Kissing: It’s a Good Thing!

Kim Wolinski, MSW
"Dr. DeClutter"
www.drdeclutter.com

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

“The sound of a kiss is much softer than that of a canon - but its echo lasts a great deal longer."

"When words become superficial, humans make use of kisses."
~ Sigmund Freud

There are lots of good reasons to want to kiss and be kissed. But, did you know that there are side-benefits from kissing? Here are a few:

1) Burn Calories!
A passionate kiss burns 6.4 - 10 calories per 10 minutes (about one calorie per minute)… depending on the research. A long kiss makes the metabolism burn up sugar faster than usual. The calories burned of course depend on the intensity of your kisses. No matter, you do burn calories, so… kiss more, lose weight!

(NOTE: Doing the chocolate heart-box thang?… There are 26 calories in a chocolate kiss… do the math!)

2) Prevents Tooth Decay! (NO WAY!!)
Dr. Peter Gorden, Dental Advisor at the British Dental Association, explains. “After eating, your mouth is full of sugar solution and acidic saliva, which cause plaque build up. Kissing is nature's own cleaning process”, he adds. “It stimulates saliva flow and brings plaque levels down to normal.”

3) Stress Management.
A passionate kiss can relieve tension. It’s a great relaxation technique. It's almost impossible to smile and feel tense at the same time. Our emotions and body language are so closely linked and when your mouth is in a kissing position, you are almost smiling (and might be smiling and laughing in between). Plus, in romantic kissing there is love and anticipation and all kinds of deep breathing and body reactions… creating a great relaxation response zone to stay in as long as you can. Make sure to close your eyes! Shut out everything else and “be” here and now and one with your kisses! Ahhhhh, that’s so good!

4) Increases Fitness Levels.
Just like when you’re exercising, your heart is pumping, your pulse is racing. When kissing is exciting, you also release adrenaline into the bloodstream and your heart pumps more blood around your body, bringing all that blushed skin tone to your face and all other beautiful parts! It's a great cardiovascular workout!

5) Natural Face and Body Lift.
Kissing, lots of it… slows the aging process. It tones your cheek and jaw muscles, so they're less likely to sag. (Side bar: Anything else that you can think of to accompany kissing… can stretch, strengthen and tone too! Flexibility at every age is very important.)

6) Ups Your Self-Esteem.
Kissing is a great boost for self-esteem. In theory, when you're kissing, you're happy. You’re excited. You’re anticipating unexpected things to happen. And when you're happy and excited, you let go of the everyday routine and sometimes mundane thinking… you feel good about yourself, changing the chemistry of your brain and endorphin system for all- around wellness.

Whew…!

Enjoy kissing on Valentine’s Day… and every day.

©2007 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter”Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert

Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

Love is a Verb: Be a Positive Change-Agent in the World

Kim Wolinski, MSW
"Dr. DeClutter"
www.drdeclutter.com

Have you ever heard someone say, "It's not my job!" There are plenty of opportunities every day where we can pick up where and when someone else dropped the ball, trash, plan, project, idea, care or whatever. Doing it out of a neutral place is the challenge! No griping, anger, resentment.

Love is verb. Love for the planet, for mankind, for animal and plant and insect kind takes action, even in the smallest of ways. Do it and move on, or don't of course, but be open to doing it, no matter how big or small the task.

I pick up trash about 80% of the time. I've limited myself to 80% because I wouldn't get much else done if I detoured to pick up a cup or piece of paper or whatever every time I saw one! I just feel better when it's put where it's supposed to be. And, I bless, yes, bless the person who discarded it unwisely or accidently. It's not my job, but it is my planet.

Bert Brady makes a difference as part of the "Welcome Home a Hero Program" in Dallas, TX to welcome home soldiers coming off planes. Click to see this clip from national news:
02_FEB_07_ABC_DFW_Welcome.wmv

British tycoon Richard Branson offered a $25 million prize before the world's scientists on February 9 seeking to spur research into devising ways to suck greenhouse gases out of the air. Branson said, "Man created the problem, therefore man should solve the problem." It's not his job, but it is his planet.

What can you do to not just show love, but BE love... in action?

You don't have to have $25 million to allocate to an issue that was "dropped" by others, but you can give some time to fixing, picking up, putting back, sharing, helping out, volunteering, taking care of, etc.

So, even when it's not "our job," we can pitch in do our part, no matter how large or small, to be a positive change-agent in the world. Love is a verb, it is action. Do it, and move on! It's not your job, but it is your planet.

©2007 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter”Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert
Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

It's NEVER too early, or late, to stop another stressful holiday season from stressing you out! My 43-page content packed and idea-rich ebook, Keep the Holidays Simple will give you the permission and plans to make the changes that will help you stay centered, honor your needs and enjoy everyone, no matter what! Order and/or read more at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/id19.html

GET ORGANIZED TODAY! Inside and Out.
Need help getting your space (house, office, barn, backyard – thoughts, mind, time, schedule, priorities, or life) decluttered and re-organized? My video “BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, AND OTHER ORGANIZING TIPS AND TOOLS FROM DR. DECLUTTER” is a great help. You can find out more or order BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN and other products at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/kims_store.html

Find my workbook, LETTING GO WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT here too.

Love, Happiness and Friendship Can Serve Your Memory Well

Kim Wolinski, MSW
"Dr. DeClutter"
www.drdeclutter.com

• Are you lonely?
• Do you isolate more often than not?
• Are you part of a group, church, synagogue or club that you enjoy and where you feel like you "belong?"
• Do you have several friends or family with whom you can "let it all hang out" pretty often?

If you have fun and are part of life each day in the best of ways, you are doing more than just enjoying yourself.

Researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago reported this week that "Lonely people may have a greater risk of developing late-life dementia."

In their study they found that those who described themselves as lonely were twice as likely to develop the kind of dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies have suggested that people who are socially isolated or lack intellectual stimulation are at greater risk of Alzheimer's as well.

So... don't just sit there all alone! Get out! Find and make new friends. Organize your time and life around loves, creativity and mind active "belonging."

©2007 Kim Wolinski, MSW “Dr. DeClutter”Stress, Change and Organizational Skills Expert
Editors and publishers are free to reprint blog articles as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.

It's NEVER too early, or late, to stop another stressful holiday season from stressing you out! My 43-page content packed and idea-rich ebook, Keep the Holidays Simple will give you the permission and plans to make the changes that will help you stay centered, honor your needs and enjoy everyone, no matter what! Order and/or read more at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/id19.html

GET ORGANIZED TODAY! Inside and Out. Need help getting your space (house, office, barn, backyard – thoughts, mind, time, schedule, priorities, or life) decluttered and re-organized? My video “BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, AND OTHER ORGANIZING TIPS AND TOOLS FROM DR. DECLUTTER” is a great help. You can find out more or order BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN and other products at http://www.redecisionsinstitute.com/kims_store.html Find my workbook, LETTING GO WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT here too.