Texting, twittering and emailing are all forms of digital communication meant to keep us in constant contact in the quickest and most efficient manner. With it, we are able to tell our friends and family when we can go to dinner and which restaurant we should eat at; and our coworkers why we’re running late and what time we’ll make it to the meeting. It’s practical and has in some respects made person-to-person communication easier than ever before.

However, as digital communication has become increasingly popular with advancements in technology in recent years, whether or not this form of communication is good for society has become somewhat questionable. How is this ubiquitous, yet brief form of socialization affecting our relationships? Many psychologists fear that the constant use of such communication is contributing to anxiety, distraction and above all, impersonal relationships.

Changing the Way We Socialize

Some argue that in participating in such socialization, that being written, not spoken; we are not getting the full experience of communication. We are not hearing the anger, passion or excitement in our friends’ voices, as reading acronyms like “LOL” is very different from hearing actual laughter. As a result, some researchers worry that we will begin to forget certain social cues like facial expression. Since we don’t smile or frown when sending a text, some fear that when in placed social situations where these cues are appropriate, we can forget to use them.

Another concern is the amount that digitally communicated messages can convey. Receivers of a text or email can only get the bare minimum of a message as the tone can be difficult to decipher; sarcasm, jest and anger are nearly imperceptible unless the receiver is extremely familiar with the sender. Some psychologists believe that this can lead to confusion and doubt in our relationships, as well as our ability to properly assess social situations.

Researchers also suggest that is difficult have meaningful conversations through digital communication, which can ultimately affect our quality of life. Recent studies conducted by professors at the University of Arizona have shown that people who are happy have twice as many substantive conversations than those who are unhappy. Substantial conversations create feelings of belonging and understanding which ultimately lead to happiness. However these can be difficult to have over text and email.

Individual vs. Impersonal Messages

Twitter, a newer form of digital communication which allows users to update their friends about what they are doing and how they are feeling in 160 characters or less. In one sense Twitter promotes communication in that users are actively socializing by seeking connection. Yet the communication that it promotes in largely impersonal given that users are writing messages intended for a mass audience, meaning there is nothing personal about it.  The messages are not directed at a specific individual, so it can therefore be argued that they have less meaning. The same can be said of mass emails or texts.

Advantages to Digital Communication

However Twitter, text and email do have extremely practical and in some cases, potentially save saving advantages. During the recent tsunami evacuation in Hawaii, in which as many as 50,000 people left the island of Oahu, the Honolulu Emergency Management Department used digital networking to get the word of evacuation out. According to the New York Times, Pacific Tsunami Warning center geophysicist Brian Shiro sent approximately 500 tweets during the evacuation, all of which could have helped saved countless lives had the tsunami hit.

How It Works For Us

Despite some of the negative impacts digital communication may have on our relationships and the way we socialize, the advantages are impossible to ignore and it is doubtful that we would ever want to reverse the changes in technology that led to text and email. For technology does not have to dictate how we behave. The way we choose to use these innovations in digital communication and how they affect our relationships is ultimately up to us.

How getting heathy today, saves money in the long run.

According to a study conducted by the Research Triangle Institute and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the medical costs of complications related to obesity is over $147 billion a year. This includes fees paid for by Medicare, Medicade, drug prescriptions and private insurers. The study goes on to conclude that those who are obese spend an additional $1,429 a year in medical bills than those at a healthy weight, proving that while gym memberships and fresh fruits can be pricy, staying fit is a more cost efficient way to save money in the long run.

Here are some examples of how staying in shape can save you money:

Not spending money on enrollment fees joining weight loss programs like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers.

Eating in: you’re likely using less sauce and butter, not filling up on bread before the meal and eating a smaller portion. Making your own dinner also costs less than dining at a restaurant.

Don’t smoke; some insurance companies are beginning to charge an extra premium to provide insurance for those who smoke or are obese as they are more prone to illness such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, which have costly medical bills.

Bike to work to burn calories instead of gas money.

Cut out the soda and alcohol by switching to water. It’s free when it comes from your faucet. Plus, zero calories!

Staying fit involves having lower blood pressure, cholesterol, a lower percentage of body fat, and hopefully less health problems, which in addition to being dangerous, can be costly.

Go running or walking outside; anything but watching TV. Being out of the house means your lights are out and the TV is off, which saves money on the cable and electricity bill. Plus, you’re running – an instant fitness booster!

I’m am so over winter, it’s ridiculous. Are you?  My winter protest has ceremoniously begun.  Out with the boots and on with my sandals.  Even if I have to put socks on with my sandals while looking like a total nerd – I’m done.   I don’t care what happens from now until April, my feet are suffocating and so is my brain – enough suffering.  I’m officially in 24/7 pedicure mode.  I’d rather have frost bite on my feet than schlep around in my boots for one more day. You think I’m kidding?.  I don’t joke about his kind of stuff, it’s way to serious. Now that my feet can breathe I’m ready to jump into my favorite catharsis- Spring Cleaning!  Not only does spring cleaning detox my house, it clears my head and burns calories.  Heavy cleaning is an exercise in balance, strength and flexibility – a full body workout.

