Find Joy In February

By Natalie McCulloch

Firstly, a huge well done, you survived the first month of 2020, January, which often sees us making goals, setting resolutions and committing to right our ‘wrongs’. This month may be inspiring but also gruelling and act as a way to punish oneself for things we feel inferior about ourselves. Popular New Year resolutions revolve around losing weight, increasing exercise and giving up ‘bad’ habits or favourite foods. Quite often these things, although beneficial long term, don’t induce feelings of joy and pleasure short term (celery sticks and burpees can’t possibly be high on anyone’s list of luxuries surely?!)

I would never encourage anyone to give up on goals or throw in the towel on their missions, but I would encourage anyone to try and incorporate a vital mission into their day, namely finding joy. Alongside the short term benefits of finding joy, namely instant gratification (like the instant satisfaction obtaining from smelling your favourite perfume), there may be longer term benefits to your health, well being and lifestyle such as increased productivity, reduced sickness and heighted sense of worth. As Lyanla Vanzant said, “Do what brings you joy and your purpose will follow.”

So what is Joy? The dictionary defines joy as: ‘deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment or something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness’. Sounds pretty appealing I hope you agree? The tricky bit is knowing what joy is for you; what makes you feel pleasure, happiness or satisfaction? Hopefully you have some ideas, but often we go about our daily lives by rote or to satisfy others without thinking to stop and think about ourselves. So it may be worth reminding yourself now, “What gives me a feeling of joy?”

So why is February a good time to start seeking joy? Firstly, with the stresses and debts of the festive period fizzling out for another year but also the excitement and fun of Christmas subsiding, it’s an ideal time to find pleasure through other avenues. Secondly, February sees the UK going hearts and flowers mad for the 14 th

, Valentine’s Day, so with all that ‘love’ in the air, why not steal a bit for yourself? Finally, February sees Ash

Wednesday (26/02/20) which marks the start of Lent. Lent is a Christian annual period that encourages people to abstain from something for 40 days to represent the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. What better thing to abstain from than negating the need for joy in your life?

I do know it’s not that simple, and for many reasons finding joy may be a challenge. But its surely one worth pursuing? After all, as Mae West said, “We only live once, but if we do it right, once is enough.”

If you are stuck for ideas of how to find joy, here are a few pointers which may help: - A story that always makes you laugh - A little victory - A devoted pet or favourite animal

I’d also encourage anyone to use ‘Action for Happiness’ which is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society. There are lots of resources on the website including a super calendar which gives a daily prompt to find happiness.

My mission to find joy commenced as I was given a kind gift at Christmas, ‘a journal of joy’. On flicking through this I realised that joy is not something only to be embraced and recognised, but also shared. I took this into my work place and asked various groups the questions and learnt a great deal. Joy is not universal, generic or always recognised, it comes to each of us in unique ways. But one wonderful common feature is the need to treasure and discover what brings us joy. I have the utter honour and pleasure of listening to memories from people who’ve seen not only 2020 but 1920’s, and their memories largely revolve around happy times. This led me to conclude that happy times are worth remembering; times of joy are worth encountering and both are worth holding onto dearly!

I can’t tell you what will bring you joy, for some people it will be the sound of children laughing, bells chiming, birds singing may bring joy – these things may aggravate others. For some people the taste of chocolate, the thought of a day doing nothing or a hug off someone may evoke joyous feelings, others may cringe at the very thought of such.

So in February why not commit to doing something wonderful for you? Focus on you, even for just a short spell every day. Make it your mission to find out what brings you a feeling of joy and commit to finding that fulfilment daily. I’ll leave you to ponder the words of Gordon B Hinkley: “Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured.”

Useful links - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Bring-GuidedJournal-Journals/dp/1419719815 - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thepossibility-paradigm/201106/youre-not-laughingenough-and-thats-no-joke - https://www.actionforhappiness.org/

fillers for the 40+ age group - subtle enhancement

Dermal fillers are no longer the ‘new’ aesthetic treatment – in fact, this month global pharmaceutical company Galderma celebrated the 20 th

anniversary of its Restylane hyaluronic acid dermal filler. What is new, though, is how aesthetic practitioners are using these highly effective antiageing products.

At the Specialist Skin Clinic, we believe in producing beautifully natural results and this is best achieved with a subtle enhancement. Everyone should notice you’re looking great, not know you’ve had something done.

What are dermal fillers?

As we get older, collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid levels in the skin start to decline, a process that can be accelerated by smoking, stress and sun damage. These components in the skin provide the support, elasticity and plumpness we associated with youth and our skin becomes thinner, dryer and sags as a result.

Dermal fillers, such as Restylane and Juvederm, use a hyaluronic acid gel to restore volume, lifting and smoothing the skin. Ellanse, another leading dermal filler brand, is made of poly-caprolactone, a polymer which is safely absorbed by the body. Due to its elasticity and viscosity, it is ideal for contouring and sculpting.

What’s the best age to get fillers?

Most patients over 40 want to look their best self, not like they are in the twenties. Our approach is to be very subtle; enhancing and rejuvenating your looks without changing them. The anti-ageing approach

As well as the leading hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, we also offer Ellanse, as it is a fantastic volumising product and can last up to two years, which is ideal. Any longer-term products can have the drawback that they do not adapt to how your face naturally changes over time. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, Ellanse also improves collagen production so there is an improvement in skin texture.

However, dermal fillers are just one of the antiageing treatments we offer at the Specialist Skin Clinic. We often combine dermal fillers with other antiwrinkle muscle relaxants to address lines and wrinkles, but will also usually advise skin rejuvenation treatments such as laser, microneedling or chemical peels and a cosmecuetical skincare programme to achieve optimal skin health.

We are often asked what the best age to get fillers is, but there is no right age. If you’ve recently noticed any visible signs of facial ageing, a consultation with an experienced anti-ageing practitioner is key. We can advise you on what is the best anti-ageing approach, whether that’s an injectable treatment or a preventative skincare programme.

Go to our website at www.specialistskinclinic.uk for more details or call us 02920 617690 to arrange a consultation with Dr. Maria Gonzalez.

Our understanding of how the face ages continues to grow and we can tailor treatments to this new understanding. A common ageing concern is the appearance of deep lines between the nose and mouth, known as the nasolabial folds. These are caused by loss of volume in the mid-face so it can be a mistake just to fill the nasolabial folds. Restoring volume to the cheeks can create a far more natural and youthful appearance as well as improving the appearance of the nasolabial folds.

Cardiff, Bath, Bristol, Somerset and Harley Street, London