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Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! 2020 has gone on its way!!!

I have to say I am a little amused by all of those who spent the last month of the year looking forward to year’s end as if somehow on January 1st everything would magically return to normal. It might have been refreshing if the longing was grounded in a newfound hope and faith in the Lord. However, almost universally it seemed to come from a sense of fatigue with the disruption and inconvenience to their daily lives. Most had not lost any family members or jobs or become ill themselves.  They were just becoming tired of no longer having control over their daily activities and those of their children.  They just had the universal belief that 2021 was going to be, somehow, magically, much better.  Needless to say it didn’t take long for that illusion to disappear in the United States.  Within the first week of the year, the frustrations and divisions that became the hallmarks of 2020 for so much of our country boiled over into a sad and demoralizing display of civil unrest. Instead of rising up and getting to work on a new and .better day, the nation has quickly sunk deeper into the divisive and political bickering that was always brewing under the guise of differing approaches to responding to the COVID-19 crisis. With the ‘gloves off’ we have quickly recognized that we have challenges well beyond this pandemic.

A Chance to Re-focus

The ever-growing crisis of division was as much a hallmark of 2020 as was COVID-19. To think that a change in the calendar would make a difference is foolish. As we look forward to the coming year, we do so with open eyes and with a recognition that the challenges to Gospel living remain significant. We do ourselves and others a disservice if we don’t take advantage of the lessons that 2020 presented us.  I like to think of 2020 as nearly year-long retreat experience.  On retreat we get a chance to refocus. We remove ourselves from our daily routines and are given the opportunity to examine how we are living our lives and to explore how we might better discover pathways to joy and peace.  Even for those not directly infected with the virus, COVID-19 definitely disrupted daily living. With so many of our daily activities eliminated or severely restricted, we found ourselves staying much closer to home. And much like on retreat, we had plenty of time alone to pray and ponder our life’s journey. As I intimated last month, there are good things we can take away from our 2020 experiences.  As we head into the real world of 2021, perhaps we can do so strengthened by things we have experienced and learned over the past year.

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KEVIN

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What would you do if you were listening to a homily during which the priest-homilist says, “My wife used to tell me…”? Well, that is exactly what this priest used to say so often during his homilies. Those who didn’t know about his fascinating journey to priesthood would giggle and look around, but that didn’t bother him.

Probo Vaccarini, an Italian born on 4 June 1919, studied mathematics. He joined the Italian army and, during World War II, fought in Russia. After the war, he became a surveyor. His friend, who had fought along with him in Russia, was a handsome guy and apparently had everything a young man would aspire for. But he always looked distressed, dejected and uninterested in anything. But, after some time, Probo was surprised to see him transformed—happy, cheerful and energetic. When Probo asked him for the secret, he told him about the confession he had made to Padre Pio, the Capuchin priest, who was immensely popular as a confessor and a spiritual guide—now  St Pio of Pietrelcina. The friend suggested that he too should go and meet the saintly Padre.

Probo followed his friend’s advice and went to meet Padre Pio. He was so impressed and touched that he made him his regular confessor. Once,   when Probo asked him what he should do with his life, Padre Pio told him he should get married and have a “big and holy family.”  An amused and puzzled Probo said, “Big is easy, but holy …?” When he met him again to tell him he still remained unmarried, Padre Pio told him to get moving.

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Fr M A Joe Antony SJ

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Graciousness Personified

If you ever happen to pass by the Collector’s Office in Guatemala City (in Central America), you have to go to the ground floor at the entrance hall and Xerox some copies. It is a must. It is an opportunity you should not miss. Even if you do not need any copies done, just waste some quetzales (local coins), and do it. Trust me! You will meet two older persons—a man and a woman—who will treat you as a king, with a gracefulness I have never experienced before and a serenity every Alcoholic Anonymous would envy. You will give them the pages you need to photocopy, they will ask you which side, and then off to work. You see! Oooops! Pardon me I shouldn’t say “you see” because—both husband and wife are blind. So, then, when the copies are done and you have to pay, they will ask you the denomination of the bill you just handed them and if you need change, they will ask you to make sure they gave you the right amount of coins in return. What service! What serenity and peace they radiate!

Rude, Resentful…yet Thoughtful!

