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LIVE LAUGH LOVE: December 2025

Five Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

The nights are long and dark, the sun doesn’t shine as much, money is often tight and family squabbles can erupt during the winter holiday season. No wonder we get the blues! Here are seven ways to chase away the blues and bring more joy and sunshine into your life.


Observe your thoughts
Cell biologist and author of the bestselling Biology of Belief, Dr. Bruce Lipton has done extensive research into how the mind influences our health and happiness, so watching your thoughts is a good place to start. The best time is when you brush your teeth in the morning. You use muscle memory to brush your teeth, not your conscious mind – so while you brush, watch your thoughts. Don’t judge – just notice.


Exercise
Studies show that physical exercise not only benefits your body, it also improves your brain function and memory. Take a brisk walk in nature every day, but do it mindfully.


Stay in the present moment
Focus totally on the here and now. If your mind goes to what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow, gently bring it back to an awareness of what is going on right here, right now. Pray and Pray – it’s soothing.


Love yourself just as you are
Write on an index card: ILYJAYA YAM and put it into the bathroom as a reminder. Then every morning look in the mirror and say “I Love You Just As You Are. You Are Magnificent.” If you find it difficult to love yourself just as you are, fake it ‘til you feel it and little by little the love will come.


Do something good for somebody
There are many ways to do something good for somebody – as little as a smile – and as large as volunteering to help at the children’s ward of the hospital. And while you’re doing something good for somebody, don’t forget yourself. Pamper yourself. Tell the family you’re unavailable for one hour and go take a long bubble bath. What? You’re a man and you don’t take bubble baths? Well, then go to your man cave and tinker around for an hour.


Merry Christmas!


Ellen Wood of Questa, known artistically as Maruska, is an award-winning author celebrated for her transformative book series, The Secret Method for Growing Younger. Her latest release, Five Tibetan Rites – The Right Way, continues her mission to inspire youthfulness. All titles are available at www.growyoungerwithEllenWood.com.
To connect with Ellen directly, email her at ellen@howtogrowyounger.com.

Author

  • Ellen Wood, born in 1936, is a prizewinning author, columnist and former management executive. After her youngest child began school, Ellen started an in-house ad agency and won 16 awards for annual report and advertising excellence, including 4 national awards. Five years after her mother died of Alzheimer’s, Ellen experienced early symptoms (she has the gene, APO-e4). At 68 she developed a program of mind/body/spirit techniques that proved so successful, she wrote and published “Think and Grow Young,” followed by “Joy! Joy! Joy!” (now retitled “The Secret Method for Growing Younger,” Volumes 1 and 2) and gave inspirational speeches. Since 2018 Ellen has been the ad agency for NorthStar Tire and Auto in Questa, NM. Ellen started painting in November of 2020, having dabbled at it in her 20s, and gave herself a new name: Maruška, her father’s middle name. She is overjoyed to be part of a big, loving, kindhearted family. You can find her paintings at www.northernnewmexicoartists.com/ellen-wood

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