I am nearing the finish line of semester end and am busy writing a term paper and studying for finals. What's strange is how calm I have been. For anyone that knows me this is entirely uncharacteristic and thus I have even pondered, "am I ok?" The truth is that I have never been better and there are three reasons why (actually there are four but that breaks the brilliant holy trinity analogy so let's say it's three plus a bonus). Perhaps these can be helpful to you - hope so!
1) Nightly baths. I grew up surrounded by the Japanese tradition of nightly ofuro and was always told it's the best de-stresser and I am telling you, it really is. The key is to take hot baths and to submerge fully so that the heat of the water literally forces your neck and shoulders to relax. Every night as I immerse myself in the ritual, it feels like I am adding days to my life. I also sleep better and wake up without any neck tension!
2) Exercise. Jonah's suggestion that we buy an elliptical machine was one of his best ideas (and he has a million for me to choose from!). Consistently working out at least 3 days a week has worked wonders for my mental health.
3) Acupuncture. Call it what you will but it works. I found an incredible practitioner who, just by her nurturing personality does double duty as a therapist. After every weekly session I walk out of her office feeling truly grounded and calm.
Bonus: Switching from coffee to green tea! I was in love with coffee but I've since found a better paramour. Aside from all the well-documented health benefits of green tea, it is delicious and gives me the kick I need to start my day without the edge of coffee. I used to feel anxious while riding the subway but since the switch I almost feel physiologically unable to be anxious anymore! Warning: Most green tea sold here is no good. The green tea I devour every morning is sencha sent from my family in Japan. In terms of flavor and probably greater health benefits, try getting your hands on sencha or macha from Japan. You know you have a good green tea when the color is in fact very green!
* Via BuzzFeed!
I'm sure this is for "gun hei fat choy" but it's more fun to think it's the car of a big guy named Choy.

* Spotted in Chinatown. Of course.
The Eyebeam Benefit last night was radical!! It highlighted Eyebeam artists' works, honored Craig Newmark of Craigslist, featured a thought-provoking and inspiring speech by Founder John S. Johnson, showcased Comedy Central's John Mulaney and the band The Walkmen. It was fun and money was raised for freedom and creativity - mission accomplished!





















I am both a firm believer in the preventative medicine power of exercise (both in terms of physical and mental health) and a total sucker for these "keep your brain sharp" products. I figure there are worse things I could spend my money on...until I can't remember what I spent all my life savings on!
SAN FRANCISCO — When David Bunnell, a magazine publisher who lives in Berkeley, Calif., went to a FedEx store to send a package a few years ago, he suddenly drew a blank as he was filling out the forms.
“I couldn’t remember my address,” said Mr. Bunnell, 60, with a measure of horror in his voice. “I knew where I lived, and I knew how to get there, but I didn’t know what the address was.”
Mr. Bunnell is among tens of millions of baby boomers who are encountering the signs, by turns amusing and disconcerting, that accompany the decline of the brain’s acuity: a good friend’s name suddenly vanishing from memory; a frantic search for eyeglasses only to find them atop the head; milk taken from the refrigerator then put away in a cupboard.
“It’s probably one of the most frightening aspects of the changes we undergo as we age,” said Nancy Ceridwyn, director of educational initiatives at the American Society on Aging. “Our memories are who we are. And if we lose our memories we lose that groundedness of who we are.”
At the same time, boomers are seizing on a mounting body of evidence that suggests that brains contain more plasticity than previously thought, and many people are taking matters into their own hands, doing brain fitness exercises with the same intensity with which they attack a treadmill.
Decaying brains, or the fear thereof, have inspired a mini-industry of brain health products — not just supplements like coenzyme Q10, ginseng and bacopa, but computer-based fitter-brain products as well. Continue reading...
* Thanks to Eric for the link!