Sunday, June 18, 2017

SHINRIN-YOKU -THE HEALING TREES

The Japanese culture has embraced some enchanting ideas. My latest discovery is the term Shinrin-Yoku. Literally translated, it means “Forest bathing.” The idea is to expose oneself to trees, to nature, for the purpose of healing. Imagine that as a prescription from a western physician. Well, maybe a doctor of Alternative medicine. Otherwise? I don’t think so. This is not a criticism. It’s that our culture is growing but has not yet embraced all ideas as more ancient ones. Makes sense, when you think about it. They have had centuries to get some things right.

Stay with me, here. Who of you has not experienced the quiet of a park, or a forest, or the mesmerizing calm of the ocean? Well, as it turns out, I’m behind the times. When I googled Shinrin-Yoku, it turns out there is an Association of Nature and Forest Therapy which promotes and uses Shinrin-Yoku. It has hundreds of guides here in the U.S. alone. I stand corrected.

The benefits have researchers amazed. It lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, increases concentration and mental clarity. It also increases the number of cancer fighting cells in the body. Just wow.

Years ago, when my children were little, and my stress level got high, I would go outside and sit on the back porch. We lived in a forested area so it was perfect. My fifteen minutes of “porch-time” never failed to calm me. My porch-time was Shinrin-Yoku. Who knew?

Leave your cell phone at home.


Monday, June 12, 2017

DEATH OF A LIAR- JUNE 2017 BOOK SELECTION

Quite unknowingly, I stumbled into the Cozy Mystery genre without realizing it. I was looking for an easy book-on-tape for traveling. I picked up an M.C. Beaton mystery because I seemed to remember the name from somewhere.

First to clarify, a Cozy Mystery generally features a talented, non-professional, mystery solver, such as Miss Marple of Agatha Christie fame or Jessica Fletcher from the popular Murder She Wrote series by Donald Bain. When I started researching this I remembered that Hallmark also has gained quite a following for their untrained female sleuths on several mystery series. So this genre is quite popular. Who knew?

I did read a few Agatha Christie novels in my teens. And in my mind, she is probably the master. But my first Cozy Mystery in adulthood is Death of A Liar by Beaton. I have to say, I may be hooked. For an easygoing, not-too-gruesome mystery fix it was great fun. The detective, technically a professional (although albeit an unconventional one) is Hamish McBeth (Great name, right? Turn around three times and spit over your shoulder!) It was entertaining to watch him work out the murder and navigate a score of beautiful women to boot. His greatest challenge may be his somewhat bumbling sidekick, Dick.

Beaton is extremely prolific. The Hamish McBeth books, thirty-three and counting, is only one of several popular series by her. If you indulge, you won’t run out of material soon.

Fun, easy, escapist.