Dare You To...

At some point over the past year, you likely saw someone -- or many people -- share a photo on social media with the hashtag #100happydays.


It's exactly what you think it is, where you record through photos 100 happy days in your life, in a row.  The movement began from 100happydays.com, which explains the problem of today's "too busy" lifestyles and promises to send you a book of your photos when you complete the challenge (though I never got mine...).  However, the hashtag has ballooned out into a viral exercise in happiness, where people do it just for themselves.

And it's not for nothing, either!!  In my post daring you to write three good things, I explained the psychological research behind intentionally identifying the good things in your daily life.  Practices like writing three good things or taking a snapshot of one thing that made your day happy force you to acknowledge something POSITIVE in your life, even if your day was otherwise so-so or miserabl…

I'm supposed to be running a 10k right now.  I should be out on Roosevelt Island with Alec and Jen, running 6.2 miles for theNew York City 10k.  I should be feeling simultaneously fatigued and energized, on the brink of glory, as I was one month ago at my first 10k.

Instead, I'm lying in bed, drinking tea, considering what type of soup I want, and coughing up a storm.


I've been sick since precisely September 24, when I first felt the itch in my throat.  Over the following weeks, my upper respiratory infection got worse, and then better, and worse again.  Even after I felt well again, my cough persisted, and I was continuously short of breath.  As a result, I did not continue training for my next 10k, and I didn't hit the gym at all.Walking wore me out, and talking exhausted me.After too long, I finally admitted that this was more than a cold and went to the doctor.  He first tried to knock it out of me with some strong meds (which worked for only the one day after tak…

Fall!  Leaves!  School!  And... APPLES!

Although I didn't love eating fruit as a child, apples are one that I always enjoyed.  As an adult, I've gone through phases of apple consumption.  Whenever they're around, I gladly eat them, but I just have to remember to buy them.   Whenever I do, I'm always pleasantly surprised by how tasty they are!  This fall, I've dared myself to step up my apple game, and I dare you to, too!


"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," or so they say.  I don't know if this is true, but I do know that apples have been long hailed as a health food.  What's all the fuss about? Don't so many health companies and apps use an apple in their logo or icon?  Why is that?

What's so great about apples?  Let's explore:
Nutritional Benefits Fiber
Antioxidants
Vitamin C
Boron
Pectin
*many of these nutrients are contained in the skin -- don't leave em out!Note that apples are high in sugar.  Of course, this is a natural s…