I remember the first time I came in close contact with a blind person. It happened in 1990, when I was a postulant in Paris. We had a few poor aged men and women living with us. One of them was an Algerian immigrant whose name was Zouaghi. He was blind. Zouaghi made it a point to be rude and resentful towards everyone who crossed paths with him. So, it was no surprise at all when you saw the residents in our community, even the Brothers, quietly but rapidly move out of Zouaghi’s way when we saw him coming towards us. Nobody dared to talk to him. Hair dishevelled, wearing the same drab coloured raincoat even in the sweltering humid hot summer of a European city like Paris, Zouaghi spent his whole day locked up in his small room smoking his Gauloises endlessly. One finally professed Brother was in charge of Zouaghi. It always seemed to me that Bro Anton had a way with Zouaghi, maybe bribing him with cigarettes, I have no idea. But he managed! Especially in convincing Zouaghi to take his weekly bath. But, one fine day, Bro Anton announced to the community that he was due for his eight-day retreat. Tada! Who would take care of Zouaghi? Our junior and finally professed Brothers all had their responsibilities, poor things, so they couldn’t. So, who else could, if not the postulants? We were only two and the other one did not speak French. So? Carmel will have to do it. I was young, enthusiastic and had to impress the superiors. So, I accepted—I had no option, by the way!—even though I was scared stiff of Zouaghi. So, every day I would go to his room, give him his daily packet of cigarettes and out again as quickly as I had entered. But then Saturday arrived—the big day for his weekly bath. I had to prepare his clothes, make sure they were folded the way he always wanted them to be and put them on the chair next to his bed so that he could find them easily. I knocked on his door, and heard a grunt of Entrez! (Come in!). But that day something different happened. As soon as I came in the room, Zouaghi got up from his bed, came towards me (I was still at the door) and he switched on the light! Thoughtfulness at its best!

A Bit of Light…and More Years

Efraim had been living in our home in Bogotá for quite a while. He was the oldest of the “gang” of about thirty-five old men. I don’t know whether Efraim was blind since birth or whether he had lost his eyesight in some accident. He was approaching one hundred! I happened to be the local superior of that community at that time, so I made it a point to celebrate it with a Mass and a nice meal. After the homily, the priest asked Efraim what he would ask God for on this special day. He promptly said, “A little bit of light and some more years.”

Born Blind. Trained to be Independent

Tonio is a thirty-five years old, handsome, well-built Peruvian. Tonio and his sister were both born blind, deaf and dumb (excuse me for the politically incorrect words, but politically correct terminology changes every other day, and I don’t know what to use today!). And yet that was not a situation for self-pity. Their mother Pilar was a tough lady. Her husband had left her for another woman, and she had to raise both children on her own. There was no time for crying and self-pity. “If you do not learn how to tie your shoelaces, you are the one who will arrive late for school, not me,” Pilar would tell Tonio, whenever he would go into his bouts of self-pity. Today, Tonio and his sister Anna are both happily married and have their own families. When Tonio got married, he came to live very close to our community in Lima and so I used to cross paths with him often. At times we would be in the same bus and I would notice Tonio paying his fare, and getting down at the right corner (Lima is like Kolkata, there are no fixed bus stops). But I could not communicate with Tonio because I did not know the sign language he used—his wife and other family members would spell the letters of the words on the palm of his hands with their fingers. Between Tonio, his wife and me, we had to invent a way of at least letting him know that I am in his presence, say, on the same bus. It was fun! Still, many times I would just contemplate his silent and nonintrusive presence on the bus. People never noticed his “disabilities.” I was and still awed at the stamina and courage of such a man!

Three Tough Burdens, and Yet…

As if being HIV positive and a leprosy patient were not enough, Ganpat Chaudhury lost his eyesight some years back. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, Ganpat was a truck driver. I don’t know much about his past and that is OK—I don’t need to know. He’s been living with us for quite some time now. He is grateful to us Brothers but above all to “Allah, Ishwar and Bhagavan.” Never angry or indignant, Ganpat spends his time sitting on his bed listening to the battery-operated radio—his only possession in life.

Our eyes perceive the beauty around us. If only we could perceive the beauty within! The beauty of each other, not with our eyes, but with. . . . . I have no idea what Ganpat, Zouaghi, Tonio and his sister and so many others “use” to perceive this beauty.

