Tag: Health

We Spend So Much Time Trying to Live Longer—But Are We Learning How to Live Better?

linda changLeave a comment

Modern people are fascinated by longevity.

We study nutrition, exercise, sleep, supplements, medical treatments, and the latest science of aging. We count our steps, monitor our heart rate, change our diets, and search for new ways to add more years to our lives.

But there is another kind of nourishment that is easy to overlook: the nourishment of the heart and spirit.

A Buddhist story from the Treasury of Miscellaneous Treasures (Za Bao Zang Jing) offers a beautiful perspective on this.

During the time of the Buddha, there was a wealthy elder whose young son was deeply loved.

According to the Buddhist scripture, when the child was about five or six years old, a fortune-teller examined him and said that the child had great blessings—but one serious weakness: his life would be short.

The father was devastated. He searched for ways to help his son live longer and eventually brought him to the Buddha.

The Buddha did not give him a special medicine or promise that death could simply be defeated.

Instead, the Buddha taught the child to cultivate humility, patience, and respect.

The child was instructed to respectfully bow to people entering and leaving the city.

One day, a being who had intended to take the child’s life appeared in the form of a Brahmin. When the child respectfully bowed to him, the being instinctively blessed him, saying, in essence, “May you have a long life.”

Because he had spoken those words, he could no longer go against them.

The scripture concludes that through the child’s humility, patience, and respectful conduct, his life was extended.

The story is recorded in Za Bao Zang Jing（杂宝藏经）, Volume Four, in the story known as “The Elder’s Son Seeks Long Life from the Buddha.”

What If Longevity Is More Than Taking Care of the Body?

This ancient story makes me think about how differently we sometimes approach longevity today.

We are very concerned about what we put into our bodies, but perhaps we should also ask:

What are we putting into our hearts?

We carefully consider food, but what about anger?

We worry about toxins in the environment, but what about resentment?

We exercise our bodies, but do we exercise patience?

We try to strengthen our immune systems, but do we strengthen compassion?

We may spend years searching for ways to extend our physical lives while forgetting that the quality of those years also matters.

Many years ago, I heard an elderly Chinese doctor say something that stayed with me:

“Medicine nourishes the body, food nourishes the body better, movement nourishes it even more—but while nourishing the body, never forget to nourish the heart. Wherever you do good, there is nourishment.”

I have always loved the wisdom behind these simple words.

Taking care of our bodies is important. Eating well, exercising, sleeping properly, and receiving appropriate medical care all matter.

But perhaps taking care of the heart is another form of longevity practice.

What Are We Nourishing Every Day?

Every act leaves something behind in us.

When we constantly become angry, anger becomes easier.

When we hold on to resentment, resentment becomes heavier.

When we practice kindness, kindness becomes more natural.

When we help someone, we may discover that our own heart becomes lighter.

When we forgive, we release something that we have been carrying.

When we sincerely help others, perhaps we are not only giving something away—we are also nourishing something within ourselves.

This is one reason Buddhist teachings place such importance on compassion, generosity, patience, and wholesome actions.

The goal is not simply to have a longer life.

It is to cultivate a better life.

Of course, doing good should not be viewed as a transaction: “If I help others, I will definitely live longer.”

The deeper lesson is about how we live.

We can take care of our bodies while also taking care of our minds and hearts.

We can eat nutritious food and also “feed” ourselves with kindness.

We can exercise our bodies and also practice patience.

We can seek medical treatment when we are ill and, at the same time, work on releasing anger, jealousy, resentment, and fear.

Perhaps true wellness requires both.

Nourish the body, but do not forget to nourish the heart.

And perhaps the simplest nourishment is kindness.

What Kind of Life Are We Trying to Extend?

The Buddhist story of the young child does not tell us that we can control the length of our lives simply by doing good deeds. Life and death involve causes and conditions far beyond our understanding.

But the story reminds us of something important:

While we cannot completely control how long we live, we can pay attention to how we live.

Perhaps the question is not only:

“How can I live longer?”

but also:

“How can I make the years I have more compassionate, meaningful, and beneficial to others?”

Maybe that is another kind of longevity—one measured not only in years, but in the goodness we leave behind.

We spend so much time trying to add years to life.

Perhaps we should also spend some time adding life to our years.

Because sometimes, the best way to nourish ourselves is to nourish someone else.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/09/22/we-spend-so-much-time-trying-to-live-longer-but-are-we-learning-how-to-live-better/

What Makes the Human Brain So Unique? The Fascinating Genes Behind Our Brainpower

linda changLeave a comment

Glowing brain surrounded by a colorful DNA helix, stars, crystals, and laboratory bottles

Have you ever wondered what truly separates the human mind from the rest of the animal kingdom? While we share roughly 99% of our DNA with our closest primate relatives, that remaining 1% holds the secrets to our extraordinary cognitive abilities, complex language, and problem-solving skills.

Recent evolutionary genetics research reveals that a few specific “human-only” genes act as master architects of our minds.   

The Genetic Blueprint of Human Brainpower

Rather than building an entirely new brain from scratch, evolution used clever shortcuts—like gene duplications and tiny mutations—to supercharge human brain structure.   

