Tag: womens-health

Women and Well-being

Following last week’s blog, Men and Well-being, it seems appropriate to address women’s well-being. First, here is a 4-point working definition of well-being that is supported by neuroscience research from the Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison:

  • Awareness: A heightened, flexible attentiveness to one’s environment and internal cues such as bodily sensations, thoughts and feelings.
  • Connection: A feeling of care and kinship toward other people that promotes supportive relationships through acknowledging and understanding another’s unique perspective.
  • Insight: A self-knowledge concerning how one’s emotions, thoughts and beliefs shape their experiences and sense of self.
  • Purpose: A keen understanding about one’s core values and deeper motivation to be capable of applying them in daily life.

Perhaps you know some women who embody these concepts. I know many women who are proficient in these ways of well-being. My theory about why this is so prevalent among women is that women are the ones who give birth to the future generation. Whether they have this opportunity or not, they often are responsible for educating precious children. These givers of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness need their own well-being honed to be capable of being positive role models in guiding youth.

It is a huge benefit that women have a good amount of the hormone and neurotransmitter, oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the “love hormone.” Men have less of this hormone gem, although they do possess oxytocin. Couples in the early stages of a romantic attachment have significantly higher levels of oxytocin than singles! Oxytocin is an arousal helper. Levels of the hormone spike both during and after sex. Hugs, physical touch and meaningful eye contact all release oxytocin.

Oxytocin is not just related to reproduction; it is involved in many of the positive emotions that we experience. Research suggests that men with higher-than-average oxytocin levels show greater empathy, trust, and attachment in their ongoing relationships. Oxytocin helps parents form lifelong bonds with their children. Oxytocin also is effective as a natural stress-reliever, as it can lower blood pressure and improve circulation. It has anti-inflammatory possibilities.

Overall, oxytocin is a hormone that helps one feel balanced. When oxytocin levels are low, there are noticeable effects in an individual that are troublesome – a low ability in relating to others, a reduced empathy range, and/or greater-than-average feelings of loneliness and anxiety.  Practices like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can help release oxytocin.

There is a great need for all of us to awaken to our birthright of well-being. This is our time, this present time, to bond with one another. Our planet depends upon it. Our country depends upon it. Our communities depend upon it. Our families depend upon it. As ballerina and member of the Osage Nation, Maria Tallchief reminded, “Very often you are in the right place, at the right time, but you don’t know it.”

Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz

429. When are you aware of experiencing well-being?

430. What purpose might you fulfill today?        

Golden Pearls

Picasso, Woman with Tambourine

NBC’s Entertainment division president Brandon Tartikoff pitched this assignment (to two men) for a new show in the 1980’s: “Take some women around 60. Society has written them off, has said they’re over the hill. We want them to be feisty as hell and having a great time.” Tartikoff reportedly was told by one man that NBC would never air such a show. There was concern about an all-female cast (who became The Golden Girls), so the pilot episode also featured a gay housekeeper named “Coco” (played by Charles Levin). Dubbed “the fancy man in the kitchen,” he offered the Golden Girls tea and made enchiladas rancheros for them; he disappeared by episode two.

Writers interpreted “having a good time” to be sassy and sexy. “Blanche” (played by Rue McClanahan) bragged in season six that she had been in 143 relationships with men, while “Dorothy” (Bea Arthur) chalked up 43 guys, “Rose” (Betty White) had 30 companions, and “Sophia” (Estelle Getty playing Dorothy’s mother) added 25 notches to her belt. The Golden Girls’ sex quips even crossed the ocean to give Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, a huge fan of the show, some spice in 1988 at the London Palladium. This quip was part of the London episode: when “Dorothy” asked “Blanche” how long she waited to have sex after her husband died, “Sophia” jumped in with the response, “Until the paramedics came.”

Busy with a growing family and a demanding career in the 80’s, I may be one of a small number of people to never watch The Golden Girls. I recently asked other women what they thought about the show. Their responses were fascinating. The Golden Girls TV show was simply entertaining to some; despite canned laughter, others found feminist stronghold messages. People have different perceptions, but 30+ years later there still is a following of folks watching reruns.

Online I learned one of the more educational details about this show — actress Bea Arthur suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as did Susan Harris, a writer for the show. Bea’s character, “Dorothy,” in season 5 becomes ill but her doctor tells her that there is nothing wrong with her. Finally, “Dorothy” is diagnosed with CFS. For the many suffering from this mysterious and disabling condition, the show became validating. “Dorothy” shares other personal details that women experience — as a teenager “Dorothy” becomes pregnant and marries quickly. After 38 years of marriage her husband leaves her for a young flight attendant.

Life takes challenging turns. There are many single women in their older years due to widowhood, divorce, or never marrying. Some of today’s encore women are trying out the Golden Girls version of co-living, bunking together in one home, to save money and fend off loneliness. Time will tell if their experiment works well for them.

Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz

275. What TV series offers stories that you find poignant?

276. Do you know any women who decided to live together to share costs?