Referred to as “slow looking” for centuries, Harvard researcher Shari Tishman helped define slow looking as the practice of taking the time to really see – whether it’s a painting, a tree or that morning cup of tea.

Instead of rushing past something with a quick look, slow looking means you stop, stay with it and let yourself really explore what’s in front of you. This kind of focused observation often leads to details you’d completely miss otherwise, like the way light falls on a leaf, or how a brushstroke in a painting seemingly moves.

What’s great is that looking slowly isn’t just for art lovers or museum-goers. You can do it anywhere, anytime. During a walk, maybe pick a “looking” theme such as studying the bark texture of trees. Sit with a photograph and notice the emotions it stirs. You don’t need any special training – just curiosity and some patience.

There are two ways to engage in slow looking. One is introspective – asking how what you’re looking at makes you feel or what memories it brings up. The other is externally – thinking about the context such as who made it or contemplating the backstory. Both approaches deepen your connection to what you see.

Making a habit of being a slow looker comes with some surprising perks. It sharpens your observation skills, boosts your focus and even helps with learning. In schools, it’s being used to teach students how to notice, interpret and discuss things from different perspectives, all great skills for generally any subject.

Most of all, slow looking helps us build a personal connection with the world around us. Instead of relying on someone else’s interpretation, we begin to trust our own eyes and thoughts.

As Vincent van Gogh once wrote to his brother, “Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see.”

Slow looking gives all of us that chance, not just to see, but to really see. It invites us to pause, to notice the overlooked, to find beauty in the details and meaning in the mundane.

In a world driven by speed, the ability to slow down and truly observe is not just a luxury, it becomes a powerful practice. It reconnects us to ourselves, to each other and to the richness of the world around us.

And that, perhaps, is the most valuable vision of all.

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

But have you ever stopped to wonder where these iconic summer rituals came from? As it turns out, many of our most cherished seasonal pastimes have surprising, and sometimes quirky, stories of origin.

For example, barbecuing may seem like a modern summer tradition, but it has ancient, global roots. The term comes from barbacoa, used by the Taino people for slow-cooking meat over fire. Spanish colonizers spread the method, and in the American South, it became a cultural and political event.

By the 19th century, smoked meat gatherings were Southern staples. After World War II, grilling symbolized suburban summer leisure, thanks to portable grills and backyard cookouts.

Children love the jingle of an ice cream truck, but before refrigeration, vendors sold scoops from pushcarts in the late 1800s, shouting “Hokey pokey!” to draw crowds. Motorized ice cream trucks first appeared in the 1920s, but it was Mister Softee’s 1956 jingle – designed to cut through city noise, not just charm ears – that made the sound iconic.

The myth that summer vacation was for farm help is false; kids were needed in spring and fall. Summer breaks began in 19th century urban schools, where hot classrooms made year-round learning impractical. Wealthy families left cities in summer, and schools closed too. Over time, summer vacation became a cultural norm despite advances like air conditioning.

America’s love affair with fireworks on Independence Day goes back further than you might think. In a letter to his wife in 1776, John Adams wrote that the anniversary of independence should be marked with “pomp and parade … bonfires and illuminations.”

Just one year later, Philadelphia hosted the first Fourth of July fireworks display, and the tradition spread rapidly. Fireworks had long been used in Europe for royal celebrations and military victories, so it made sense for a newly independent nation to borrow the tradition to celebrate its own birth.

Barbecues, ice cream trucks, summer breaks and fireworks could be considered as modern-day summer events. But each one has roots, from old-world grilling methods to colonial parades to clever ways of beating city heat.

The next time sparks light up the July sky or kids chase a jingly truck down the block, think how summer isn’t just a season. From coast to coast, it’s more like a love story we add to every year. Here’s to a great summer!

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

It also conjures up memories of gardens like London’s Hyde Park and the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris.

If I were to travel now with a particular “theme” in mind, I’d choose to visit some of the famous gardens that offer a glimpse into ingenuity, culture and a reverence for nature.