  • ARHGAP11B (The Neocortex Expander): Around 5 million years ago, a partial gene duplication created ARHGAP11B. Later, a single point mutation enabled this gene to dramatically multiply neural stem cells. This change triggered the expansion and signature folding of the human neocortex—the region responsible for high-level reasoning and language.   
  • SRGAP2 (The Synapse Multiplier): This human-specific duplicated gene increases the number of connections (synapses) between neurons while slowing down their maturation. Prolonging this developmental window gives the brain years to build hyper-dense, complex neural networks.   
  • NOTCH2NL (The Stem Cell Booster): Found exclusively in humans, these genes delay the differentiation of stem cells into neurons, allowing the brain to produce a far larger pool of cortical neurons during early development.

One of the most surprising insights from recent research is the role of neoteny—the slowing down of brain development. While a mouse brain matures in weeks, the human brain takes decades to fully develop.

Human-specific genes like SRGAP2 prolong the development of both neurons and microglia (the brain’s circuit-sculpting immune cells). By keeping the brain in a adaptable, learning-ready state for years, nature gives us the long runway needed to absorb culture, acquire language, and master complex skills.

Our cognitive edge didn’t require a total overhaul of the genome. Instead, a few duplicated genes and subtle mutations allowed the human brain to grow larger, form denser networks, and remain adaptable over a prolonged childhood.

What aspect of human brain evolution do you find most surprising—the rapid expansion of brain size or our unusually long developmental timeline?

This video explores evolutionary genetics and how key genetic changes shaped the unique features and complexity of the human brain.

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/09/04/what-makes-the-human-brain-so-unique-the-fascinating-genes-behind-our-brainpower/

Sources:

Source iconHuman-specific gene expansions contribute to brain evolution – PMCpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govOpens in a new windowSource iconHuman brain evolution: From gene discovery to phenotype … – PNASwww.pnas.orgOpens in a new windowSource iconEvolutionary key for a bigger brain | Max-Planck-Gesellschaftwww.mpg.deOpens in a new windowSource iconBrain Gene Tops the List for Making Humans, Humanwww.smithsonianmag.comOpens in a new windowSource iconScientists find a human-only gene that may help explain ourwww.sciencedaily.com

The Power of Sleep: 6 Simple Nighttime Habits Your Body Will Thank You For

linda changLeave a comment

The Secret to a Healthier You May Begin at Bedtime

    Woman sleeping in futuristic chamber labeled deep sleep and restoration 88 percent

    Have you ever noticed that sometimes you eat very little and exercise regularly, yet the number on the scale simply refuses to budge? Perhaps you even feel that the weight around your waist is slowly increasing.

    The problem may not always be what you eat or how much you exercise.

    It may also have something to do with how well you sleep.

    Our bodies follow an internal 24-hour clock known as the circadian rhythm, which influences hormones, appetite, metabolism, body temperature, and many other essential functions. Research from Harvard Medical School and other institutions has shown that insufficient or poor-quality sleep can disrupt these processes, affect hunger and stress hormones, and make maintaining a healthy weight more difficult.

    In other words, sleep is not simply “downtime.” It is one of the times when your body is actively repairing, regulating, and restoring itself.

    The good news is that you don’t need an extreme diet or punishing workout routine to support your health. Sometimes, a few simple changes to your evening routine can make a meaningful difference.

    Here are six simple, science-informed bedtime habits worth trying.

    1. Finish Eating 2–3 Hours Before Bed

    One of the simplest ways to support healthy sleep and metabolism is to give your body some time to digest before you go to bed.

    During sleep, the body enters an important period of repair and restoration. Growth hormone (GH) is released in pulses, particularly during deep sleep. Growth hormone plays an important role in tissue repair, muscle maintenance, and metabolism, and it also influences the way the body uses stored energy.

    However, growth hormone and insulin act as metabolic “natural enemies.” When you eat before bed—especially carbohydrates or high-sugar foods—the resulting rise in blood sugar triggers a surge in insulin secretion. High levels of insulin not only force excess calories to be stored as abdominal fat but also powerfully inhibit the release of growth hormone during deep sleep. Maintaining a state of mild fasting for two to three hours before bedtime keeps insulin at a low baseline, effectively lifting the blockade on growth hormone and allowing the body to seamlessly switch into “fat-burning mode” overnight.

    That doesn’t mean you should go to bed hungry. The goal is simply to avoid turning bedtime into another meal.

    Try this: Aim to finish dinner about 2–3 hours before going to sleep. If you genuinely feel hungry later, choose a small, balanced snack rather than forcing yourself to ignore hunger.

    The goal isn’t starvation. It’s giving your body a comfortable transition from digestion to rest.

    2. Do 5–10 Minutes of Gentle Stretching

    Woman in lavender pajamas stretching on a bedroom rug at night

    After a busy and stressful day, your body may still be carrying physical tension even after you get into bed.

    Stress activates the body’s sympathetic nervous system, often called the “fight-or-flight” system, and can increase levels of cortisol, a hormone involved in the body’s stress response. Chronic stress and poor sleep can affect appetite, metabolism, and where the body tends to store fat.

    Gentle stretching can be a wonderful way to signal that the busy part of the day is over.

    Unlike an intense late-night workout, slow stretching is calming and can help release muscle tension. It may also help you become more aware of your breathing and prepare your nervous system for sleep.

    Try this: Spend just 5–10 minutes doing gentle neck, shoulder, back, hip, and leg stretches. Move slowly and comfortably, without forcing any position.

    Think of it not as exercise, but as a transition ritual from activity to rest.

    3. Try Slow, Relaxed Breathing

    Your breathing is one of the easiest ways to influence your state of relaxation.

    A popular technique is 4-7-8 breathing:

    • Inhale gently for 4 seconds.
    • Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
    • Exhale slowly for 8 seconds.

