A SHOPPING LIST THAT BUYS HAPPINESS Money may just buy you happiness. That is, if you spend it on the right things. According to a Cornell University study, researchers found that buying “experiences” like massages or vacations instead of material goods such as a nice new flat-screen TV may make you happier and give you greater satisfaction over time. Why do experiential purchases rate so high on the joy meter? When it comes to material
NEWS FLASH... The American Pain Foundation (www. painfoundation.org), whose mission was to be a “united voice of hope and power over pain,” has ceased its operations due to economic reasons. The foundation intends to transfer its information, education and support programs to other pain organizations.
PERENNIAL FAVORITES
BACK PAIN BOOKS So many people experience some form of back pain during their lifetime that the National Institute of Health recognizes it as one of the most common neurological conditions, only second to headaches in the number of people it affects. Those who do suffer from this widespread ailment may want to check out the list below—three of the most popular and useful consumer- recommended back pain books on Amazon.com.
8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back, by Esther Manohar Gokhale (Pendo Press; 2008)
Back Sense: A Revolutionary Approach to Halting the Cycle of Chronic Back Pain, by Ron- ald D. Siegel, Michael Ur- dang, Douglas R. Johnson (Broadway; 2002)
Healing Back Pain Naturally: The Mind-Body Program Prov- en to Work, by Art Brown- stein (Pocket Books; 2001) —allie nicodemo
social networking 101
Studies show that being happy with the amount and quality of social support in your life translates to less pain and depression and better coping skills. So don’t go it alone—or suffer in groups that don’t appeal to you. The right social networking site is just a click away. Search online for a group dedicated to your specific type of pain, or give these support-group sites a try and find comfort in community:
> CHRONIC PAIN CONNECTION (healthcentral.com/chronic-pain): A team of experts, including doctors and medical professionals, au- thors, journalists and heads of advocacy organizations, lead discus- sions on all types of pain conditions, treatments and more. > FACEBOOK’S CHRONIC PAIN GROUPS (facebook.com; search under “chronic pain group” or “chronic pain groups”): A place to vent, lend support and up your friend count with those who live with pain. > PAIN RESOURCE’S ONLINE COMMMUNITY (painresource.com): Real people with real pain share their experiences and knowledge so others can better manage their aches and their lives. > BELIEFNET’S CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT (community.beliefnet.com): Communal support for people of any faith. — rachel dowd
things, shoppers often second-guess their buying decisions, comparing them to better deals they missed or to what other people have. To boost your happiness, consider these pain-relief experiences: - Spending family time at a beach or lake house. - Enjoying a stress-reducing facial or massage. - Indulging in a manicure with friends. - Visiting a local botanic garden. —lisa davis