“The selective memory isn’t selective enough,” Blake Morrison, British Poet

 

 

“The selective memory isn’t selective enough,” Blake Morrison, British Poet

 

 

Well, maybe not….Can’t remember why you turned on your computer, or went into the next room …or maybe, where you put your keys? FAGEDDABOUTIT!!! There is comforting new research that will ease those fears of dementia or alzheimer’s disease that secretly stalk you as you go on a room-by-room search for those pesky keys.

Kathi Mestayer, Science Writer, and Staff Writer for Hearing Health Magazine, cites a recent study on the formation and reserve of new neurons by Paul Frankland, Associate Professor of Physiology and Chair of Cognitive Neuorbiology at the University of Toronto and, his wife, neuroscientist and study author, Sheena Josselyn and a host of colleagues.

Ms. Mestayer reports that the study, “…demonstrates that the creation and storage of new neurons (neurogenesis) leads to the loss of existing memories. Their experiments show that when mice engage in activities that promote neurogenesis (the process of forming new neurons), some the pre-existing memories can be lost.”

Excerpting Paul Frankland, “‘In fact, memory loss is a normal activity,’ Frankland continues ‘As we continually add new memories, we have to wipe the slate clean of mundane content that we don’t need. Forgetting is okay.’”

So, Frankland, Josselyn, and colleagues may have helped shed light on the origins of a universal mystery. Dubbed “Infantile amnesia” by Sigmund Freud, people have long wondered why it’s so hard to call up many early childhood memories. In a Guardian Weekly article about this research Frankland is quoted, ” ‘Previously, people would argue that neurons only help make new memories… But as you’re adding neurons, you’re also wiping away older memories.’ ” (See http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/may/24/brain-neuroscience-neurogenesis-childhood-memories, and,http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/new-brain-cells-could-be-blanking-out-old-memories-research-on-rodents-suggests/2014/05/17/e2623844-dc6d-11e3-b745-87d39690c5c0_story.html )

There are, however, other factors that can negatively impact our ability to recall. Some of the causes associated with memory loss include:

Depression & Anxiety

Stress

Dementia

Head Injury

Epilepsy

Stroke

Drug and Alcohol

Abuse

Brain Tumor

While these factors are detrimental to memory retention, they are obviously not applicable to everyone. In fact, you can sharpen your memory by engaging in exercise, learning new skills, social interaction, etc. But, maybe when you have a lot on your mind, a few early, unimportant memories will slip away. As Ms. Mestayer remarks, “With respect to humans, their finding suggests that neuron-creating activities, like exercising, may enable our hippocampus to clean house from time to time. If only we could decide what to keep and what to toss…” Kathi Mestayer is a Science Writer, Staff Writer for Hearing Health Magazine, Author of “Be Hear Now” on Beacon Reader, on the  Advisory Board, Va Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee, Greater Richmond Hearing Loss Association. Also, find her on HearingaidsRcool@blogspot.com

The Quiet Blog

 

 

“They might not need me; but they might. I’ll let my head be just in sight; a smile as small as mine might be precisely their necessity.” Emily Dickinson

 

 

I was having lunch with a group of ladies the other day and, in the course of catching up with each other, we had the inevitable discussion about our parents. Each of us had somethings in common with each other, and we concurred that one of the key components to good physical health was good mental health.

“Loneliness is at the root of so many problems,” said one of my companions, and I couldn’t agree more. Loneliness is not just a problem for older folks, but for people of any age. Life seems to be more painful (physically as well as emotionally) for those experiencing loneliness and isolation. Although, isolation is not always part of the equation, because one can be isolated even in a crowd or group. And, being lonely can be episodic, brought on by life changing situations or health challenges. Loneliness can do many bad things, like raising blood pressure; damaging the immune system; causing chronic stress and spoiling sleep. It can easily deteriorate self-esteem and social skills, starting a vicious downward spiral, making it very difficult to break out of depression.