    The most important part for relaxation is the slow, extended exhalation. Slow breathing can increase parasympathetic activity—the part of the nervous system associated with rest and recovery—and may help reduce feelings of stress and physical tension.

    You don’t have to follow the exact 4-7-8 pattern if holding your breath feels uncomfortable. Simply try breathing slowly and making your exhalation slightly longer than your inhalation.

    Try this: Close your eyes, relax your shoulders, and take 5–10 slow breaths. Let each exhalation become a little longer and softer.

    Sometimes, the simplest message you can give your body is:

    “The day is over. You are safe. It’s time to rest.”

    4. Put Away Electronic Screens 30–60 Minutes Before Bed

    This is one of the most practical bedtime habits you can develop.

    Phones, tablets, computers, and televisions can expose us to light that may suppress the natural evening rise of melatonin, a hormone involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. More importantly, scrolling, watching exciting videos, checking messages, or reading stressful news can keep the brain mentally stimulated when it should be winding down.

    And when bedtime becomes another hour of stimulation, falling asleep can become much harder.

    Try this: Put your phone away 30–60 minutes before bed. Dim the lights, turn off bright overhead lighting, and use a soft bedside lamp instead.

    You could read a few pages of a paper book, listen to peaceful music, practice meditation, pray, or simply sit quietly.

    Your evening routine doesn’t need to be complicated.

    Sometimes, putting the phone down is one of the best gifts you can give your brain.

    5. Keep Your Bedroom Cool, Dark, and Comfortable

    Your body naturally lowers its core temperature as you prepare for sleep. A bedroom that is slightly cool, dark, and quiet can make it easier for your body to follow this natural rhythm.

    Some research has also explored the relationship between cooler sleeping environments and brown adipose tissue, commonly known as brown fat. Unlike ordinary white fat, brown fat can generate heat by using energy. However, it is important not to think of a cold bedroom as a weight-loss treatment—the primary goal is simply to create an environment that supports good-quality sleep.

    Try this: Keep your bedroom comfortably cool, perhaps around 18–20°C (64–68°F) if that feels comfortable for you, and use blackout curtains or an eye mask if necessary.

    Don’t make yourself uncomfortably cold. The ideal bedroom is not an icebox!

    It should simply feel cool, quiet, dark, and peaceful.

    6. Take a Warm Shower or Soak Your Feet Before Bed

    Here’s a surprisingly pleasant bedtime habit: take a warm shower or soak your feet in warm water for about 10–15 minutes.

    It may seem counterintuitive, but warming the body before bed can actually help promote cooling afterward.

    A warm shower or bath causes blood vessels near the skin to dilate. After you finish, your body can release heat more easily, and your core temperature gradually falls. This natural change in body temperature is associated with the body’s preparation for sleep.

    For many people, a warm shower is also psychologically relaxing, helping separate the stresses of the day from the peacefulness of nighttime.

    Try this: About 1–2 hours before bed, take a comfortably warm shower or soak your feet in warm water. Then put on comfortable pajamas and let your body gradually cool down.

    It can become a simple and soothing signal that says:

    “It’s time to slow down.”

    Your Body Doesn’t Need a Battle—It Needs Rhythm

    Healthy weight management and good health don’t have to be a form of punishment.

    We often focus so much on calories, workouts, and dieting that we forget something fundamental: our bodies need adequate sleep and recovery, too.

    Sleeping girl dreaming of a unicorn, castles, clouds, and waterfall

    Rather than constantly forcing yourself to eat less or exercise harder, consider working with your body’s natural rhythms.

    Tonight, try something simple:

    Put your phone away.

    Dim the lights.

    Stretch for five minutes.

    Take a few slow breaths.

    Let your bedroom become cool and peaceful.

    And give yourself permission to sleep.

    You may not wake up dramatically lighter the next morning—and that’s not the point. Healthy change is rarely overnight.

    The real goal is to build an evening routine that helps your body recover, supports better sleep, and makes healthy living feel natural and sustainable.

    In our busy world, getting enough good-quality sleep may be one of the simplest—and most overlooked—investments we can make in ourselves.

    Sleep well, take good care of your body, and may every new morning bring you more energy, health, and happiness.

    Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/08/19/6-simple-bedtime-habits-that-may-help-your-body-rest-recover-and-maintain-a-healthy-weight/

    💖【A Light in the Dark】How One Doctor’s Lifelong Kindness Sparked a Community Miracle

    linda changLeave a comment

    In a world that often feels fast-paced and transaction-driven, do you still believe in the power of selfless love and the magic of paying it forward?

    Today, I want to share the deeply moving story of an extraordinary hero: Dr. Michael Zollicoffer—affectionately known as “Dr. Z” to his community in Baltimore, Maryland.

    For nearly 40 years, Dr. Z’s clinic doors have been wide open to everyone. Whether patients had full insurance, a few dollars in their pocket, or no money at all, Dr. Z treated them with the same unwavering care, dignity, and compassion. To go the extra mile, he even handed out his personal cell phone number to his patients, encouraging them to call anytime, day or night. To Dr. Z, those who walked into his office weren’t just medical charts—they were neighbors, friends, and family.

    However, in late 2024, the doctor who dedicated his whole life to saving others faced the toughest battle of his own.

    At age 66, Dr. Z received a devastating diagnosis: he was battling two distinct cancers simultaneously—kidney cancer and colorectal cancer.

    To make matters worse, right as he was preparing for treatments estimated at over $150,000, administrative issues with Medicare caused a gap in his insurance coverage. Suddenly, the doctor who spent decades treating others for free found himself staring down overwhelming medical bills without safety net protection.

