Laguna Beach Moms Talk: Practicing Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes

You know the moment. When everything is just right. Wherever you are, on the road or at home, when everything works. Your kids are healthy and happy. They giggle, and you find yourself chuckling, too. Nothing breaks, boils over or overflows! Life is good.

Getting there takes work. Many moms and dads have told me, “Hey look, there’s no magic formula. You just work your tail off and do as much of it as right as you can. Sometimes you'll get lucky, and for the rest, you have to depend on a higher power.”

I agree with that, but it’s my nature to keep looking for good ideas.

Recently I found a theory that hits a lot of high notes. Dr. Roger Walsh, UC Irvine professor of psychiatry and human behavior, philosophy and anthropology, centers some of his research around something he calls TLC: Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes.

At first, that sounded like a formal office visit prescription, but as I read about it, I found a lot of practical, hands-on thoughts for families.

Getting more exercise, eating a healthy diet, spending more time outdoors, and helping others are a good start, according to Walsh. He says, “Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes can be effective, inexpensive and enjoyable, with fewer side effects and complications than medications.”

Walsh also focuses on mental illness and age-related memory loss, but some of his thoughts are a particularly good fit for families. In many cases, these are the things moms and dads are already doing. But this might provide more to think about, and good directions.

Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes from Dr. Roger Walsh’s philosophy:

• Exercise doesn’t just boost people’s sense of well-being. It can help children do better in school.
• Diets with plenty of fruits, vegetables and fish may enhance kids’ school performance.
• Spending time in nature can promote cognitive function and overall well-being.
• Good relationships can reduce health risks.
• Recreation and fun can lessen defensiveness and foster social skills.
• Religious or spiritual involvement that focuses on love and forgiveness can promote well-being and reduce anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
• Contribution and service, or altruism, can foster joy and generosity, and benefit both physical and mental health.

“Obstacles to TLCs,” Walsh said, “are the sustained effort they require, and a passive expectation that healing comes from an outside authority or a pill. People contend with a daily barrage of psychologically sophisticated advertisements that promote unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating fast food.”

In Walsh’s words, “You can never get enough of what you don’t really need, but you can certainly ruin your life and health trying.”

Quick picks in and near Laguna:

Ringling Bros. Circus at the Honda Center in Anaheim Aug. 2-7.

: Native Plant/Wildflower. Fast-paced, steep and rocky, 3.5 miles, for ages 12 and up. Sat., Aug. 13, 8-11 a.m. A Morning Stroll to Barbara’s Lake. Leisurely two-mile hike for ages 8 and up, to discover diverse plant life, Fri., Aug. 19, 8-10:30 a.m. Tot Walk. For moms and dads with babies to three years, easy walk with canyon foundation volunteers. Fri., Aug. 19, 9-10 a.m.

Pacific Symphony. Free Target concert, Sun., Aug. 14, Lake Forest, Pittsford Park. Bring lawn chairs and a picnic. Musical playground with hands-on activities for kids begins at 5:30 p.m., concert at 7 p.m.

Festival of the Arts Jr. Art Exhibit and Youth Art Education Days. The Junior Art Exhibit is on daily through Aug. 31, and the Art Education classes are happening now through August 26 for ages 7-12. 11 a.m. to noon.

Rodin’s Figures at Laguna College of Art and Design. Now through Sept. 23.