Spring Cleaning is fun and burns calories, possibly  tons of calories, especially if you start throwing out the entire house. This event terrifies my husband.  Imagine, the sweeping, the washing, the mopping,  the vacuuming, the emptying of closets and drawers, jumping on and off the step stool, the rearranging of furnishings, the unloading of junk and discarding of tired clothing.  Time to stop groaning and think about where to start.  There are a lot of small things you can do that can go a long way to brighten up your home after a long winter, and hopefully these tips will help to motivate you!

Start small and go for the big wins first. You don’t have to conquer the world in one day, or clean your home for that matter. Make a list of what you’d like to see done, then plan for an hour a day to work on one of the items on your list…( this would be practical).  Of course, if you’re at all like me you’ll unexpectedly enter into a whirlwind of household purging at 7:00 am Monday and finish the job sometime on Wednesday. Spick- and – Span, you’re ready for spring!

Here is a clean plan of attack:

Wash the floor mats to get rid of the grime from winter boots and the spills they’ve been collecting. It doesn’t take long but it makes a big difference. Check the wash water to see just how much dirt those mats have been harbouring, if you really care.

Grab a pail and wash the kitchen floor and then do some spot cleaning of the walls to get rid of handprints or smudges.

Pick an evening and clean the mirrors in your home. It won’t take long, but your mirrors will be shining when you’re done. Don’t forget to also clean the tv’s and computer screens.

Wash the windows in the kitchen so you can see the buds coming out on the trees when you’re cooking. Then continue to the living room windows if you have the time.

Pick a closet to sort through, toss out and box up. Reorganize what’s left.  If you finish before you expect, you now have some bonus time!!!

Clean out the fridge and get rid of anything not quite edible, wiping down the shelves as you go. Then take pleasure in filling it with some of your favourite foods!

Want to spend some time outside enjoying the sunshine? Grab a hose and an extendable squeegee and wash the windows outside. You get clean windows and some fresh air.

Refresh your wood furniture and cupboards with some furniture polish or other wood product. You’ll get rid of some dust and keep your furniture looking good.

Wash the blankets and throws on your bed and in the rest of your home. Not only will the colours be brighter, but they will smell fresher, especially if you’re planning to hang them up outside to dry. Just make sure to follow the cleaning instructions on each item!

Vacuum everywhere, including under the furniture and in the corners… getting rid of the dust collecting in the carpet will not only make your home look cleaner, it will also improve your health by getting rid of dust mites.

I think you get the idea…

Every time you finish something on your list, take pride in crossing it out. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be the dreaded chore it sounds like when it’s broken out into manageable pieces. Set achievable goals and you’ll be done in no time. Now for the most important part, remember to reward yourself after each milestone… grab some dark hot chocolate or your favorite tea and go for a walk with your dog or girlfriend, take a long hot bath in your freshly cleaned tub, or put up your feet and watch a movie. Everything in moderation, including cleaning.

While going through my first Yoga teacher training one of our assignments was to “give an anonymous gift” to a fellow classmate. We were instructed to resist the temptation to give up our anonymity. I thought this was a rather clever and simple assignment. Not so much!  As instructed I secretly chose my “givee” and I was of course the “giver.” It seemed like a fun game of give and take. But, what to give, how to give it and reconciling my feelings of  giving anonymously was no easy task. This of course made perfect sense and was to be expected because there had not been a single assignment in six months that was short of  grueling mental and emotional challenge. Hmmmm…..What was he trying to teach us this time?  Well, of course I knew. The greatest form of giving is to give anonymously. Why? Because when we remain anonymous, completely taking our ego out of the equation while doing something or giving something to someone else without needing or wanting credit, attention or applause it becomes solely about the other person-”the givee.” Giving anonymously also releases the “givee” from possible feelings of embarrassment and obligation.  Every once in awhile you will read about someone in the newspaper who anonymously gives a million dollars to charity or buys a homeless person a house or pays off a daunting hospital bill. Literally, helping free another human being from their suffering. Their gift while incredible and beautiful is even greater because they do it without needing others to know. Their gift comes from a special place, a selfless place, deep in their heart and soul. I am not suggesting we give up our traditional ways of gift giving but perhaps exploring the rewards of an occasional anonymous gift. It’s a whole different kind of” high” to give and not want or need anything in return other than to make another person feel good. So, after careful and mindful consideration I selected my gift, one that i hoped would bring real joy to my classmate (I’m not going to tell you what it was) and I arranged delivery. It was a crazy experience for me because I would never see the expression on their face or feel the joy in their heart when they opened it. All I knew was that in a small way, I gave joy to another person and no one in the world would ever know it.  Except me, and it felt good.