    When his community and high school friends found out, they didn’t hesitate. They immediately launched a fundraiser to help save the man who had spent a lifetime saving them.

    What happened next was nothing short of breathtaking:

    • Over 3,400 everyday people pitched in. Many donors weren’t wealthy themselves, yet they gave what they could out of sheer gratitude for the man who was always there for them.
    • Together, they raised over $280,000 for his medical expenses!
    • The U.S. House of Representatives formally honored his decades of service, officially entering his story into the Congressional Record.

    Love truly has the power to heal.

    Thanks to the outpouring of financial support and medical care, Dr. Z’s tumors have shrunk by half! With his insurance resolved and his spirit as resilient as ever, Dr. Z has returned to doing what he loves most: he continues to see patients at his Baltimore clinic every single week.

    Dr. Z’s story is a beautiful reminder: every seed of kindness you plant into the world has a way of blooming back to comfort you when you need it most.

    We might not all be doctors, but we all have the power to light up someone’s world. Whether it’s checking in on a neighbor, offering a helping hand, or simply sharing a smile, small acts of care ripple outward in ways we can never fully predict.

    💬 “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

    May Dr. Z’s story inspire us all to look out for one another. If this story warmed your heart, share it with a friend today and let’s keep spreading the positive energy! 🌱✨

    Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/08/10/%f0%9f%92%96%e3%80%90a-light-in-the-dark%e3%80%91how-one-doctors-lifelong-kindness-sparked-a-community-miracle/

    The Meditation Mat Is Secretly Loving You Back: A Gentle Guide to Remodeling Your Stress

    linda changLeave a comment
    Person meditating cross-legged beside a river with magical energy swirls around

    🧘‍♀️ The Science and Tenderness on the Meditation Mat: Why Deep Meditation Brings Healing and Ultimate Serenity to the Soul

    Have you ever had a night like this?
    You are clearly lying in bed, but your brain feels like a movie projector that won’t turn off. It frantically rewinds today’s stressors while rehearsing tomorrow’s anxieties. Even though your surroundings are pitch black and silent, there is a lingering, inexplicable restlessness and tension deep in your heart.

    The pace of modern life is simply too fast. Our bodies and souls are like racing cars with the gas pedals slammed into the floorboard, on the verge of falling apart.

    As a result, more and more people are choosing to sit cross-legged, close their eyes, and seek a sanctuary in the deep meditation of ancient traditions. Remarkably, when that deep, slow breath settles into your lower abdomen, the profound peace that washes over you is neither an escape from reality nor a mere psychological illusion.

    Modern science tells us, with gentle and irrefutable medical evidence: the very moment you choose to sit down, your body undergoes a profound physiological remodeling from the inside out. It is secretly loving you back in the most scientific way possible.

    Neon glowing brain with interconnected circuit lines and digital icons above a futuristic city

    In daily life, as we constantly navigate work and interpersonal relationships, our brains are flooded with high-speed, high-tension Beta waves. This is a survival mode—always ready to fight—and it is the root cause of chronic anxiety and insomnia.

    In the lens of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), the “focus” and “awareness” practiced during deep meditation reveal a staggering capacity for self-healing:

    • A Gentle Shift in Frequency: As you gently subtract your chaotic thoughts, your brain quickly sheds the anxious Beta waves and switches to peaceful Alpha waves. If you drift into a deeper meditative state, it even taps into Theta waves, which represent profound relaxation, bursts of intuition, and universal love. This transition is like turning off a noisy, jarring rock concert and switching to the ethereal silence of a deep forest.
    • Shrinking “Fear,” Strengthening “Reason”: In long-term meditators, the amygdala—the brain’s alarm center responsible for generating fear, anxiety, and feelings of grievance—physically shrinks. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex, which governs emotional regulation, decision-making, and focus, thickens in gray matter. Meditation is a physical restructuring. You are quite literally reshaping a brain that is resilient, secure, and less prone to emotional wounds.

    🫁 Activating Your Body’s “Self-Healing Brake System” —— Rebalancing the Autonomic Nervous System

    Modern bodies often live in a state of chronic sympathetic over-activation. Our “fight-or-flight” response is stuck on high gear, causing rapid heart rates, elevated blood pressure, and locked muscles. Our bodies mistakenly believe we are facing constant, mortal danger.

    The heart of meditation always returns to that subtle yet continuous practice of “observing the breath.” This slow, diaphragmatic breathing is the ultimate master switch for your autonomic nervous system:

    Woman sitting cross-legged meditating with glowing colorful energy swirls in a forest
    • A One-Touch Activation for the Vagus Nerve: When you slow your breath down to about 5 to 7 breaths per minute, the deep movement of your diaphragm gently stretches and stimulates the vagus nerve—the longest cranial nerve in the human body. It acts like a tender messenger, sending a wave of reassurance through your entire system: “You are home. You are safe. It is okay to let go now.”
    • Wrapping Your Heartbeat and Blood Pressure in a Warm Embrace: As the parasympathetic nervous system (your body’s natural brake) reclaims control, the heartbeat that was suspended by anxiety begins to smooth out. Your elevated blood pressure quietly drops. Subjectively, this physiological stabilization feels like being immersed in a warm bath—a state of ultimate, restorative comfort.

