Quote to ponder under the apple tree

. . .There's not a hell of a lot I can do about being short.
You just gotta run with it.
~ Michael J. Fox


Resources to bite into

1. Celebrating all things short

In honor of the end of the shortest month of the year, the current Brain Aerobics Weekly focuses on all things short. Thomas T. Samaras and his colleagues at Reventropy Associates (See http://www.shortsupport.org/Research/samaras.html) have spent 30 years finding advantages in short people, including faster reaction times, greater ability to accelerate body movements, stronger muscles in proportion to body weight, greater endurance and the ability to rotate the body faster. They are also less likely to break bones in falling. You may have noticed that in both summer and winter Olympics, short gymnasts, divers, skiers, figure skaters, soccer players, and long distance runners, often have the tallest spot on the podium. (Pictured: snowboarder Shaun White, a relatively tall 5’8”)

2. Short naps

The current Brain Aerobics Weekly also notes these benefits from taking short naps (excerpted from http://ririanproject.com/2007/09/05/10-benefits-of-power-napping-and-how-to-do-it/):
1. Lower stress levels
2. Increased alertness, productivity and creativity
3. Improved memory, learning and cognitive functioning
4. Good for the heart, hormonal maintenance and cell repair
5. Get motivated to exercise
6. Protect yourself from sleepiness (especially if you must be up late at night)
Dr. Sara Mednick wrote Take a Nap! Change Your Life. (To order, click here.)

3. A short thought: Open that bottle

The last Saturday in February (This year the 27th) is always “Open That Bottle Night,” a time to stop postponing indulgence. Non-drinkers can make it a “Have that Hot Fudge Sundae Night” or whatever other extravagance they choose. We save too much for non-existent special occasions instead of making special occasions out of ordinary events. My mother tried to teach me this wisdom, which is my advice to you: Don’t postpone joy.


Tips/ideas/insights to savor

The current Brain Aerobics Weekly also highlights the recommendations of celebrities from the regular Time Magazine feature “Short Lists.” Remember the game in which you were asked if you could take just one book to a deserted island, what would it be? (Smart alecks always answered, The Art of Shipbuilding.) The Time feature asks people to name a broader list of favorites: Not only books, but movies, artists, musicians, websites, and a few celebrities include pastimes (Jerry Seinfeld: walks through Central Park) and foods (Nora Ephron: frozen custard at the Shake Shack). Here are a few samples:
• Book: Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Confessions of a Map Dealer by Paul Micou, plus his seven other books are “eight of the funniest novels I’ve ever read” she says.
• Musicians: Randy Jackson: “Here are two artists you need to be aware of: The Rev. Smokie Norful, a brilliantly talented gospel artist and the Paper Tongues, a terrific new rock band.”
• Movie: Marcia Gay Harden: “Frozen River – . . .fell in love with the beyond-powerful performances . . .”
• Artist: Jennifer Beals: “I swooned in the presence of Alexandra Hedison’s photographs of landscapes and trees in the Pacific Northwest.”
• Website: Lily Tomlin: “Check out the Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch at http://www.awmok.com/, and don’t miss the Kitsch o’ the Day.”

If you’re unfamiliar with any of their choices, expand your mind by looking them up. Then make your own list:

If you were stuck somewhere with limited entertainment, which single thing in each of those categories would bring you laughs, comfort, intellectual stimulation and/or serenity? Share your list with others!

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