Even though no evidence confirms their existence, I’m still fascinated with the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon, supposedly built by Nebuchadnezzar II for his homesick wife. They were supposed to have cascading terraces and exotic flora that defied the arid Mesopotamian climate.

On the other hand, it’s a fact that in 17th century Netherlands, “Tulip Mania” saw bulbs valued like gold. Though the bubble burst, the Dutch passion endured, culminating in Keukenhof Gardens, where throngs of people take in the breathtaking celebration of tulips each spring.

Spain’s Generalife Gardens were the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid rulers of the Alhambra, featuring lush courtyards, flowing water, and beautifully landscaped terraces where visitors are treated to aesthetic and spiritual refuge.

In contrast, London’s Kew Gardens, founded in 1759, became a hub for botanical research, influencing industries like rubber production. Today, it continues to be a pioneer of conservation and ecological studies.

Scotland’s Garden of Cosmic Speculation pushes the boundaries of what a garden can be, featuring spirals, geometric shapes and sculpted mounds inspired by designer Charles Jencks’ love of physics and math.

Meanwhile, Louis XIV took a more traditional approach with the Versailles Gardens in France, emphasizing grandeur and elaborate fountains.

The origins of Canada’s Butchart Gardens are quite different from European counterparts. In the early 1900s, Jennie Butchart transformed the scarred land of a barren limestone quarry into a lush retreat, proving nature’s resilience. What began as a personal project soon flourished into a world-renowned attraction where millions of visitors marvel at its vibrant floral displays, serene pathways and year-round beauty.

For those who appreciate simplicity, Kyoto, Japan, is home to the serene Zen gardens, including Ryoanji’s famous rock garden. Here, 15 carefully placed stones are arranged so that one is always hidden from view, embodying the Zen philosophy of imperfection and contemplation.

As you explore gardens near and far, one thing is clear: Each garden is a unique masterpiece, no two ever the same.

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

In the book, a boy in the Southwest desert invents “one hundred and eight celebrations,” and he shifts New Year’s to spring when the desert blooms.

While my year isn’t fully planned yet, stories of two very different women have sparked some ideas for being ready to have a great year.

In 2013, Kristin Chenoweth picked Sarah Horn from the Hollywood Bowl audience to sing “For Good” from the musical “Wicked.” Unknowingly, Chenoweth had randomly chosen a voice teacher, who delivered a flawless performance – a viral moment that skyrocketed Horn’s career overnight.

In a Tedx talk, Horn spoke about her secret to success, which was two words: be ready.

How did Horn “get ready” for the performance of a lifetime? She first saw “Wicked” on Broadway in 2004 and dreamed of one day singing the famed duet with Chenoweth. Taking her voice teacher’s guidance to heart about being prepared, Horn perfected her part in “For Good” through years of practice. When she joined Chenoweth onstage, the celebrated Broadway star exclaimed, “Holy crap,” after Horn seamlessly harmonized with her.

Since then, Horn’s life has been a whirlwind of starring roles in acclaimed productions and performances across the globe.

In 2012, I wrote a column about being in the audience to hear a dynamic speaker, Dr. Hedda Bolgar, a 103-year-old practicing psychoanalyst who still drove her Prius, saw patients four days a week and taught classes on the fifth day. I could barely keep up trying to take notes on all her words of wisdom.

What has stuck with me the most over the years is how she handled surviving the loss of her beloved husband of 33 years. After a grieving period, she realized it was time to start something new, do something different. She cited bypassing the tropical settings for a trip to the North Pole.

Bolgar also established two thriving businesses, a clinic and a teaching institute, at the age of 76 and 79 respectively. Who starts not one but two businesses when they are fast approaching their 80th birthday?

Unlike Horn, who was ready for her breakout moment, Bolgar pivoted in order to be ready for hers. Here’s to being ready for a remarkable 2025 – may it be your best year yet!

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

Let’s peek into the backstory of some well-known holiday customs to see what’s fact, what’s fiction, and what’s quirky trivia you can share with friends at the next gathering.