A Precious Moment

About a year ago I had to travel to Lucknow for work. Close by our community in Mohanlalganj, I visited Nav Jyothi School for the Visually Impaired. While I was talking to the Sister in charge, in came four young girls, sat down on a mat on the floor, and started playing the sitar for me as a welcome. Sheer bliss!

No words can ever describe that special moment.

———-

Bro Carmel Duca MC

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At the recent consultation for the appointment of our new provincial, one of the questions that was asked was: “What qualities should the new provincial possess?”  One of the first qualities that was mentioned was this: “He should not only be good at animation but also at governance.”

What is governance? What does it imply?

During the discourse on Maundy Thursday Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).  In this statement of Jesus, we have the three fundamental functions of the Church.  Jesus is the truth, and the Church has the duty to bring to the world his message of salvation.  Jesus is the life, and the Church has the mission to transmit grace through the sacraments.  Jesus is the way, and the Church has the responsibility to lead people to God.  These are the three functions of the Church: the function of teaching, sanctifying and governing (traditionally called, ecclesiastical powers or sacred powers).  These correspond to the three messianic offices of Jesus: Jesus the prophet, priest and shepherd (Lumen Gentium, n. 21:2).  While all the baptized share in these three functions, the superiors share in them in a way proper to their office, through the instrumentality of the Church (Canon 618-19).  Here we concern ourselves with the function of governing.

In general, governing means steering or directing a group of people.  More specifically, governing may be described as the process of pastorally managing and directing the people of God, in accordance with the power bestowed on the Church by Christ, for the attainment of their temporal welfare and their final end, which is eternal life.  Governing is the exercise of power or authority for realizing the goals of a congregation and the total well-being of its members.

Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB

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II Sunday of February:

World Marriage Day (WMD)

World Marriage Day is an outgrowth of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, an apostolate aimed at helping couples make good marriages even better. WMD began in 1983 and is celebrated every second Sunday of February. In 1993, Pope John Paul II imparted to it his Apostolic Blessings. This year WMD falls on St Valentine’s Day,14 February.

WMD honours husband and wife as the foundation of the family, the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their lifelong commitment, their faithfulness, sacrifice and joy. WMD events provide the visible sign of support couples need to continue to make the daily decision to love each other.

The permanently adopted theme for WMD is: Love One Another.

Marriage is forever. That’s the promise the man and the woman make at the altar, when they say “I do.”. Yet, marriages are under threat today. They face many different and difficult issues. WMD is a reminder for people to think about their marriage and renew those vows.

How to keep the spark alive:

Successful couples do a number of things to keep the spark alive and to manage conflict.

• Love and partnership are inalienable priorities. Accepting the other is easier and more realistic than attempting to change them. When people feel valued, they change more spontaneously.
• Make time for each other and give it your undivided attention. Quality time is a must if you want to have a solid relationship. Recognize when one needs to speak, and listen gladly. Look at one another while communicating.
• Exchange gestures of affection and care. You don’t have to stop courting each other even if you’ve been married for years.
• Laughter is the quickest way to get into a better mood. Being light-hearted together can relieve a lot of stress.
• Appreciate and compliment your other half. It makes your bond stronger and helps you tide over rough moments.
• Don’t keep a score of what you do for others or what they do for you. And don’t take each other for granted. Be polite and respectful.
• It is healthy to spend some time apart and to allow for some alone time too. Spending every second together is a quick way to burn out a relationship.
• One of the biggest strains on a marriage is money. Be honest about things like budgeting, saving and debt.
• Happy couples aren’t afraid to talk about hot topics. They feel safe to express their opinions and have built a level of trust in each other. They can acknowledge what they need and then say it out aloud.
• Your relationship deepens with serious conversations, like discussing a huge fight, a job loss or a child’s temper tantrums. Try to take some of the pressure off. Sit down when you’re both calm; create an environment that’ll keep you that way. Turn off the TV and other distractions.
• Do things together: packing things, running errands, cleaning the house, washing the car. Doing them together promotes companionship.
• Have other couple friends. Being around with other people can help you to break out of your shell and widen your circle. New friends introduce new activities and interests.
• At family prayer time, if you like, hold your spouse’s hands in yours, and say this prayer together:

Let us start a movement where every married couple globally will make this (or a similar) prayer daily during their family prayers. By being reminded daily to love each other, to forgive each other and ask God to protect the marriage, it will strengthen your marriage so that you may endure the challenges that you will face in life.