On Valentines Day or any day this year considering giving your love anonymously!

The trick to creating healthy dark chocolate treats? Keep it small and simple! Remember that an ounce of dark chocolate clocks in at around 160 calories and 10 grams of fat…add-ins can up that ante significantly!

When melting dark chocolate, remember to heat gently and slowly, since chocolate burns easily if heated too quickly or over-heated. Also, be extremely careful to keep water, even steam, out of your chocolate, as even a tiny amount of water can cause “seizing” or lumpiness of the melted chocolate. And finally, remember this mantra: always choose the finest quality ingredients available. The quality of the chocolate you start with really does make a huge difference in your finished product!

The candy recipes below do not require tempering, or heating and cooling the chocolate to ensure that the cocoa butter in the chocolate hardens uniformly and creates a smooth texture in the finished product. To melt the chocolate for these recipes, chop (a long serrated knife works well!) high quality chocolate with a cocoa count of at least 60% evenly into coarse chunks. Microwave in a glass bowl at 50% power for the amount of time suggested in each recipe, stopping every 30 seconds to stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula. Remove when the chocolate is 2/3 melted and continue to stir until fully melted. For more detail on working with chocolate, see www.candy.about.com/od/chocolate/u/chocolate.htm or www.best-chocolate-recipes-online.com/chocolate.html.

Chocolate Truffles

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 61% cacao), evenly chopped    

½ cup organic heavy cream

1 tablespoon Grand Marnier

¼ teaspoon coarse salt

Unsweetened cocoa powder for coating

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and tape it to the back to keep it from moving when truffles are placed. Place chocolate in glass bowl. Bring cream, Grand Marnier, and salt to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Pour cream mixture over chocolate, and let stand for 2 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Pour chocolate mixture into and 8-inch baking dish, and refrigerate 30 minutes. Scoop balls of chocolate mixture using a tablespoon or 1-inch scoop. Roll balls in cocoa powder, tossing to coat thoroughly. Shake off excess. Makes about 28 truffles. Can be refrigerated for 3 days.

Chocolate Dipped Apricots

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 61% cacao), chopped

24 dried apricots

1 tablespoon chopped nuts (pistachios, cashews, walnuts)

Place chocolate in glass bowl and microwave at 50% power for 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Remove from microwave and continue to stir until thoroughly melted. Dip half of each apricot in chocolate, letting excess drip off. Place apricots on waxed paper or parchment and sprinkle chopped nuts of your choice over the chocolate portion. Refrigerate until the chocolate sets.

Chocolate Dipped Berries

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate

½ tablespoon organic whipping cream

Berries to dip

Combine chocolate and whipping cream in glass bowl. Microwave at half power for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. If necessary, extend time in 30 second intervals until chocolate mixture is almost melted. Stir thoroughly then cool slightly. Dip each berry into the melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Place on wax or parchment paper and refrigerate for 15 minutes to set.

Chocolate Bark

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 61% cacao), chopped

1 cup add-ins of your choice (toasted pistachios or other nuts, dried berries, crumbled pretzels, etc. Be creative, but remember to stick with healthy ingredients!)

Place chopped chocolate in large glass bowl. Microwave at 50% power for 3 minutes, stirring after each 30 second interval. When chocolate is almost melted, remove from microwave and continue to stir until completely melted. Stir in the add-ins. Spoon the mixture onto a waxed-paper or parchment lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until firm. Break into bite-size pieces to serve.

“Almond Joy” Tart

1 refrigerated or home-made pie crust

½ cup organic heavy whipping cream

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips (such as Ghiradelli)

1 cup almonds, toasted, coarsely chopped

½ cup organic flaked coconut

Pinch of coarse kosher salt

Extra coconut for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Press pie crust onto bottom and up sides of 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Trim edges if necessary. Pierce crust all over with fork and bake until browned, about 12 minutes. In the meantime, bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low; add chocolate chips, and stir until smooth and fully melted. Remove from heat. Stir in almonds, coconut, and salt. Spread chocolate mixture in crust. Sprinkle with extra coconut to garnish and chill until set, about 2 hours. Serve at room temperature.

This is a fun recipe to play around with. Try other kinds of nuts or dried fruits. Brush the crust with raspberry or other preserves after it comes out of the oven. Each variation will create a deep, dense, candy bar tart created just for you!

Not sure what constitutes high quality chocolate?  Some excellent brands to try for melting include Cacao Barry, Callebaut, Scharffen Berger, Tcho (available at www.tcho.com ), and Valrhona.