    A “Chemical Detox” Inside Your Body —— The Endocrine System’s Natural Prescription for Joy

    When your brain and nerves finally slow down, the command center of your endocrine system—the HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis)—stops pumping “stress toxins” through your bloodstream, initiating a complete overhaul of your hormonal environment:

    • A Sudden Drop in Stress Hormones (Cortisol): Chronic anxiety keeps our bodies drowning in cortisol and adrenaline, leaving us exhausted and accelerating aging. Deep meditation presses the brake firmly, significantly lowering the cortisol levels in your blood and defusing your body’s stress triggers.
    • A Gentle Influx of Neurotransmitters: At the same time, sitting in stillness prompts the brain to release an abundance of endorphins (nature’s painkiller and healer), serotonin (the ultimate mood stabilizer), and dopamine. This is what practitioners historically called the “joy of meditation” (Chan Yue)—a high-tier, intrinsic peace that requires no money, no material possessions, and no external validation. It arises simply because you are sitting there.
    Meditator radiating joyful inner light and harmony

    Deep meditation is never a faraway, untouchable myth. The methods of tuning the mind, explored by ancient Eastern wisdom thousands of years ago, form a perfect, rigorous, and incredibly tender loop with modern medicine.

    The moment you sit down and close your eyes, your nerves are reshaping, your blood vessels are relaxing, and your hormones are balancing. This is more than a spiritual pilgrimage; it is a profound act of self-care and a gentle embrace from your body, which has never given up on you.

    In a world that constantly screams at you to go “faster, harder, and further,” the meditation mat is the one place where you can tell yourself: “Right now, there is nothing to do, nowhere to go. Just breathe.”

    The next time you feel weary or lost, try putting your phone down.
    Close your eyes, and bring your awareness back to the space between the inhale and the exhale.

    Because the powerful, deeply serene version of yourself you are longing for has never left. They have been waiting for you all along, right inside your very next breath.

    Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/08/07/the-meditation-mat-is-secretly-loving-you-back-a-gentle-guide-to-remodeling-your-stress/

    The surprising truth about loneliness

    linda changLeave a comment

    By Claudia Hammond profile image

    By Claudia Hammond

    The reality of feeling alone is not what many people think. Claudia Hammond, who instigated a survey called the BBC Loneliness Experiment, explores five counterintuitive findings.

    About the results

    The findings in this article are based on an online survey of 55,000 people from around the world, called the BBC Loneliness Experiment. It was created by academics at three British universities in collaboration with Wellcome Collection.

    1. Younger people feel lonelier than older people

    When you picture someone who’s lonely, the stereotype is often an older person who lives alone and hardly sees anyone. Indeed, in the BBC Loneliness Experiment, 27% of over 75s said they often or very often feel lonely. This is higher than in some surveys, but because the survey was online we had a self-selecting sample and might have attracted more people who feel lonely.

    Yet the differences between age groups are striking. Levels of loneliness were actually highest among 16-24 year olds, with 40% saying they often or very often feel lonely.

    This begs the question of why so many young people say they feel lonely. Perhaps they are more prepared to admit to feelings of loneliness than older people who might feel they need to stress their independence. But it was noticeable that when everyone was asked at which point in their life they’d felt lonely, even retrospectively the most common answer people gave was when they were young adults.

    Tired scholar with hands on head reading an old book by candlelight

    So it’s not necessarily modern life that’s making young people feel lonelier, but factors associated with being young itself. Although we might think of the ages of 16-24 as a time of new freedom to have fun, leaving school and having more control over your life, it’s also a time of transition – moving away from home, starting college, starting a new job – all of which take you away from the friends you’ve grown up with. At the same time people are trying to work out who they are and where they fit into the world.

    In addition to this, people aren’t accustomed to these feelings of loneliness and haven’t yet had the experience to know that they often pass, or to the chance to find ways to cope with those feelings, such as distracting themselves or looking for company.  

    2. 41% of people think loneliness can be positive

    This finding fits in with the ideas of people such as the late neuroscientist John Cacioppo, who believed that we evolved to experience loneliness because it can be useful, even though it’s so unpleasant. Humans have survived through forming co-operative groups. If people feel they are excluded from a group then feelings of loneliness might drive them to connect with people, finding new friends or rekindling old relationships.

    The problem is that it can become chronic, with a serious impact on well-being and maybe even on health.

    Feelings of chronic loneliness are associated with an increased risk of depression a year later. It was striking that in the survey, although 41% of all the participants said loneliness could be positive, this rate dropped to 31% in those who told us they often feel lonely. Loneliness can be so miserable and distressing, that when it’s long-lasting it can be hard to see any positive side.   

    3. People who feel lonely have social skills that are no better or worse than average

    Sometimes it’s assumed that people feel lonely because they’ve found it hard to make friends and help with improving social skills would make a difference. This isn’t what we found. A key element of social interaction is the ability to tell what other people are feeling, so that you can adjust your responses accordingly. Perhaps they’re worried about something or you’ve accidentally offended them.

    One way of measuring this skill is to give people a series of full faces or even just pairs of eyes to assess how good they are at working out which emotion people are experiencing. There was no difference between the average scores of the people who often felt lonely and the people who didn’t.  There were differences in scores on neuroticism, so perhaps it’s the anxiety provoked by social situations that can make them harder to cope with if you feel lonely, rather than social skills.

    4. Winter is no lonelier than any other time of year

    Getty Images People report loneliness in all seasons, not just winter (Credit: Getty Images)
    People report loneliness in all seasons, not just winter (Credit: Getty Images)

    In the run-up to Christmas, you often see campaigns from charities who help the elderly featuring picture of isolated old people. It’s a day of the year that’s all about gathering with your loved ones to celebrate, so the idea of facing the day alone is something a lot of people would dread. British comedian Sarah Millican runs a very successful #joinin campaign on Twitter on Christmas Day so that people who feel lonely can chat to each other. And if you live in the northern hemisphere then Christmas also falls in the middle of winter when days are shortest and people stay in more, leaving you even more isolated if you feel lonely.