The conclusion: we all need to get out there in some way and be present in the world. We need friends, and to participate, in some way, in society. And, maintaining a good outlook/positive attitude goes a long way in staving off the black dogs of depression and pervasive sadness.

But, here’s the rub-”being present in the world; having friends and participating in society” is not the same thing for everyone. Not everyone is extroverted or is inclined to join every club or pursue every activity.

One thing that is often overlooked in our culture, is the value of quietness and of time that is spent by oneself. In our supersonic society, it is easy to disregard the value of downtime and diminish the important ideas and thoughts brought to the table by introverts. I have just read “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” by Susan Cain. She has launched “A Quiet Revolution” and given a TED talk.

In this excellent book, Ms. Cain describes the rise of “Extrovert Ideal,” tracing it back to Dale Carnegie and his seemingly inauspicious beginnings as a socially awkward Missouri farm boy. His life was changed in 1902 when he attended a speaker at his own church in Harmony Church Missouri. The man delivered a Chatauqua lecture on his personal story — a “rags-to-riches” tale of a life that had begun in a manner that was very similar to Dale’s. The inspiration that Carnegie drew from this story effectively launched a movement that changed society.

Ms. Cain has researched the topic exhaustively, as she writes, “If you’re an introvert, you also know that the bias against quiet can cause deep psychic pain.” She goes on to offer introverts some invaluable insights and tips for succeeding in a world full of talkers. She also gives the extrovert a chance to stand back and appreciate their quieter compatriots.

One of the first “tips” in the book is a 20 question True or False questionnaire that can help the reader rate her own level of introversion or extroversion. Here is an adapted version that can be found at her website http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com : 1. I prefer one-on-one conversations to group activities.

2. I often prefer to express myself in writing.

3. I enjoy solitude.

4. I seem to care about wealth, fame, and status less than my peers.

5. People tell me that I’m a good listener.

6. I’m not a big risk-taker.

7. I enjoy work that allows me to “dive in” with few interruptions.

8. I like to celebrate birthdays on a small scale, with only one or two close friends or family members.

9. People describe me as “soft-spoken” or “mellow.”

10. I prefer not to show or discuss my work with others until it’s finished.

11. I tend to think before I speak.

12. I often let calls go through to voice-mail.

At the end of the book, she also provide resources and suggestions such as: Public Speaking For Introverts (or, really, anyone)

“Preparation is key

Think about what your particular audience wants to hear

If you haven’t spoken publicly in awhile and feel rusty, watch videos of speakers that have shots taken from the speaker’s vantage point, where you can see what it’s like to face the audience. Similarly, if you can, visit the room where you’ll be speaking.

When you listen to a great speaker or hear someone mention one, get a transcript of the speech.

Know your strengths and weaknesses as a speaker and accentuate the positive.

At the same time, public speaking is a performance, and that’s a good thing, even if you’re not a natural actor. Smile at your audience as they enter the room, and smile at them when you begin speaking. This will make you feel relaxed and confident.”

I think these rules, with a little adaptation, can also help in social situations, making it easier to get out into the world, whether extroverted or not. In providing assistance, they can help prevent loneliness, making life so much better.

 

Everything Old is New Again: A Short History of Women’s Swimwear, Part 1

Despite the fact that we are deep into summer, and those suits that we so optimistically purchased in April, May or early June might still be fresh, the topic of bathing suits is endlessly fascinating. How many swimsuits should one have? What cuts look good at each age? What are the trends for 2014/2015. I mean, just because it’s the second half of July doesn’t mean that many beaches won’t stay open until mid-to-late fall.

 

2014/2015 boasts a number of different bathing suit trends, one of which is sort of “retro” or “vintage” featuring classic one pieces, two pieces with bandeau tops. Although, the bikini was first shown in 1946, there were earlier styles that very similar –the young, “bikini girls” tile mosaics, for instance, were depicted in 12th b.c. in the Roman Tile Mosaic of at Villa Casale in Sicily. These young women were engaging in athletic contests rather than in swimming or bathing. (The ‘bikini girls’ could not have been the inspiration for the 1946 swimsuit, though, because they were not unearthed until 1959-60.)