Legend has it that the tradition of hanging stockings comes from the story of St. Nicholas. As the tale goes, a kind but poor man had three daughters who couldn’t marry because they lacked dowries. St. Nicholas, known for his generosity, secretly tossed gold coins down their chimney, which conveniently landed in stockings drying by the fire.

That’s how the tradition of putting gifts in stockings began, and yet, in some parts of Europe, children put their shoes outside instead. In the Netherlands, children fill their clogs with hay and carrots for St. Nicholas’s horse, hoping for small gifts in return.

Eggnog, a creamy spiced drink that’s popular during the holiday season, had its beginnings during medieval times. It evolved from a British drink called posset, a warm ale or wine mixture with milk and spices, served as a remedy for illness or a toast to good health.

When it made its way across the Atlantic, as is typical with recipes, American colonists substituted rum for ale (cheaper and more readily available), and the drink developed its festive reputation.

Alright, how about mistletoe, and what are its roots? Actually, mistletoe is a parasite, living off the trees it attaches to. This holiday symbol of a “love connection” dates back to Norse mythology when the plant was sacred to Frigg, the goddess of love.

After her son Baldur was nearly killed with a mistletoe arrow, she declared it a symbol of peace and love, and vowed to kiss anyone who passed beneath it. I had no idea about this one.

The candy cane was invented in the 17th century to keep children quiet during church services. Its shape made it easier to hang on trees, and the red stripes were added later for visual appeal.

Curious about what the Guinness World Record is for the longest candy cane made? According to Chicagoist.com, a pastry chef in Geneva, Illinois, made a 51-foot-long candy cane in 2012 for Geneva’s Christmas Walk and House Tour.

Whether you’re sipping eggnog, hanging a stocking or smooching under mistletoe, you’re keeping past customs alive. Traditions may evolve, but the joy they bring will be lasting memories. Happy holidays everyone!

Writer, speaker and editor Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at cheryl@starheart.com.

Now is an ideal time to reflect on your gratitude and express appreciation for the positive in your life. There are many categories for a grateful heart to choose from, such as feeling grateful for family and friends, experiences like travel and special events, and the beauty of nature and comforts, especially a warm bed and favorite foods.

I’m appreciative of so many blessings in my life, more than this column could convey. So I’ll share a few thoughts about one thing in particular – how appreciative I am for smiles.

A smile costs nothing to give, and yet it can offer so many rewards beyond the initial interaction. As I reflect on experiences that I’ve enjoyed because of a smile, I think of all the people in my world travels who shared a smile with me.

In particular, I remember an early morning in Jamaica when I was out walking near my hotel and noticed an outdoor market. A lovely lady with the most gorgeous smile called to me. Juanita was her name, and she was making breakfast. She beckoned me to join her and her family, and we had such a great time, all because of her smile.

Smiling at others, whether you know them or not, benefits our mental and physical well-being. Psychologically, smiles are contagious. When you smile at someone, both brains release dopamine and serotonin, which can elevate mood and reduce stress and create a cycle of positivity.

A smile can facilitate social interactions and help forge new relationships, even with strangers. Frequent smiling can enhance self-confidence and self-esteem.

Physically there is a host of health benefits attributed to smiles, such as reducing pain and improving pain tolerance over time. Smiling can lower the production of stress hormones, which decreases inflammation and boosts the immune system. Linked to lower blood pressure and heart rate, smiling can contribute to overall cardiovascular health.

With improved health, there’s a more relaxed feeling throughout the mind and body, which can be a factor in a longer life expectancy.

When you consider how easy it is to share a smile, it’s no wonder smiling is considered a universal language of kindness that contributes to a happier and healthier society.

As Thanksgiving approaches and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season speeds up, you can always call upon a heartfelt smile to give you a quick boost.