    But we found that for many who feel lonely, winter is no worse than any other time of year. We asked people to tell us the time of year and the time of day when they felt loneliest. More than two thirds of people said winter was no lonelier than any other time of year. The minority of people who did say one particular time of year is lonelier chose winter, but a few even chose summer. At Christmas, many people go to great lengths to ensure that everyone is included, inviting friends over if they know they might be alone. But in summer if everyone else goes on holiday, you might be the one feeling left behind. So perhaps we should start wondering whether other people might be lonely all year round, instead of just at Christmas.  

    5. People who often feel lonely have higher levels of empathy than everyone else

    In the survey two kinds of empathy were measured. One was empathy for people’s physical pain – how sorry you feel for someone who has accidentally slammed their hand in a door, picked up a scalding frying pan or been stung by a wasp. The other was how much empathy you have for other people’s social pain – for someone who’s been bullied at school, not invited to a party or dumped by their partner.  

    There was no difference in empathy for physical pain between the people who felt more or less lonely. But the people who said they often or very often felt lonely scored higher on average for empathy for social pain. Maybe because they have experienced for themselves what it feels like to be left out, they empathise more with other people who find themselves in the same situation.

    Link：https://peacelilysite.com/2026/07/13/the-surprising-truth-about-loneliness/

    Source: https://www.bbc.com/ukchina/trad/vert-fut-45930977

    H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Accomplishments in Medicine and Health Care- Mi Tuo Powder

    linda changLeave a comment


    H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Accomplishments in Medicine and Health Care- Mi Tuo Powder

    H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Accomplishments in Medicine and Health Care- Mi Tuo Powder

    My family is originally from Mimou in the suburbs of Chengdu. In the autumn of 1992, my second younger brother Gao-Song Lu’s two-year-old son, Yang Lu, was hospitalized in the local Mimou Hospital with a mysterious high fever. Every day he received shots and took all sorts of medicine. This included Chinese herbal medicine, such as bupleurum falcatum and isalis root, and Western medicine, such as penicillin. None of them did any good. Every morning his fever would go down, but late at night it would rise up to 39°C (102.2°F) or 39.5°C (103.1°F). Within a few days, Yang Lu had developed a serious case of pneumonia. His condition worsened quickly, and his fever rose to 40°C (104°F). His father Gao-Song Lu had no choice but to move him to the 47th Military Hospital in Xindu.

    There was a shortage of beds at the pediatric department, but with the help of the hospital’s head nurse, Li-Qin Huang, a friend of mine, Yang Lu found a place to stay at the department of Chinese herbal medicine. Yang Lu received much more advanced treatment at the military hospital than he did at that local ordinary hospital, but his temperature did not come down. To make matters worse, because of his continuous high fever, a horrible reaction to one of the intravenous shots all of a sudden caused his skin to blacken and and his tongue and reproductive organs to shrink. The doctor told my brother and his wife that Yang Lu might not live if the fever did not abate soon. Li-Qin Huang, the head nurse, was very worried and had someone look all over for me. When I finally heard what was happening, I dropped my work immediately and went to the residence of my respected Buddha master, His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha III, to seek help.

    I was very anxious, but H.H.Dorje Chang Buddha III consoled me. “Do not worry. This is a small matter. I will give you Chinese herbal medicine that will bring down the fever in no time.” H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III promptly ground the medicine to powder, wrapped it in white paper, and wrote on it “Mi Tuo Powder.” Yang Lu took the medicine, and his fever came down that very day. He was cured without even taking all of the Chinese medicine. The next day he was able to check out of the hospital and return home. My family and neighbors marveled at the effectiveness of “Mi Tuo Powder” and were all deeply grateful to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III for saving Yang Lu’s life. Yang Lu is now in high school and plans to apply to the air force academy. He is very healthy.

    In 1996, an injected form of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s “Mi Tuo Powder” was developed. Xiao-Mei Fang made arrangements with the Chengdu Institute of Biological Medicine to complete production procedures and produce a sample of golden ampere injected medicine. After H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III left Chengdu, the development was terminated for some reason. I hope that someday “Mi Tuo Powder” will be made available to help all people.

    Chengdu Daily News Shih-Fang Lu,

    April, 2006

    (This is a complete translation of the Chinese text that follows originally written and signed by Shi-Fang Lu.)

    H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Accomplishments in Medicine and Health Care- Mi Tuo Powder

    Learn more about H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III

    WHAT IS CULTIVATION?

    Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiidharma.com/2026/06/25/h-h-dorje-chang-buddha-iiis-accomplishments-in-medicine-and-health-care-mi-tuo-powder/

    #DorjeChangBuddhaIII #MasterWanKoYee #MiTuoPowder #HealingAccomplishments #BuddhistHealing #BuddhaDharma #SpiritualHealing #HealthCare #CompassionateHealing #DorjeChangBuddhaIIITeachings

    Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Fluid Dynamics: How Abdominal Breathing Literally Washes Waste From Your Brain

    linda changLeave a comment
    Remove extra people, keep only one person

    Have you ever experienced that mid-afternoon wall? You’ve been sitting at your desk for three hours. You haven’t done any heavy lifting, yet your head feels like it’s filled with lead, your thinking slows to a crawl, and your focus completely evaporates.