But, more importantly, when you recite this prayer in front of your children every day, they will start memorizing it, and hopefully they will also pray it with their spouses when they get married someday. This will allow the strengthened marriages and God’s protection to be passed down to your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Happy World Marriage Day!

Celebrate your sacrament with the world.

——-

Sr Esme da Cunha FDCC

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Formation towards Psychosexual and Celibate Integration: Manual for Formees (General Editors: Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB and Jose Parappully SDB). Volume III: Novitiate

By Joy Kaipan SDB & Josmy Jose FMA

(Bangalore: Kristu Jyoti Publications, 2021)

This book is the third volume in a multi-volume series dealing mainly with the human formation of the formees. It is like a handbook meant for Religious and Priestly formation produced by the Salesian Psychological Association (SPA) and the South Asia Formation Commission (SAFC).

Pope Francis often refers to the human dimension as the community aspect that plays a very important and foundational role in the formation of consecrated persons. Formation for mission demands human and affective maturity.

This manual therefore is a help for the formees to come to a personal integration of their sexuality with all the other dimensions of their life and enable them to live their celibate commitment faithfully and fruitfully.

In his apostolic letter, “You are the Light of the World” (2019), Pope Francis has stated the urgent need for a sound human formation to combat the sexual abuse of minors and other vulnerable persons as well as other forms of abuse perpetrated by priests and religious. He asked for “concrete and effective actions.” These manuals are a humble and prompt response to the call of the Pope.

The series consists of six manuals, each addressing a different stage of formation with the objective and goal to help young people in religious formation. The one reviewed here is Volume III, meant for the Novitiate. Formation to religious and priestly life includes four important dimensions – the human, the spiritual, the intellectual and the pastoral dimensions. The harmonious integration of these four helps the formee to put on Christ.

This book is an efficient and relevant tool for cultivating a proper understanding and appreciation for celibate chastity and human sexuality. The sessions in each chapter are interactive and healing-oriented.

Candles in the Dark

By M A Joe Antony SJ

(Mumbai: St Paul’s, 2020)

This book is a compilation of the thirty-seven articles that appeared in MAGNET Magazine for more than three years by a regular columnist of MAGNET, Fr M A Joe Antony SJ.

The book contains the brief articles that sum up the life, service and contributions of men and women who carry their candles to light up the darkened corners of the world. Very often these persons are the unsung heroes in different parts of the world, different faiths and every walk of life. The author takes pain to bring their life and service to the limelight every month in MAGNET Magazine.

Reading the inspiring lives of others hearten us to strive living a better life in the midst of the evils existing in our surroundings and their example calls us to learn from them and shine like stars in the dark night of somebody else’ life.

Each of these candles usually burns quietly in unusual places where no one bothers to look at. The author has made sure to search for them and to make known their hidden life and their constant striving in their own way to build a better world for their fellow humans.

In the pages of the book you will find that each candle is a real treat. Every one of them is a “light-giver,” a lesson to learn from and move ahead doing our best in our lifetime. Each story is gripping, engaging and inspiring indeed! Here’s a gift to treat yourself and others!

SR THERESA PHAWA FMA

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A Beautiful Mind

Director: Ron Howard. Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Christopher Plummer. (2001)

Josh Nash was a handsome, brilliant mathematician who won the Nobel Prize in Economics for the Games Theory which he developed early in his career, as well as the Abel prize for mathematics. This genius suffered from a serious mental disease—schizophrenia. He would have terrifying delusions, which seemed to him to be real. He believed he heard voices, and took them for real. His wife suffered much because of this, and Nash’s reputation took a serious blow, of course. The movie follows the man’s adult life, shows both his brilliance and the pathetic way he suffered because of schizophrenia. Brilliantly played by Russell Crowe, John Nash comes alive on the screen. A heart-warming moment is Nash’s speech at the Nobel Prize ceremony, at which he speaks movingly of his wife’s support to him through the years of struggle and pain. The movie takes liberties with the actual life-story, but is a gripping tale of the mental illness of a brilliant man.

