Our Life's Window

  Há uma verdade que carrego comigo ao longo da vida, uma lição que não aprendi em sala de aula ou em um livro, mas à mesa — a longa mesa retangular da casa da minha avó. Todos os domingos da minha adolescência, como um ritual sagrado, minha família se reunia ali para o almoço. Era mais do que uma refeição; era um momento de conexão, uma cerimônia de histórias, aromas, risadas e amor. O que aprendi nesses momentos é algo que eu gostaria que todos hoje pudessem experimentar: o imenso valor de honrar os mais velhos, ouvir suas histórias de vida e valorizar o tempo em família. Minha avó sempre se sentava na cabeceira da mesa, não apenas por tradição, mas por merecimento. Ela conquistou aquele lugar com anos de sabedoria, trabalho e sacrifício. Servia porções generosas de comida com uma mão firme e amorosa. “Você está muito magro. Precisa comer mais”, dizia ela, enchendo nossos pratos com ensopados, carnes assadas, legumes frescos e pães macios. Sua comida não alimentava apenas o est...

  There is a truth I’ve carried with me throughout my life, one I learned not in a classroom or a book, but at a table—the long, rectangular table in my grandmother’s home. Every Sunday of my teenage years, like clockwork, my family would gather there for lunch. It was more than a meal; it was a ritual of connection, a sacred ceremony of stories, smells, laughter, and love. What I learned in those moments is something I wish everyone today could experience: the immense value of honoring the elderly, listening to their life stories, and cherishing time with family. My grandmother always sat at the head of the table, not just by tradition but by right. She had earned that seat through years of wisdom, labor, and sacrifice. She would serve generous portions of food with a firm and loving hand. “You look very thin. Eat more,” she’d insist, piling our plates high with stews, roasted meats, fresh vegetables, and soft breads. Her food didn’t just feed our stomachs—it nourished our soul...

  A felicidade é um desejo universal que todas as pessoas buscam ao longo da vida. No entanto, à medida que as pessoas envelhecem, muitas vezes veem esse sentimento se desvanecer sob o peso da solidão, do isolamento e de uma sensação de desesperança. O envelhecimento traz diversos desafios—problemas de saúde física, perda de entes queridos, aposentadoria e redução das interações sociais—que podem contribuir para dificuldades emocionais. Apesar desses desafios, a felicidade na velhice não é inalcançável. Com a mentalidade e a abordagem certas, os idosos podem continuar encontrando alegria, realização e propósito em seus anos mais avançados. Um dos maiores fatores que afetam a felicidade na velhice é a conexão social. Com o passar dos anos, os círculos sociais tendem a diminuir devido ao falecimento de amigos, à mudança de familiares para locais distantes ou à mobilidade reduzida. Isso muitas vezes leva à solidão, que pode ter um impacto significativo na saúde mental e física. Para ...

  Happiness is a universal desire every person seeks throughout their life. However, as individuals age, they often find this feeling fading under the weight of isolation, loneliness, and a sense of hopelessness. Aging brings various challenges—physical health issues, loss of loved ones, retirement, and reduced social interactions—which can contribute to emotional struggles. Despite these challenges, happiness in old age is not unattainable. With the right mindset and approach, seniors can continue to find joy, fulfillment, and purpose in their later years. One of the biggest factors affecting happiness in old age is social connection . As people age, their social circles tend to shrink due to the passing of friends, family members moving away, or reduced mobility. This often leads to loneliness, which can have a significant impact on mental and physical health. To combat this, older individuals should actively seek ways to maintain and build relationships. Engaging in community ...

  O feriado natalino sempre ocupou um lugar especial em nossas vidas. Para muitos, o clima natalino evoca imagens de lares movimentados, repletos do riso das crianças, o aroma de doces e do peru assando invadindo o ambiente e espalhando no ar. O calor da convivência enquanto família e amigos se reúnem para celebrar. Esses momentos, ricos em tradição, pareciam eternos e imutáveis, gravados no ritmo da vida. Nesta fase adulta da minha vida, o feriado natalino era frequentemente sinônimo de intensa atividade e alegria. As crianças desembrulhavam presentes com entusiasmo sob uma árvore de Natal iluminada, enchendo o ambiente com seu olhar de encantamento. As cozinhas vibravam com risadas enquanto refeições eram preparadas com muito carinho e cuidado, e os reencontros com familiares e amigos criavam memórias duradouras. Esses encontros nutriam um senso de conexão e continuidade, formando um rico mosaico de experiências que definiam a época. No entanto, à medida que a vida avança, os f...

  Holidays have always held a special place in our lives. For many, they evoke images of bustling homes filled with the laughter of children, the aroma of baked goods wafting through the air, and the warmth of togetherness as family and friends gather to celebrate. These moments, rich with tradition, seemed timeless and unchanging, firmly engraved into the rhythm of life. In earlier years, holidays were often synonymous with lively activity and shared joy. Children would eagerly unwrap gifts under a twinkling tree, their wide-eyed wonder filling the room. Kitchens buzzed with laughter as meals were prepared with love and care, while reunions with family and friends created lasting memories. These gatherings nurtured a sense of connection and continuity, forming a cherished tapestry of experiences that defined the season. But as life progresses, the holidays can take on a quieter tone. Children grow into adults, building their own families and establishing new traditions. Friends...

                                                                    Aging is a fundamental part of life, yet many people feel uncomfortable with it. Society often equates getting older with physical and mental decline, creating a narrow perspective that associates aging with vulnerability and loss rather than with the strengths and richness that it brings—qualities like wisdom, resilience, and emotional depth. This narrow focus contributes to ageism, an often unnoticed bias that affects how people treat and perceive older adults. Media and advertising reinforce these negative stereotypes by celebrating youth as the ideal and portraying aging as something to "fight" or "prevent." Dr. David Sinclair, for example, characterizes aging as a disease that can be treated, adding to the societal fear surrounding aging. When agin...

  Finding true purpose in life is a personal journey, but taking a few simple steps can bring greater clarity, meaning, and direction. In Greek mythology, purpose is closely tied to fate and destiny, underscoring its essential role in leading a fulfilled life. Purpose provides a framework that helps us find happiness, resilience, and peace, even during challenging times. People with a purpose often experience more success. As a psychotherapist, I have frequently guided individuals toward discovering purpose, helping them recognize that a life without meaning can create a vacuum, often filled with symptoms of depression. While we have the freedom to create meaning in our lives, a recent survey reveals that only 10% of people know their purpose. The majority, therefore, need help finding it. Many of my clients did not know what they wanted.  They were filled with uncertainties and incomplete tasks, lacking motivation to get up in the morning, care for their health, or make new f...

  Stress is our body's natural response to life's demands. Stress affects us all, Whether caused by work pressure, personal challenges, or unforeseen events. In fact, four out of ten adults worldwide report experiencing stress. While occasional stress is normal, chronic stress can be detrimental to both mental and physical health. Understanding how stress impacts our body and developing strategies to manage it are essential for maintaining a healthy, balanced life.  How Stress Affects the Body When we face a stressful situation, our body's "fight or flight" response is triggered, producing cortisol, the stress hormone. The adrenal glands release this hormone to help the body handle the situation by increasing alertness and energy. However, when stress is prolonged, cortisol levels remain elevated, which can have serious consequences.  Excessive production of cortisol can kill billions of brain cells and reduce the glucose supply to the hippocampus—the part of the ...