Since there’s no limit to how many you can give or receive, I’m putting “smiles” first on my gratitude list. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

Being a word person, I love acronyms. Decades ago, I played around with acronym phrases that “defined” the word. For example, NOW could stand for No Other Way, or a STAR could be Someone Terrific And Radiant. My problem-solving acronym for the word STOP, which is to See The Other Possibilities, has been my lifelong trusty tool for turning a “no” into a “yes.”

A 21st century word that best describes “seeing the other possibilities” is called a “workaround.” Author and business consultant Paulo Savaget teaches workaround solutions from nontraditional strategies in his book “The Four Workarounds.” His problem-solving lessons are derived from organizations that have achieved massive wins with “minimal resources, innovative wit and practical ingenuity of feisty entities.”

The piggyback approach is my favorite workaround – pairing a new goal with something that is already successfully working. For instance, instead of initiating a new distribution method into remote regions like the Amazon, much-needed medications are included with boxed bottles of Coca-Cola that already have established routes.

Flexibility is the key to solving problems. My auto mechanic spent two weeks researching a solution to replacing a part that’s no longer manufactured, nor could it be purchased used. Gratefully, he and a technician came up with a workaround that is working just fine.

Digital devices offer plenty of practice in figuring out workarounds, and it’s the same with simple fix-its around the house. Some of mine, like stuffing a tightly folded paper towel between the latch and a window to stop it from rattling, make me laugh … but they do solve the problem.

Often, my best ideas come to me in the shower and there’s a scientific explanation why time spent lathering up can prompt brilliant thoughts to bubble up. Zachary Irving, an assistant professor of philosophy and cognitive science at the University of Virginia, has found that when the mind is free enough to meander around, creative ideas can surface.

Shower environments check all the boxes for inspired ideas to arise out of nowhere. While scrubbing down, you’re occupied with a familiar routine – washing, shampooing, shaving – all free of outside distractions. The water acts as white noise, and its temperature is similar to that of the body. Experts say this makes for an ideal immersive experience.

Now the question is how to make sure those brilliant brainstorms don’t get lost while drying off. Surely there’s a “shower solution” for that!

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

First of all, there’s probably only a handful of foods that are as universally loved as ice cream. Also, August is a popular month for national ice cream day celebrations – ice cream sandwich day (Aug. 2), ice cream pie day (Aug. 18) and soft ice cream day (Aug. 19).

When I think about ice cream, many fond memories come to mind. My childhood home was located at the end of a cul-de-sac, a perfect place for the ice cream truck to park so that my neighborhood friends and I could buy our favorite popsicles or drumsticks.

At family gatherings, I loved it when my uncle “Retz” (short for Retzlaff) made good old-fashioned vanilla ice cream, and how my cousins and I traded off turning the hand crank. Fresh grown peaches and strawberries were the absolute “frosting on the cake.”

And who could forget when Baskin & Robbins shops started popping up everywhere? I was a huge Dodgers fan, so Baseball Nut was my favorite flavor during the season, and Pralines ‘N Cream in the off season.

Philadelphia is the major ice cream manufacturing hub in the U.S. While the ice cream cone may have originated at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, Penn State University was ahead of the curve with its science-based “Ice Cream Short Course,” which debuted in 1892, a “mere” 132 years ago.

The one-week course is designed for novices passionate about perfecting their ice cream-making skills and employees from well-known brands such as Tillamook and Hershey’s, as well as for those who are just plain curious. A newly married couple included it as part of their honeymoon, and the course is so popular that registration demand can sometimes make the system crash.

Ice cream has made its way into some fascinating news. Freeze-dried ice cream was created for NASA, Thomas Jefferson is credited with writing down the first ice cream recipe, and in Ireland ice cream sandwiches are called sliders.

Speaking of international popularity, my fondest ice cream story occurred in 1981 when I was walking around the city of Ghaziabad in India. As I approached Nirula’s 21 Flavors, I could hear Randy Crawford singing “Street Lights.” I ordered two scoops of raspberry sherbet so that I could hear the entire album by the Crusaders.

