February brings love to mind, and that’s a good thing. Love creates, nourishes, rewards, and defines us. It affects how we communicate outwardly and feel inwardly. Counsellors are often asked to help with relationships and it does not take long before it is realized that love of any type (parental; sexual, intimate love of adulthood; demanding love with family and friends; and especially self-love) can get out-of-balance and negatively affect the relationship. Avoiding or suppressing old love issues clearly affects the present. Fortunately, even a small amount of awareness and acceptance about these love relationships can improve a relationship. Don’t wait to connect with a counsellor about difficulties with love of any type.

Brain-imaging techniques have revealed the brain’s plasticity and have identified networks that music activates. The brain areas activated by music are not unique to music. These networks also process other functions. Musical and non-musical functions share systems. For example, motor control and executive control share circuits with music. Music can activate and drive complex patterns of interaction between the other two, so that a stroke patient and someone with Parkinson’s increases movement, and someone with traumatic brain injury increases cognitive functioning, such as problem solving or decision making.

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Strength training is good for balance, immune function, cardiovascular health, bone health, and more, and it’s never too late to start building muscle. Sedentary adults over the age of 50 lose an average of .4 pounds of muscle mass a year, which adds up over time. For seniors, establishing a new strength-training program should be done under the care of an experienced trainer who understands the issues people face as they age, including loss of balance, and can make modifications during weight lifting sessions. In general, seniors should train about three days per week and add more weight when it’s no longer hard to lift the weight they’ve been using.

Join Our Place Society on February 23rd for a evening time walk in solidarity with Victoria’s Homeless community. Sign up for an engaging evening of social action to help the people in your society who need it the most. The evening will include music, food, entertainment and prizes as well as a chance to meet and connect with the homeless community you’ve come to support. This is a family friendly event, appropriate for all ages! For event details or to volunteer, walk by yourself, join a team or start a team at CNOY.org/location/victoriapandora

1. Examine your skin monthly, with your partner’s help, they can see the parts you can’t!
2. Sun-avoidance-choose wisely what time of day you go out in the sun.
3. Sun-protection-Not all sun wear is created equal and may not provide adequate protection against sun damage, check labels that say UV proof. Full brim hats also offer protection, but make sure the brim is at least four inches.
4. Sunscreen-When purchasing a sunscreen look for the CDA logo. It will have UVB and UVA protection. Use as least an SPF 50 during the summer months or when on holiday in warmer climes. A daily year round sunscreen could be SPF 30. Get your partner to apply sunscreen, it’s great for the relationship!
5. For possible sunscreen allergies or irritations speak with your pharmacist or Dermatologist.
6. Worried about chemicals in sunscreen? Go for ones that reflect UV and contain purely Zinc or Titanium oxides.
7. Reapply! Throughout the day, keeping an eye out for red bits that signal its time to cover up and put on aloe vera!
8. Moisturize your skin
9. Stop smoking-Ask yourself, do you want to have the skin of a plum or a prune? Same goes for UV tanning and over exposure to UV rays from the sun.
10. See a board certified Dermatologist at least once this year for a medical assessment of moles and skin cancer risk. It’s covered by MSP and can give you and your doctor a baseline for future skin checks. To learn about options for improving your skin appearance ask your board certified Dermatologist about a Cosmetic Consultation.
11. If you have acne, or Rosacea, get it sorted out before it requires laser therapy for acne scarring or Rosacea redness. A consultation with a Board Certified Dermatologist about acne or Rosacea is covered by MSP.