WTY-16: Yangsheng and Self-Satisfaction

27 April 2018

Although almost everyone desires, and may keep striving hard, to become rich and/or famous, neither the rich nor the famous are all really happy. While many people may never achieve their life goals no matter how hard they try and how smart they are, those who do manage to get what they want are often less happy than they believed they would be. Such being the deplorable human reality, yangsheng or happiness is not necessarily related to whether people are really successful in life or not.

Many people who are actually even more intelligent and more hardworking turn out far less successful than those popularly recognised as such. The reason is very simple: luck, timing, placing or socialising may play a significantly bigger role than people would think. Just as Chinese folk wisdom clearly suggests, a hero is a product of his own times.

To yangsheng well or attain true happiness, you may therefore never have to get exactly what you have desired, but you must learn to become ready to accept and even satisfied with who you are and what you have been.

YE&T-16: Knee Standing

25 April 2018

Standing straight on your knees and even walking around for 15 minutes or so whenever you can is a much healthier way than sitting or slouching on a chair. As an alternative to sitting, this posture or exercise will help slow down the ageing process of your knees and force you to use some of your muscles you would otherwise not use in a similar manner.

GYH-16: Climbing High to Gaze Afar

23 April 2018

Climbing high to gaze afar from time to time is an ancient tradition in Chinese culture. Although much fewer people do this nowadays, this is actually a very good habit because it derails us from routine boredom and makes us relax both physically and psychologically.

Elixir of Longevity

21 April 2018

Both ancient wisdom and modern science in both the East and the West have strongly indicated that there ISs an elixir of longevity after all, which is actually readily accessible to both billionaires and paupers:

that is laugh. Just as a popular yangsheng proverb goes in chinese: every happy laughter makes one ten years younger (笑一笑，十年少）.

So, watch, read or do whatever that can make you laugh aloud!

YR&T-15: Date-Fungus Soup

19 April 2018

- ingredients:
1. 10-15 g of black fungus;
2. 50 g of fresh ginger;
3. 5 red dates.

- steps:
1. soak the fungus in water for about one hour;
2. cut the ginger into small pieces;
3. put the three ingredients together into 6 bowels of water;
4. boil the mixture until 2 bowels of soup is left

note: eat this anti-thrombus soup with the content once a day, and it will help to maintain your blood health.

BHH-15: Holding in Poop

17 April 2018

It is a bad habit to hold in poop. For one reason or another, many people cannot help doing so; however, if you do this too often or too long each time, there will be many different effects on your health. For example, the bacteria, toxic or unwanted elements contained in the poop will be 'invading' your organs, eventually causing diseases, including cancers.

WTY-15: Success and Yangsheng

13 April 2018

For the vast majority of people, 'success' is measured in terms of money or fame or both. Whoever achieves his/her 'career goal' or 'American Dream' by becoming exceptionally wealthy or famous is popularly considered to be highly successful in life. For others, the measurement can be power/position, knowledge/wisdom, interest, health, love/family or the like. Once people manage to attain their life goals to a certain extent, they will usually be able to enjoy a truly happy life. Otherwise, they would feel unsatisfied with their own lives and keep striving continuously for their goals. In this sense, success and yangsheng are closely interrelated.

In practice, some people may live for money (or fame) all their lives; some may pursue different goals during different stages of their lives; others may try to fulfil several things at the same time (or for a lifetime).

Given the close relationship between personal success and true happiness, I believe only those who measure 'success' in their own (individualised) terms rather than in others' can live with a strong and sustained sense of happiness.

So, to yangsheng or find happiness, it is highly recommendable to follow our own hearts and define success in a personal way.

YE&T-15: Garlic for Itchy Throat

11 April 2018

For an itchy or irratating throat and to prevent coughing as a result, it is worth trying to bite a piece of fresh garlic and keep it in your mouth for about an hour. This natural therapy may prove more helpful than some medicine you might want to take.

GYH-15:Singing Songs Every Day

9 April 2018

Singing songs for 15 minutes at least every day is perhaps one of the best habits one should develop. This activity is good not only to your physical health (especially in terms of qi or energy balance and circulation), but also to your psychological well being (as it can help you relax or make you feel happy and lighthearted). Given its double health effects, you might want to get ready to sing anytime anywhere you can.

WTY-15: Curiosity and Longevity

7 April 2018

Even though more than a century year old now, Tsuneko Sasamoto, the first female photojounalist in Japan, is still as curios as a young girl. In fact, the Japanese woman has been living a long and happy life mainly because she stays curious about everything all her life. To her, a happy, healthy and long life can certainly be achieved by always keeping a curious heart, occupying herself with something and laughing a lot. For a more detailed introduction to her, visit the site http://www.spoon-tamago.com/2015/10/07/tsuneko-sasamoto-female-photojournalist/

YR&T-14: Ginger-Vinegar for Constipation

5 April 2018

-ingredients:
1. white vinegar
2. shredded fresh ginger
3. chinese white liquor
4. bandage

-method:
1. use the liquor with a cotton swab to clean the inside of your belly button
2. put the shredded ginger inside your button
3. use a swab to moist the inside of your button with the while vinegar
4. use the bandage to seal your button between 7 and 9 pm and sleep with it over night
5. change the content daily until your constipation is gone

This natural therapy is worth trying because it's believed to be highly effective to many people.

BHH-14:Using Too Much Strength While Defecating

3 April 2018

Many people, especially seniors with constipation, often use too much strength for whatever reason while making a bowel movement. This is a bad habit because it not only may have a damaging effect on your intestine system in the long run but, more important, can cause fatal heart failure/infarct.