially seeing our favorite singer, Michael Buble, perform as a result.

Over-all, I am trying to take each day as it comes and stay occupied with my interests along with my family responsibilities. I added to my writing tasks right after the fall, by joining Examiner among other projects. I don’t want to focus on the setback with my hand. I want to focus on all that I have and on moving forward. I will do what I can with one hand and will just be more efficient with two.

Tomorrow, it will be one week since my surgery and I will be meeting with my surgeon. I expect that my bandage will be removed and then I imagine throwing up upon looking at the state of my hand. Right before the surgery, he told me he would use a plate instead of pins for my broken metacarpals and that it does not need to be taken out and that it would be noticeable. He also said he would use cadaver bone for the parts where my bone turned to powder. He said that although the cadaver bone has been tested, it could still have HIV. He said the cut area of the hand would protrude and then go down. Aggghhhh! I was hearing all this after being doped up and just pictured a monstrous hand after the surgery and that is what I’m imagining I’ll see tomorrow…

Top 3 Alternative Secrets to Adopt

Alternative Medicine, Fitness Comments Off

Mar 222010

The top 3 alternative secrets to adopt as per the top 3 pioneers of alternative medicine are:

A Cleanse – once or twice a year. Give your body a chance to detox f0r 21 days to reboot. Give up: sugar, alcohol, caffeine, gluten, and animal products. There is plenty left, such as beans, legumes, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids – important for cardiovascular disease, joint health, and infant brain development.
Meditation – A simple process: have your feet on the ground, hands open on your lap, close your eyes, watch your breath, be aware of your body, don’t have expectations or worry about noises or thoughts, surrender to the moment.

Source: Dr.Oz

How Do You Find Balance?

Finding balance, How to find balance, Self-Care 7 Responses »

Mar 212010

Ann Curry from the Today show recently had a segment asking this question and sharing how she finds balance. When her Dr. asked the question of her, she responded that she found balance through her children and job. He told her that this would not be good enough, that we would all live more fulfilled and maybe longer lives if we can find our passions.

She said for her, that was taking pictures wherever she went. I can certainly relate to her interest and the concept that “photos capture moments and stop time. They immediately say something about people, places and events.” A friend of hers mentioned how it was a meditation focusing on everything around you. Nice!

Photography brings me balance by allowing me to capture moments I can remember later. As the family photographer, it connects me more to them. I enjoyed studying black and white photography in college and look forward to developing the interest more.

Other every-day ways I find balance include cooking, cleaning (immediate sense of achievement!), organizing (helps me see more clearly), yard work (being outside, burning calories), and humor (watching a funny show like SNL with Porter).

The segment on the Today show suggested we all spend a day a week on what we love. What a nice concept! What would you do if you could take a day a week to spend on your interest? Maybe we could start with at least a few minutes a day and build from there…

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