Ever notice how uplifted you feel after a hearty convulsing laugh?? It's amazing how something so natural and effortless as laughter, can make you feel good. And ever find yourself spontaneously laughing out loud because you've caught someone else's laughing bug? What a contagious and intoxicating effect laughter has.
Whether a giggle, chuckle, hoot or outright cackle, laughing makes you feel happier instantly - it boosts your spirit and usually spirits of those around you. Laughing can be good fun - it doesn't cost anything and is soooo easy to do. Go ahead and try it!
Have you had your laugh today?
16 down - 84 to go!
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Canada and the U.S. I personally know of 4 women, all in their 40s when first diagnosed, whom have had and thankfully survived, breast cancer - that's 4 too many in my opinion. Sadly, 1 in 9 (1 in 8 in America) is expected to be diagnosed with this disease during her lifetime and scarier, 70% of those diagnosed will have had no risk factors. While the causes for breast cancer are largely unknown, seems that early detection has contributed to lower death rates since the mid 1990's in North America.
Stats source: Canadian Cancer Society / National Cancer Institute of Canada; U.S. Breast Cancer.Org
At my last doctor's visit, I decided that I wanted to have a more thorough breast exam as part of my screening and so today, I had my first mammography exam at the Credit Valley Hospital X-Ray and Ultrasound Clinic in Mississauga. The exam itself wasn't as uncomfortable as I thought it would be and the staff were pleasant, professional and thoughtful. Results will arrive at my doctor's office in about a week's time where I expect to get the "all clear!"
Routine breast screening and early detection are key in fighting and surviving this disease. Regular self-examinations (see chart, inset, or go to Breast Cancer Society of Canada for printer-friendly version), clinical exams by your practitioner, and mammograms all help in reducing the number of women who die of breast cancer. In the province of Ontario, mammograms are recommended every 2 years for women over 50. However if you are between 40 and 49, you can speak to your doctor about early screening.
15 down; 85 to go
It was my birthday the other day and so for a special treat, I decided to fulfil my craving for a yummy cupcake. In waiting at the bakery counter to be served, my mind drifted back to an incident that took place at work a year or so ago.
For some sponteneous reason, I decided that I wanted to bake cupcakes for my colleauges at work; I think largely due to the fact that I was on a kick to master the art of homemade cream-cheese icing. In proclaiming my desires to a fellow co-worker, she decided she wanted to join in on the action and do the same. Fine by me as we had a pretty large team so the more cupcakes, the better!
The next day, I waltzed in with my bag of treats - vanilla and chocolate cupcakes that I had baked the night before then lathered in generous amounts of cream-cheese icing (which by the way, turned out 'ok' but not exactly to my desired specs). In discussing where to put out our treats, my fellow co-worker chose to advise me that her cupcakes weren't homemade but rather, store bought. Fine, whatever... a cupcake's a cupcake I thought, until she continued that she had scraped off the hard sugary "crap" and then re-iced them with the spreadable ready-made Duncan Hines stuff, AND THEN punctuated her story with, "Don't tell anyone though!"
Perhaps arming me with this information relieved her of a sense of guilt? but what was I supposed to do with it? I rationalized that store-bought-disguised-as-homemade cupcakes weren't going to kill anyone and after all, this was her deceipt not mine. And while I kept her dirty lil' secret all iced-up as she graciously accepted gratitude and compliments for her baking, I realized that anyone willing to lie to their fellow work mates about something as insignificant as cupcakes was sure enough to lie about anything.
A person's integrity goes a long way and while it takes years to build someone's trust, it only takes seconds to break it. Oh how true!
14 down - 86 to go!
Whether a giggle, chuckle, hoot or outright cackle, laughing makes you feel happier instantly - it boosts your spirit and usually spirits of those around you. Laughing can be good fun - it doesn't cost anything and is soooo easy to do. Go ahead and try it!
Routine breast screening and early detection are key in fighting and surviving this disease. Regular self-examinations (see chart, inset, or go to Breast Cancer Society of Canada for printer-friendly version), clinical exams by your practitioner, and mammograms all help in reducing the number of women who die of breast cancer. In the province of Ontario, mammograms are recommended every 2 years for women over 50. However if you are between 40 and 49, you can speak to your doctor about early screening. 
It was my birthday the other day and so for a special treat, I decided to fulfil my craving for a yummy cupcake. In waiting at the bakery counter to be served, my mind drifted back to an incident that took place at work a year or so ago.