The Notebook

Director: Nick Cassavetes. Cast: Ryan Gosling (as the young Noah), Rachel McAdams (as the young Allie), James Garner (as the older Noah), Gena Rowlands (as the older Allie). 2004.

A very popular movie, based on the famous novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. Noah, a poor working young man and Allie, a rich young woman who came to the town with her family for the summer holidays, meet and fall in love. Allie’s family is appalled. They refer to Noah as trash, and want Allie to marry the rich young man who has proposed to her. Whom will she marry?

What is the notebook? The movie shows an elderly couple in a home for the aged. The man, physically weak but mentally fine, has a notebook, from which he reads to his wife, who is physically OK, but has lost her memory to Alzheimer’s. This is Noah and Allie in their old age. The aged Noah, who loves his wife dearly, reads out their story to her, hoping that some memories would come back. She listens to the story, finds it interesting, but does recognize him or herself in the story. After her vising hour is over, she would ask him the question that breaks his heart, “But who are you?” The end is a surprise!

Black

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Cast: Rani Mukerji, Amitabh Bachchan, Ayesha Kapur. 2005.

This famous movie revolves around the plight of deaf and blind, and Alzheimer’s disease.

It begins with Michelle, who is both blind and deaf from age two but is now a confident graduate, visiting her old teacher who has Alzheimer’s. The movie then goes back to Michelle’s story as a flashback.

Having lost her sight and hearing by illness at age two, Michelle McNally grows into a violent, uncontrollable and frustrated child of eight. Her world is black. Her parents are a loss. Then Debraj Sahai, a drunkard, but a creative teacher, steps into their lives. With his unconventional methods (which Michelle’s father hates) he helps her to understand simple words and concepts. She is able now to study, gets admitted in a university, and, after twelve years of effort, gets her degree. At her graduation, to her parents’ delight, she gives a speech. But she does not want to wear her graduation gown. She wants Debraj, who is now hospitalized, and has lost his memory, to be the first to see her in it. It is her turn now to help him to remember.

Prof Gigy Joseph

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MENTAL HEALTH: A FORGOTTEN PRIORITY

No one needs to be informed or reminded of the pandemic and the lockdowns. Up-to-date information is streamed in by the hour on the number of people who test positive and the number of deaths. So, too, the economic impact of the lockdown has been much studied (although its impact on the poor is often kept hidden).

One aspect that does not get sufficient attention is the emotional impact of the pandemic and the lockdown. Experts are aware of it, but the general public, no. So, too, in what we call “normal life”—family, religious and priestly life, as well as our long years of formation—a neglected area is mental health. It is easier to understand material needs (food, shelter) or academic requirements (which school or college to attend, which exams to pass) than to be understand and promote our mental and emotional health. This neglected area leads to much unhappiness, both in married and celibate life. We would all be happier, more productive, easier to live with, and more inspiring if we were to look after our own and each other’s mental health as assiduously as we eat and drink, take bath and get college degrees.

It is a little more complicated, I agree. But we can do much for ourselves—and for our family and community members—if we set our mind to it.

This is what this month’s four cover stories are about. In the next issue, we shall deal with mental illness and ways of getting over it. As the Australian Bishops wrote last month (See MAGNET, December 2020, pp. 33-34), we need not hide this issue, not see it as a stigma We need to admit it as a priority and learn to deal with it.

Cover Story 1 presents the main lessons psychology can teach us about mental health. Cover Story 2 follows it up with 15 tips. Cover Story 3 shows the four aspects of mental health, as well as the main do’s and don’ts. Cover Story 4 looks at the mental health issues of youth, who form the majority of India’s 1.3 billion people.

Other features have, as usual, much to make us pause and learn.

Thus: Two extraordinary books, written in unusual ways.

Movies: One in which a girl who lost all hope of living a normal life tells us: “We don’t get to choose what happens to us; we get to choose what we do next.” In the other, we see the intense personal agony of the man who first set foot on the moon.

You will see a new column: On social justice. A much-needed addition. It shows us that to be the church is much more than rituals, liturgy and rules. We need to “get dirty” serving people who live and suffer in the muck.

