Living Well by Doing Good

Winter is a good time to enjoy a good book or two. One book I checked out of the library yesterday is "Why Good Things Happen to Good People, the exciting new research that proves the link between doing good and living a longer, healthier, happier life." The authors are Stephen Post and Jill Neimark. There are chapters on celebration, generativity, forgiveness, courage, humor, respect, compassion, loyalty, listening, and creativity, all positive traits and ways considered to be acts of generous love that lead to a good life. Regarding humor, the book says that "humor requires the ability to be flexible, to frame life anew." Re forgiveness, that it alleviates depression, reduces anger and lowers stress hormones. Another small quote, "...a life well lived is really the sum of thousands of small, ordinary acts of kindness." It is a familiar theme. Haven't we heard that a merry heart does good like medicine? And to love one another? I love it when scientific research validates Biblical truths as this book does!