The "What Toddlers Can Teach Us About Happiness"

It was an ordinary day.  Then I turned my newspaper page and began reading a story written by New York Times columnist Jancee Dunn.  She began by writing that when it comes to happiness and living well, we can learn a lot from toddlers.  Hasan Merali, an associate professor of Pediatrics at McMaster University and a pediatric emergency room physician, has treated thousands of patients between the ages of 1 and 5.  He shared a few good habits, common among toddlers, that can improve your mental and physical health.  Seems that young children tend to coach themselves out loud, a practice known as private speech.  Toddlers aren't shy about self-talk, and neither should we be.  Research suggests that for adults, positive self-talk can help with problem-solving, learning and confidence.  Two-year-olds are active for almost five hours a day.  They move joyfully and instinctively.  Adults can look for ways to move more, even it it's just for a minute.  Take a quick walk around the block, or schedule a meeting on foot.  Brief bursts of activity have been shown to increase longevity if they add up to 10 minutes per day.  Young children aren't afraid to pop questions.  One study found they asked an average of 107 questions an hour.  Adults have been socialized to hold our questions because we're often worried about what other people think.  But, asking not only helps us to learn, it's also an important way to build relationships.  Toddlers thrive on routine, and having a schedule with consistent sleep and waking times will help you, too, said Alberto Ramos, a sleep neurologist and researcher with the University of Miami Miler School of Medicine.  Napping has a host of benefits.  And....I have told my wife that many times.....just before I doze off!  One study found that young children laugh six times as much as adults.  But, we can seek ways to build playfulness and humor into our daily lives.  I must admit that there aren't too many people that I know that laugh as much as I do...both at others as well as myself!  Listen to a comedy podcast or trade silly texts with someone.  Research shows you laugh more when you are with friends, so make time for them.  Perhaps we really can learn from friends and even toddlers if we will only allow them to teach us.  Hey, give it a try sometime and see what happens.  Can't lose a thing by just trying.  PS - I find that my two cats that came to our back door years ago, can make me smile every time I see them.  To me...they are my household toddlers.  Actually...one just walked across my keyboard!  Brightens up my day!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.