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Show . I HOW TO LIVE Common Sense Comments on Health, Happinaas and Longevity By GEORGE F. BUTLER, A. M., M. D. Copyright, 1WJ, br International iress Bureau I BREATHING. 1 How do yon breathe? You should learn to breathe properly. Many people peo-ple have lazy lungs. Fresh nlr is a free gift, but It is like most of the gifts of heaven in that we must do our share of work to benefit by It. No one would espect to have a good fire just because a pair of bellows hangs on a nail by the chimney, but that is exactly ex-actly what many people expect of their lungs, which are really only the bellows given us to keep the fire of life burning bright and clear within us. This trick of lazy lungs is a habit, and, like any other, may be overcome by persistent effort. Many persons, for example, are afflicted with a nervous habit of holding the breath unconsciously. uncon-sciously. These are the people who, In spite of plenty of time spent out of doors catch cold easily, digest poorly, and are always more or less under the weather physically. Many other persons per-sons breathe only with the upper part of the lungs and, nlthough they may breathe regularly, do not draw in sufficient air at a breath to fill the lungs. When the pernicious habit ol poor, shallow breathing has been broken up, the health undergoes, such marked Improvement, there Is sucll brierhtenine: of the soirit and improve ment in appearance, that the luxury of deep breathing is not likely to be readily foregone. Deep breathing means literally deep breathing, and not what some understand under-stand it to be the mere lifting of the diaphragm, which may be done with the lungs not filled to their full capacity. capa-city. The action of the mind enters largely into all physical exercise, especially espe-cially into all forms of breathing which have the poising of the nerve centers In view. First fill your mind with pleasant thoughts and then concentrate con-centrate your thought upon the breath. Breathe and think! Breathe and think! until the whole body becomes a living thing and your breath a vital life-sustaining life-sustaining element. In short, breathe to the toes, for If such a concept can be held long enough, the actual breathing breath-ing capacity of the chest Is Increased to a great degree. Diaphragmatic breathing acts directly upon the liver, which in turn affects the stomach and digestive organs. Good digestion makes a healthful glow, brightens the eye, stimulates the entire being to radlnte vibrations of harmony and health. There Is no better way of strengthening, strengthen-ing, the muscles, the lungs and heart, Improving the appetite and digestion, banishing the "blues" and making you rejoice that yon are alive, than to go out into the woods and meadows or city parks, where you can exercise and breathe good air, and thus develop new sinew and new strength, both of soul and body. Work for health ; Insist on having It. It is yours If you but work for it. Its hints are in each growing tree, each breath of sun-kissed air, each thought of happiness, trustfulness and love. Get in touch with the purposes, plans and laws of the infinite intelligence, intel-ligence, and mental, moral, and physical phys-ical health Is yours, And one of the best ways to "get In touch" Is to take a daily long walk and breathe properly In "God's Out-of-Doors" under the great and infinite sky and among the trees where the winds are harping. If you will erect your head, expand your chest and walk away, as It Is meant you should walk, on these fresh mornings morn-ings when the world is enveloped in a golden halo from out ot which, like angel voices from the quiet depths of heaven, the winds are singing their Impromptu of praises, you will be full of life and joy and hope. I. EARN HOW TO LIVE. CHEERFULNESS J A cheerful man extracts all the In- J nocent joy he can out of the time as It passes, and does not worry. He does not fret and forbode, and spoil life's sunshine today, In the fear that there may be no sunshine tomorrow. He Is not disturbed by small evils, for he knows that the chief secret of comfort lies In not suffering trifles to vex him, and in prudently cultivating an undergrowth under-growth of small pleasures, since great ones rarely come to any of us and never nev-er last long. It Is the little, everyday pleasures and enjoyments that are the most satisfying. Live today, Instead of living in anticipation of a good time tomorrow. Do not grumble, but use to the full resources of happiness that are available. Happiness depends upon up-on the treatment of what we have, and not of what we have not ; hnpplness Is made, not found ; It comes from with- -in, and not from without. If we will to keep well and live long nnd be happy we must open our hearts to the healing heal-ing influences of nature, and cease to despise simple pleasures. Adapt ourselves our-selves to existing circumstances and use the opportunities of enjoyment that come our way, cultivating small pleasures, pleas-ures, making the most of our blessings and always trying to look on the bright side of things, and happiness will sur prise us unawares, Ttie worm ia um a looking-glass. Laugh at It, and It laughs back ; frown at It, and it frowns back. "Each of us," says Ruskin, "as we travel the way of life, has the choice, according to our working, of turning all the voices of nature into one song of rejoicing; or of withering and quenching her sympathy into a fearful withdrawn silence of condemnation, condem-nation, or into a crying out of her stones, and a shaking of her dust against us." Nothing is better understood under-stood than that there Is a connection between cheerfulness and good digestion. diges-tion. What an astonishing amount and variety of food can be disposed of and perfectly digested at one sitting sit-ting of two or three hours by a company com-pany of cheerful and happy, not to say jolly and merry, old friends ! This one fact is' worth more than all else to show the dependence of the digestive powers on the state of mind. Emerson says : "The more of the cheerfulness or good temper that is spent, the more of it remains." Cheerfulness is helpful every day and every minute. It grows upon itself and is contagious. It gives elasticity to the spirit ; specters fly be- . fore it, difficulties cause no despair, for they are encountered with hope, nnd the mind acquires that happy dls-nnsltlon dls-nnsltlon to improve the opportunities' which lend to success. Without cheerfulness cheer-fulness you cannot enjoy perfect physical, phys-ical, mental or moral health. The best tonic in the world is that which Is Imparted Im-parted to the body through the mentality. mental-ity. Just to be glad. This Is the cry of the human heart. Gladness Is the power to live in the present : to make the moment rich either with work or contemplation. To dwell on the care and vicissitudes of life Is to court sorrow, sor-row, ill health, despondency and death. The mind that considers too closely the evils of the world comes finally to partake par-take of the character of those evils. Learn to laugh. Cultivate the "nonsense" "non-sense" in you. Cultlvnte that part of your nature that is quick to see the mirthful side of things, to the end that thus you shall be enabled to shed many of life's troubles as the plumage of the bird sheds ram. Fun Is better for a sick child than medicine: and after nil, we are but grown-up children, and whether sick or well we should endeavor en-deavor to be cheerftfl. So cheer up ! Our misgivings may not be true, and remember that cheerfulness Is one of the best tonics in the world. LEARN HOW TO LIVE. |