                                

A bit about Bathing in Roman Times….women did wear suits…according to Ms. Katie Furia, an art history student and avid blogger, who wrote the honors paper “Art History Research Paper: Baths and Bathing in Ancient Roman Society, The Baths of Caracalla,”Bathing and baths were important indeed. As, Ms. Katie Furia, described in of 2007, “In the words of Seneca, a Roman rhetorician and writer (ca. 54 BC – ca. 39 AD), ‘The baths, the wines and Venus corrupt our bodies, but the baths, the wines and Venus are life’ (Piranomonte, 55). My research suggests that Seneca was right—baths and bathing were of great importance to the ancient Romans. The baths helped maintain good health, luxury, and indulgence for Rome’s citizens; they were often considered a public good for society; and many emperors throughout the history of imperial Rome bestowed public baths to their people as a generous gift.”
http://honorsaharchive.blogspot.com/2 (of Art History Preservation Guide)

But how did women dress? In Roman times attitudes towards bathing went back and forth, sometimes men and women bathed separately, sharing the same pool, but assigned to different hours; other times they bathed together. Often the women were in schedule for morning “swims” while the afternoon was reserved for men. In antiquity women sometimes bathed in the nude, but looking at this painting, “The Baths of Caracalla,” it appears that women did not swim in the nude, but wore light, loose clothing instead. This is especially interesting in light of the fact that “The Bikini Girls,” dated from the 12th century B.C. and the Baths of Caracalla were a hotspot from ca. 54 BC – ca. 39 AD).

Public bathing continued through the so-called “Dark Ages,” and into the Renaissance. In fact, Ms. Jennifer A. Heise has written a fascinating article, “A Short History of Bathing before 1601,” http://www.gallowglass.org/jadwiga/herbs/baths.html. This extensively researched piece includes bathing customs from the Eastern and Western hemispheres. One interesting tidbit was that during the Middle Ages, people would dine while sitting in the pool. Men wore hats, and women were fully coifed and often wore jewelry — I’m not sure that either sex wore any type of shirt or blouse, though. Very formal, indeed!

We can fast forward to the 1780’s A.D., and learn about the Regency period in England, where bathing in the ocean became the rage. (‘Sea bathing in Regency Weymouth’ by Rachel Knowles, http://www.regencyhistory.net/2012/08/sea-bathing-in-regency-weymouth.html ) Improving one’s health was the initial reason that people took to the sea to bathe. Two highly respected British medical doctors, Drs. Russell and Dr. Crane, were convinced of the positive health effects of immersing oneself in the surf. By 1800, this practice had become very popular, but there was no place to change into a bathing costume — so, voila! poof! the bathing machine was born! Carried into the surf by horse drawn carriages, these bathing wooden machines resemble modern day cabanas (only they were constructed of wood).

 

                   

 

 

Dipping a toe into the sea spawned proverbial and actual “Days at the Beach.” A certain sartorial standard had already been established at bath houses, and, with the “flannels,” popular during the Regency period — so, now it came time for designers to address an eternal conundrum — What do I wear? Rest assured, they didn’t put a lot of thought into the second question: “Does this make me look fat?” Because, frankly, those mid – 19th – early 20th century costumes made every woman look sort of fat. In 1858, the fashionable woman might have worn something like this….

