Welcome to Living Well Daily, the newsletter serving up a daily dose of care designed to support you, cheer you on and remind you, always, just how wonderful you already are.

Thanks so much for your feedback. You told us something important: the content is meaningful, but the length sometimes felt like too much.

We listened. We’ve distilled the newsletter to make it more helpful, impactful and enjoyable for you, our readers. Our intention is, and has always been, to provide you with a daily space that’s nourishing and empowering.

We appreciate you, Lola & Joshua💖

Rumour is you are a magnificent, awesome and great person. We know these rumours are true because you are all of these things and more! 

A lot of people tell me, “I’m just really self-aware,” but when we dig deeper, what they actually mean is: I can spot everything I do wrong with brutal precision. That isn’t awareness, that’s self-surveillance with a harsh tone. True awareness isn’t a spotlight on your flaws; it’s a wider lens that includes your strengths, your progress, and your humanity.

When awareness becomes hyper-critical, we end up bullying ourselves under the guise of “improvement.” In this state, we constantly call out what we’ve done wrong without ever highlighting our good. This is a recipe for paralysis, anxiety, and it’s downright overwhelming.

But, change is very possible. Awareness becomes healing when we pair it with compassion, noticing honestly, while speaking kindly. That shift changes everything.

Here are the principles that can help you change direction:

✅Action step: Notice one thing you did well today (even if it’s tiny) and name it with a compassionate tone. (“I’m proud of how I handled that,” or “That was a kind choice.”)

^{Love, Lola Graham}

Dementia is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects more than 55 million people in the world, and there are around 10 million new cases every year. I have seen multiple loved ones suffer from it, which is one reason I am happy to see that something simple can help lower dementia risk. What is that thing?

The shingles vaccine. A new study out of Stanford of more than 280,000 individuals found that older adults in Wales who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over the following 7 years than those who did not get the shot. 

With comparative studies like this, there is a risk that the two groups (vaccinated and unvaccinated) are quite different from one another; however, in this case, the two groups were extremely similar in every characteristic they measured, giving more credibility to the findings.

The researchers' findings support the theory that viruses that affect the nervous system (like shingles) may increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. There is also the belief that the shingles vaccine might also help those who are already suffering from dementia by slowing down the progression of the disease. 

For women, there is even better news! The protective effect of the vaccine was much stronger in women than in men. Overall, these are very encouraging findings for a simple intervention that could help millions keep their brains healthy.

✅ Action step: If you are eligible for the shingles vaccine, talk to your doctor, and/or if you have older loved ones, share these findings with them. 

^{By: Joshua Graham}

Before you go, let us know what you thought of today’s edition and if there are any subjects you would like us to cover in the future reply to this email and let us know!

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With love and care,

Lola & Joshua | The Living Well Team

^{Living Well Daily is for educational purposes only and is in no way a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice and diagnosis. Please consult a qualified professional for care unique to your needs.}

^{Remember: It’s okay to ask for help. Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (Canada & US).}