I remember the day Cupid’s arrow pierced me squarely in the heart. Seriously, my heart started to flutter and I felt like I had to sit down. It was the first time I saw my husband. I knew he was good on the eyes, but the feeling I had was directly in my heart.

I would say he “stole my heart,” but after doing a little research on the connection between love and coronary health, I now know he fortified it! Initially, my flushed cheeks and that pitter-patter was caused by a rush of adrenaline which makes your heart beat faster. But as a relationship grows, love actually calms your heart and lowers your blood pressure. Most studies indicate cupid’s arrow is really good for you.

Love, romance and frequent you-know-what have serious health benefits. A dose of love results in fewer coronary events. People who say they’re in love tend to live longer with lower blood pressure. And if you end up getting married, as we did two years later, chances are you’ll live longer. The research shows married men extend their lives by seven years and women by two years. And if you have heart troubles, your odds for recovery are better if you’re married.

Even when you think your spouse is acting like a jerk, (which, between you and me, my Prince Charming occasionally does) medical journals indicate your relationship is still more likely to leave you with a better blood pressure reading than your single friends. But it isn’t just love from your spouse that works as the elixir. Love from your family, friends or even Fido is powerful, too. (Some studies show that after a heart procedure, people with dogs or cats survive longer.)

The bottom line is, love, wherever it comes from, is good for your heart. Let’s spread the word and spread the love. Happy Valentine’s Day.

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1. If the story of your life leaves you without energy, change it. Your dreams are nothing without energy. If you want to live the life of your dreams, create an action plan and put your energy into it. Every time the sun rises, you get the chance to create the life of your dreams. Tell yourself: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” Live your life… today and everyday… It won’t be forever.
2. The energy you give and receive from everyone in your life matters. Energize the connections in your life and build positivity that will lift and inspire. If you need to clear the air with someone, do it now. It’s not your paycheck or your job title that will lead to lasting happiness. Put maximum energy into the relationships in your life. Kindness is energizing.
3. Things don’t energize you, people do. All the money in the world won’t increase your vitality, energy and zest for life. But good energy may help you achieve your dreams and success in all your endeavors.
4. Don’t waste energy searching for it. It’s inside you. Use it. We are all born with energy. Just put your hand to your heart and feel the beat. It is ever-present. The challenge is being present and turning on the switch that will allow it to flow through you at full power.
5. Donating your energy can do more than donating your money. Giving your energy to a project or person can create a lasting impression and a powerful memory for yourself and others that will last forever. People remember the energy you left them with. Giving is energizing.
6. You can’t share your energy with everyone; you won’t have any left for yourself. Make sure you’re putting your energy in the right place, with the right people. It’s your most valuable asset – you need to prioritize how you spend it. It’s a choice so choose wisely.
7. Don’t try to be perfect. It fosters negative energy. Don’t be a perfectionist. All you will hear is your inner critic. Replace criticism with gratitude. It’s far more energizing.
8. It’s not what you do, but the energy you bring to what you do. Fill your day with positive energy, replace animosity or fear with love & kindness.
9. You won’t be thinking about your wealth, achievements or professional success near the end of life. The only things that will matter in the end are the relationships you did or did not maintain.
10. Talent without energy will not yield results. You need to constantly couple your talent and your energy. Share your super powers with the world. Living without energy is like trying to drive your car on empty. Fuel your body AND your mind to fire up your life.
11. Energy lives in the present moment. Don’t deplete your energy by regretting the past or worrying about the future. The only moment you can really control is this one. Things happen you can’t control, but you can always control the energy you give to any situation. Use your energy to lift and inspire people, not to blame or judge.
12. Put energy into the words you choose. Use your words to inspire energy in others. When you speak, promote only positive energy. Remember — kindness matters.
13. Spending time working on you, taking care of yourself, feeding your own body, mind and soul, may seem selfish, but it’s not. We can’t take care of others if we don’t take care of ourselves. Taking care of yourself is generous not selfish. If you’re not serving yourself you won’t have anything left to be of service to others.
14. Don’t mistake passing thrills or the quick buzz you get from a Red Bull with true energy. Your energy comes from within. Don’t seek energy tinctures or snake oil. Only you control your personal energy level.
15. Even when you think you’re out of energy… you still have vast amounts. You just think you don’t. Your mind quits long before your body. Don’t let your mind be in charge of your energy levels. If your heart is beating— if you can detect your life force— you still have energy. Use it.
16. Pop some magnesium. If you’re not eating a balanced diet your magnesium level may be low. Magnesium will break down glucose into energy. It may make the difference.
17. Go for a walk. Even while you read this start moving. Boost your energy by moving your body. You’ll change your energy and your mood.
18. Take a nap. It will help energize your brain. Sometimes we need to shut down to turn on.
19. Eat your most important meal… Breakfast. So many studies show students who eat breakfast do better in school. It’s the same for adults. You’ll be happier, more energized and start your day with vitality.
20. Don’t get hooked. When faced with anger or stress— notice it, accept it and then work to release it. Move, play music, hug someone, find some gratitude. Don’t let chronic stress erode your energy.