    We used to think the worst side effects of prolonged sitting were just weight gain, bad posture, or a sluggish metabolism. But a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Nature Neuroscience has shattered that assumption, revealing a silent, terrifying reality: When you slump in an office chair with your core disengaged, your brain is quite literally marinating in its own cellular waste.

    The human brain is an energy-hogging powerhouse. As long as you are alive, your neurons are firing wildly, producing vast amounts of metabolic waste—including amyloid-beta proteins, the primary culprits linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

    But here is the catch: while every other organ in your body relies on the lymphatic system to flush out waste, the brain is sealed tight inside a rigid skull. It has no traditional lymphatic vessels. For decades, scientists believed the brain only did its heavy cleaning during deep sleep, when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rushes through like an automatic car wash. But this left a massive blind spot in medical science: If sleep is the only cleaning cycle, why do active people who exercise regularly have a drastically lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia—even if they get the exact same amount of sleep?

    A cross-disciplinary team at Penn State University just found the missing puzzle piece.

    Using high-resolution, two-photon microscopes focused on live mice, researchers witnessed something extraordinary.

    They noticed that right before an animal moves—even if it is just preparing to stand up or take a single step—its core muscles, specifically the abdominal muscles, instinctively contract.

    This seemingly minor “belly squeeze” is actually the trigger for a highly precise hydraulic clearing system.

    When your abdominal muscles contract, they act like a powerful manual pump. They instantly force abdominal blood upward into the spinal venous plexus. That sudden pressure wave travels all the way up into the sealed skull. At that exact micro-second, the brain physically moves. With every single squeeze of your abdomen, the brain undergoes a tiny but distinct displacement inside the skull.

    Brain as sponge being gently squeezed

    Professor Francesco Costanzo, an expert in fluid mechanics involved in the study, offered a brilliant analogy:

    “The structure of the brain is actually like a soft sponge soaked in water. How do you clean a dirty sponge? You don’t just let it sit in a bucket of water. You have to gently squeeze it.”

    Every time your core contracts, it gently squeezes that “brain sponge.” This physical shift forces cerebrospinal fluid to rush through the brain’s intricate folds and crevices, flushing out the toxic metabolic waste that disrupts your neurons.

    ☯️ Ancient Mindfulness Meets Modern Science: The Power of the Belly

    Reading this study, I got absolute goosebumps.

    For thousands of years, Eastern traditional medicine and mindfulness practices (like Qi Gong and Tai Chi) have passionately advocated for “Abdominal Breathing” (diaphragmatic breathing) and centering one’s energy in the core (the Dan Tian).

    Ancient masters didn’t have high-resolution microscopes or computer fluid modeling, yet they deeply understood the body’s mechanics. They knew that rhythmic, deep belly breathing regulates the body’s internal pressure and vital energy. Today, Western peak science has finally validated this ancient wisdom: Changes in abdominal pressure are the literal engine driving your brain’s daily cleaning cycle.

    When we slouch in a chair for hours, our core muscles fall completely asleep. The hydraulic pump shuts down. The brain sponge just sits there, trapped in its own debris, quietly accumulating the tiny cellular triggers of neurodegeneration.

    The best news from this research? You don’t need to run a ultramarathon or become an Olympic weightlifter to clear your head. The study emphasizes that even the slight core engagement required to stand up from a chair, or the natural core activation of walking, fires up the pump.

    💡 My Quick Health Hack for Digital Workers: The next time you’ve been at your computer for too long and your brain feels foggy, don’t reach for another espresso. Try this Brain Reboot Routine:

    1. Get Up and Move: Walk to grab a glass of water. As you walk, consciously engage your core and feel your abdomen lightly pull inward.
    2. Do 3-5 Deep Abdominal Breaths: Inhale deeply, allowing your belly to expand outward. As you exhale, intentionally pull your lower abdomen tightly back toward your spine.
    Person running on treadmill inside gym with brain activation and flow diagram

    You aren’t doing this to sculpt six-pack abs; you are doing it to activate your internal hydraulic pump, gently shifting your brain inside your skull and flushing away hours of accumulated neurological fog.

    True movement isn’t just about the muscles we can see in the mirror—it’s about driving the invisible cleaning pumps that keep our minds sharp.

    Listen closely. Your brain is waiting for you to stand up. The next time you catch yourself staring blankly at your monitor, remind yourself: Time to get up and stretch—your brain is waiting for its shower.

    Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/05/21/ancient-wisdom-meets-modern-fluid-dynamics-how-abdominal-breathing-literally-washes-waste-from-your-brain/

    #BrainHealth #Neuroscience #Mindfulness #DiaphragmaticBreathing #HealthyLifestyle #NatureResearch #Biohacking #DeskJobHealth #BrainFog #AlzheimersPrevention

    The Body Listens to How We Live

    linda changLeave a comment
    A mage casting a spell to levitate books in a grand circular library filled with glowing crystals

    The Life We Live Beneath Our Genes

    Sometimes, when illness runs through a family for generations, people quietly carry a hidden fear in their hearts.

    “My parents had this disease.”
    “My grandparents suffered from it too.”
    “Perhaps one day, it will happen to me as well.”

    For a long time, science itself seemed to support this worry. We were taught that our genes determined much of our future, as though our health had already been written into the body from the very beginning.

    But modern research is beginning to reveal a more hopeful and more compassionate understanding of human life.