 

Wikipedia’s article on swimsuits is revealing….http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimsuit
“In various cultural traditions one swims, if not in the nude, in a version in suitable material of a garment or undergarment commonly worn on land, e.g. a loincloth such as the Japanese man’s fundoshi.
“Female bathing costumes were derived from those worn at Bath and other spas. It would appear that until the 1670s nude female bathing in the spas was the norm and that after that time women bathed clothed. British traveller and diarist Celia Fiennes, gave a detailed description of the standard ladies’ bathing costume in 1687:
The Ladyes go into the bath with Garments made of a fine yellow canvas, which is stiff and made large with great sleeves like a parson’s gown; the water fills it up so that it is borne off that your shape is not seen, it does not cling close as other linning, which Lookes sadly in the poorer sort that go in their own linning. ….
The Bath Corporation official bathing dress code of 1737 prescribed, for women:
No Female person shall at any time hereafter go into a Bath or Baths within this City by day or by night without a decent Shift on their bodies.
The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker was published in 1771 and its description of ladies’ bathing costume is different from that of Celia Fiennes a hundred years earlier:
The ladies wear jackets and petticoats of brown linen, with chip hats, in which they fix their handkerchiefs to wipe the sweat from their faces; but, truly, whether it is owing to the steam that surrounds them, or the heat of the water, or the nature of the dress, or to all these causes together, they look so flushed, and so frightful, that I always turn my eyes another way.
Penelope Byrde points out that Smollett’s description may not be accurate, for he describes a two-piece costume, not the one piece shift or smock that most people describe and is depicted in contemporary prints. His description does, however, tally with Elizabeth Grant’s description of the guide’s costume at Ramsgate in 1811. The only difference is in the fabric the costumes are made of. Flannel, however, was a common fabric for sea bathing costumes as many believed the warmer fabric was necessary in cold water.
In the 18th century women wore “bathing gowns” in the water; these were long dresses of fabrics that would not become transparent when wet, with weights sewn into the hems so that they would not rise up in the water.

 

Next Week – Part Two

Countering the Costs of Being a Wedding Guest

You see the beautiful envelope in your mail slot, and even though you may adore the senders, you dread the implications of opening the envelope, not because you aren’t interested, but, because you know it might break the proverbial bank. What is going on is the cost of attending, or maybe just buying a gift, for a wedding. The irony is, that it costs a lot for the happy couple to host you, too. So, in a way, everyone is in the same boat, but, I digress! In a recent study conducted by American Express, the estimated cost of attending a wedding is up to $592, which is 75% higher than it was in 2012. That’s just getting and staying there, if it’s an out-of-town wedding. Factor in the costs of meals, gifts, and your own wardrobe (assuming you are not a member of the wedding party) and you are easily looking at $700 +. So, where can you save and still “be there with bells on.” The good news is that there are some novel options to help save your pennies without cutting into the fun.

 

Giving the Perfect Gift One thing that is helpful in choosing your gift is to visit the wedding registries as soon as you receive the invitation. The least expensive gifts tend to go more quickly. Another strategy is to go in together with a group of friends to finance something that the couple really wants. And, there is a website that has special coupons for many influential retailers (and more). http://www.PromotionalCodes.com is a free site that sends out newsletters filled with coupons and special promotions. They include such major merchants as: Macy’s, Best Buy, Target, Saks Fifth Avenue,Vera Bradley, Expedia and many, many more.

Getting There and Getting a Room Don’t want to bunk in with old friends or relatives? Here are some websites that can help you get better deals on travel and hotels. I have compiled this list from researching Forbes and Kiplinger’s slate of top discount travel companies. In no particular order they are: Kayak.com BingTravel AirfareWatchdog.com WhichBudget.com Yapta.com Hotels.com Expedia.com Orbitz.com FlyersTalk.com Travelocity.com Priceline.com DealBase.com Hotwire.com TripAdvisor.com Jettsetter.com

WHAT to Wear?              This is one of my favorite topics! The Wedding Weekend usually has at least two important events — the Rehearsal Dinner and the Wedding/Reception. But, there are often other events that call for changes of clothes, Luncheons and Brunches, for example. Wearing the same thing twice is no fun…but, can be pricey. There are all sorts of places now that will rent outfits, and they are stunning clothes! So, if you want to shine sartorially but are working on a shoestring, here are some places for you to visit: http://www.RentTheRunway.com http://www.dressfirst.com http://www.onenightaffair.wix.com http://www.newdress2014.com Voila! Now you can go out, kick up those discounted heels and a million-dollar time!