Even though I had been traveling the world for three months, I felt right at home. I think that’s the key to ice cream’s popularity. It’s a sweet treat that reminds folks of home, family and good times.

Makes delicious sense to me.

Writer, speaker and editor Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

A popular “go to” for me is the Good News Network, which can be accessed on the internet or with an app on your phone. In a matter of minutes you can read an assortment of kindness stories, feats of bravery to save a life or how a young child brings an audience to happy tears with a heartwarming story.

Recently, I was taken with the lady who bought a thrift store vase for four dollars only to realize it was identical to those made by ancient Mayans when she visited an art museum. Instead of selling it, she returned it to the National Museum in Mexico City.

Stories about ordinary people making extraordinary gestures to benefit a child, a classroom, a community or the world touch me the most. Narratives such as the fishermen who rescued 38 dogs treading water with no shore in sight, or the 105-year-old woman who earned her Stanford master’s degree that was 83 years in the making, really touch my heart.

The woman’s commitment to finish her education reminded me of a column I wrote in 2012 after hearing Hedda Bolgar, age 103, speak to a huge audience about her life and how she started two new professional pursuits at the age of 77 after grieving the loss of her husband for four years.

Saturday mornings I look forward to CNN’s Good Stuff newsletter. Reading this weekly collection of “feel-good” news about this, that and the other thing is my favorite morning wakeup routine.

Often there is a video by Jeanne Moos, who, at the age of 74, is at the top of her game with humorous reporting such as the woodpecker that kept ringing a lady’s doorbell, or the wedding proposal that was still a hit even though the groom-to-be dropped the ring and there was a mad dash to find it.

I think feel-good stories are valuable contributions to our emotional health and well-being. Sometimes all it takes to shift out of a funk is to read how someone else overcame an obstacle or helped others. These stories are wonderful conversation starters, and they can be reminders that there is plenty of positive news – we just have to give it our attention.

There’s a saying about how wherever our attention goes, our energy flows. Think those are wise words to remember.

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

Here’s the latest “what’s what” about words.

Two years ago, a word game that Josh Wardle developed for his girlfriend became an overnight success. Six months later, The New York Times acquired it for a seven-figure sum and Wordle took off like gangbusters.

Tens of millions play the game of guessing a five-letter word in six attempts. CNN reported that 9 a.m. is the most active time for Wordle players, and three cities with the most solves in two guesses are Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, and New York. Melbourne holds the longest winning streak record of 961 days.

What words have been the most challenging for players? They’re parer, atone, coyly, joker, jazzy, catch, kazoo, nanny, mummy and judge. If you really get hooked on this word game, you can also play Dordle, Quordle or Octordle and solve two, four or eight words in one puzzle.

OK, moving right along, this next word can be said with a check mark or a thumbs up. It can be written with two letters or four.

According to the Smithsonian Magazine, what began nearly 200 years ago as “an editorial joke using an abbreviation for the term “oll correct,” OK has become one of the most recognized words in the world.

As if it isn’t short enough, younger generations have condensed OK to a single “k” when texting.

If you’re interested in expanding your vocabulary, take a look at Wayne State University’s 2024 Word Warriors List. This annual compilation consists of words that are making a comeback after being omitted from dictionaries for as long as three or four centuries.

One of my favorites is thunderplump, which conjures up something visually more exciting than referring to heavy rain as a downpour.

Pawky, meaning cynical, has resurfaced along with blatherskite, also known as blabber.

The Word Warrior List is carefully chosen from recommendations submitted throughout the year on Facebook or the program’s website at wordwarriors.wayne.edu.

Each week, a word is announced and monitored. At the end of 52 weeks, the 10 most used words are chosen for inclusion in the next Word Warrior List.

Wrapping up this word-related commentary, I’ll mention Microsoft’s default font change for its Word documents. Calibri has been replaced with Aptos. In the scheme of things, it’s not earth shattering, but according to Microsoft, it was a big jolt for some users.

Now it looks like I’ve reached my 427 words for this month.

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl  Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact here at cheryl@starheart.com.