    In recent years, scientists studying the field of epigenetics have discovered that while our DNA sequence remains largely unchanged, the body possesses another powerful system — the epigenome — that helps regulate how genes behave.

    If the genome is like the body’s library of instructions, the epigenome acts more like the librarian, helping decide which pages are opened, which are closed, and which instructions are emphasized or quieted.

    This process does not change the genetic code itself. Instead, it involves tiny chemical markers that attach to DNA and surrounding proteins. These markers can influence whether certain genes become more active or less active over time.

    Two of the best-known mechanisms are called DNA methylation and histone modification.

    DNA methylation occurs when small chemical groups attach to certain regions of DNA, often reducing the activity of nearby genes. Histone modification affects how tightly DNA is wrapped around proteins called histones. When DNA is tightly packed, genes become harder for the body to “read.” When it loosens, those genes may become more active.

    What makes this discovery so fascinating is that the epigenome is not completely fixed. It responds continuously to life itself.

    DNA double helix surrounded by icons representing exercise, relaxation, nutrition, positive relationships, quality sleep, and stress management for strong immunity
    Healthy lifestyle choices positively impact your genes and overall health.

    Researchers have found that factors such as nutrition, sleep, stress, exercise, pollution, smoking, emotional health, and even social environment may influence epigenetic patterns over time.

    In other words, our bodies are listening to how we live.

    This does not mean we can control everything, nor does it mean genetics no longer matter. Some inherited conditions remain powerful and complex. But epigenetics suggests that biology is not simply destiny. The environment we create within and around ourselves may help shape how certain genetic tendencies are expressed.

    This is both humbling and deeply encouraging.

    It reminds us that health is not built in one dramatic moment.
    It is shaped quietly through small choices repeated day after day.

    A simple home-cooked meal.
    A daily walk.
    Enough sleep.
    Fresh air and sunlight.
    Learning to calm the mind instead of living in constant stress and tension.

    These habits may seem ordinary, but science increasingly suggests they can influence the body in profound ways over time.

    Modern life often pushes people toward speed, overstimulation, and exhaustion. Many live under continuous pressure, with minds that rarely rest and bodies that rarely recover. Yet the human nervous system was never designed for endless stress.

    One of the most hopeful messages from epigenetics is that positive change may still matter greatly, even when there is a family history of disease.

    A person may inherit certain risks, but risk is not always certainty.

    Good habits cannot guarantee perfect health, but they may help support the body, reduce vulnerability, and improve resilience across a lifetime.

    Perhaps this is why simple living has always carried quiet wisdom.

    Eat more naturally.
    Sleep more deeply.
    Move the body regularly.
    Reduce unnecessary stress.
    Live with greater balance and peace.

    The body responds not only to medicine, but also to the way we live every day.

    And maybe that is one of the most beautiful discoveries modern science is beginning to confirm:

    Our genes may shape the beginning of our story,
    but our daily lives continue helping to shape what comes next.

    Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/05/09/the-body-listens-to-how-we-live/

    The Doctor Who Chose Compassion Over Wealth

    linda changLeave a comment

    A quiet light in a noisy world

    In a modest clinic in Tanta, there once sat a doctor whose life quietly redefined the meaning of success. His name was Mohamed Mashally, but to thousands of ordinary people, he was simply known as the doctor who would never turn them away.

    For more than half a century, Dr. Mashally devoted himself to serving those who had nowhere else to go. While many pursue medicine as a path toward status or financial security, he chose a different road—one shaped by compassion, humility, and an unwavering sense of responsibility to others.

    His clinic was simple, almost unremarkable. Yet outside its doors, long lines would form each day. Patients came not only because his fees were extraordinarily low—sometimes less than the cost of a meal—but because they knew they would be treated with dignity. And for those who could not pay at all, he quietly asked for nothing.

    Behind this life of selfless service was a moment of deep sorrow that transformed his heart. Early in his career, Dr. Mashally treated a young boy suffering from diabetes. The child’s family could not afford the medicine he needed. When the boy passed away, it left a lasting imprint on the young doctor’s soul. From that day forward, he made a silent vow: no one should lose their life simply because they are poor.

    And so, he began a lifelong practice of giving.

    He worked long hours each day, often seeing patient after patient without rest. Opportunities came—offers to move to wealthier places, chances to build a more comfortable life—but he declined them all. He believed that his place was among those who needed him most.

    Even when people, moved by his story, tried to offer him financial help, he would gently refuse. “Give it to the poor,” he would say. For him, kindness was not something to be redirected—it was something to be lived.

    In a world often driven by gain and recognition, Dr. Mashally remained rooted in something deeper. He did not seek fame, yet his story spread across countries. He did not chase wealth, yet he became rich in something far more enduring—the gratitude of countless lives he touched.

    When he passed away in 2020, many mourned not just a doctor, but a rare kind of human being—one who embodied the quiet truth that compassion, when practiced sincerely, becomes a force that transforms the world.

    His life leaves us with a gentle but profound question:

    What does it mean to truly succeed?

    Perhaps success is not found in how much we accumulate, but in how much we are willing to give. Not in recognition, but in sincerity. Not in grand gestures, but in the small, consistent acts of care that ripple outward in ways we may never fully see.

    Like a lamp that asks for no reward, yet brings light to all who pass by, Dr. Mashally’s life reminds us that each of us, in our own way, has the ability to ease suffering and bring warmth into the lives of others.

    And sometimes, the greatest legacy we can leave behind is simply this:

    That because we lived, someone else suffered a little less.

    Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2026/04/20/the-doctor-who-chose-compassion-over-wealth/