A heart-warming news item last month: Ranjitsinh Disale, from rural Maharasthra, who won the Varkey Prize for the best teacher worldwide, shared the prize money of a million US dollars with the ten finalists! He thus becomes a teacher for all of us.

A startling political truth mentioned by Nobel Prize Economist Paul Krugman carries an urgent lesson: “Conflicts of interest within countries are much more important than conflicts of interest between countries.” Understand where the bigger battles are being fought.

Let me end by presenting another new feature: Podcasts. They are videos worth watching. We present the links. Watch and see how you find them.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

Editor

 

Podcasts worth watching:

One shows how a young American friar sees the changing situation of religious life. The second is about a woman who discerned her vocation, and decided to be a married woman The third is excellent for all leaders, secular or religious. Some called it the best speech of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6laES7LvU0

8 minutes. By young US friar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJtXNsFhS38

A US woman: Do NOT discern religious life

Two things Leaders need most: Empathy and Perspective

`

 

COLUMNIST INTRODUCED THIS MONTH

Fr Ravi Sagar SJ

Ravi Sagar SJ is a practising advocate at the Supreme Court of India.  From 2002 till 2019, he practised at Gauhati High Court. In Delhi, he the obtained Minority Status Certificates for over 300 Minority Educational Institutions, especially in the North East India.

He also holds Post Graduate Diplomas in Labour Laws and Labour Welfare, and in Human Rights.

He founded the Legal Cell for Human Rights, Guwahati (LCHR) and served as the founder director till July 2017.  He has been Project Director for several programmes on awareness, capacity building and training in collaboration with organizations including from UNICEF, Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ministry of Law and Justice, Assam State Legal Services Authority and the Gauhati High Court Legal Services Committee. He has been a Visiting Faculty Member to educational and professional institutions, and authored booklets on various legal issues.

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Covid-19 has led to millions getting sick and hundreds of thousands dying  worldwide. The pandemic has led to significant increases in stress and anxiety, especially in the context of fear of being infected and in the face of an uncertain and unpredictable future. Social isolation, economic downturn, unemployment and poverty have taken a heavy toll on people’s wellbeing. A painful consequence of all this is an increase in mental illness.

Although mental illness is more visible and disconcerting during this distressing time, it is important to focus on mental health and wellbeing. Understanding it and looking at measures that foster it, can help us to avoid mental illness and help us cope with it better if we suffer from it.

Mental health is not just absence of mental illness. It is a state of holistic wellbeing, in which the mind, body and spirit function harmoniously and enables a person to live joyfully and productively, finding meaning and purpose in life. It is a state that enables us to thrive, to flourish, to live life to the full.

Graceful and Happy

This life to the full is especially characterized by healthy interpersonal relationships, playfulness and joy, a sense of contentment, capacity to adapt to change, and character virtues like love, hope, altruism, compassion, sensitivity, capacity to endure adversity, loss and suffering without being unduly distressed or disturbed, and resilience, that is, the capacity to bounce back from setbacks.

…….

FR JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB

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Here are fifteen simple practices that will help us maintain and strengthen our mental health.

(Collated and adapted from various sources, especially “WebMD Health Notes”)

1. Clearing the Clutter

Creating a pleasant environment in the space in which we live and work is important for mental health and wellbeing. When we are surrounded by clutter, the visual chaos affects our brain. A cluttered environment increases the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, especially in women.

Clutter affects our mind. It gets in the way of our ability to process information and affects our cognitive functions. It also brings on needless anxiety and stress when we can’t find something that we need badly because it is buried under the clutter. Clearing away the physical clutter around, will also clear away the clutter in the mind and give us peace of mind.

2. Exercise

Physical activity improves overall health, reduces the risk of diseases, and can make us feel better and function better.

Exercise energises mind and body, reduces anxiety and increases feelings of wellbeing. It is also a great boredom buster. Even short spells of physical activity are beneficial.

Yoga, qigong, tai-chi, and simple aerobics help stimulate and strengthen the immune system, helping us ward off disease. Acupressure–pressing, rubbing or tapping some specific pressure points in the body—helps release tension, lessen anxiety and improve blood flow.

Dancing is another way to exercise. It relaxes the body and mind and creates a good mood.

…….

FR JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB

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