If You Don’t Have Time, Make Time by Lila Lazarus “It must be nice,” my friend said to me with a tinge of resentment as I got onto my bike.  “Having time to ride a bike is a luxury I can’t afford,” she said.  Her words hurt me.  She made it sound like I have all this extra time in my life to ride my bicycle.  The truth is, I don’t have extra time…I make it. For the last six months, I’ve been deep into training for a 300-mile bike ride with Team Joe’s to raise money for Make-A-Wish to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.  It’s a three-day journey— 100 miles a day. Those of us making this ride have been training for months. There are dozens on our team who, like me, don’t have time…they make it. They are doctors and CEOs and lawyers and business owners. Husbands and wives, parents and students. Every one of them has a busy life. And none was given more than 24 hours in a day. So if you’re one of those people who looks longingly at those riding their bikes, or playing with their kids in the park, or sitting and reading a book and thinking “Gee I wish I had time for that,” then these words are for you. Decide what it is you want to do and make a commitment. No, I didn’t have time to train for hundreds of miles. No, I don’t have free weekends to spend in the saddle, pedaling for hours.  But the moment I made the commitment to Team Joe’s — I made a decision that riding would trump anything else vying for my free time. I made the ride my top priority. Whatever it is you want out of life needs to be the most urgent thing on your list. And the moment you make the decision, start making small changes to increase the time you give to complete your goal. Find every piece of wiggle room. No, I don’t watch TV. No, I don’t have time to peruse social media. No, I can’t have long leisurely lunches with friends or for business. And no, I haven’t been to a movie in six months. I had to learn to go to bed earlier so I could wake up earlier and ride. I had to find every small chunk of time and make use of it.  That’s what you do when you have a goal and want to find the time. I had to cut back on everything that wasn’t essential. It’s tough for me to say no, but if I was going to say yes to this ride, I was going to have to say a lot of no’s. The cool part was, people told me they weren’t upset when I said no — they were inspired by my commitment to a 300-mile bike ride. No, I haven’t been to the car wash in a while. I haven’t had a haircut and I do have a long list of errands that will have to wait.  But the honest truth is that life is better when you make time for things you really want to do. Achieving a goal feels amazing and makes you feel more alive. So take a moment and think about your time and the things you’d really like to add to your life. Do you want to read more? Ride bikes? Get more sleep? Just put those things on your to-do list and make the time. If it’s that important to you, then get off Facebook, put down the phone and make it happen. Between you and me, the same girlfriend who told me she wishes she had the luxury of riding bikes, spends an inordinate amount of time on Instagram and spends an awful lot of her free time watching television. Yes, she’s the VP of a major company and works hard, but I’m sure if she reevaluated her day, she’d find the same 24 hours the rest of us have. A hectic life should not be your excuse for missing out on what you really want to do. It means tracking your minutes and hours and finding the wiggle room. It means making use of every time slot you can. How I Found the Time: Every time I had a chance to commute via bicycle I did. I would ride to meetings, doctor’s appointments, any time I could. A six-mile ride would take less than half an hour and I would arrive energized…albeit a bit sweaty. People thought I was crazy commuting to downtown Detroit on a bicycle, but the 25 miles passed quickly, and left me feeling alive. Waking up early is the best way to find extra moments to get something done. And once you’re up, you’re focused and ready.  It was tough getting myself to go to bed earlier, but I love the way I feel after eight hours of sleep. Don’t wait for anyone else. While it may be fun to have a buddy to ride with, if I really wanted to get the job done, I couldn’t wait.  I had to get on my bike and just do it. And I had to give up choosing the perfect trail. To save time, I hopped on my bike and left right from my own driveway just as I did when I was a kid. I’d write more but my bike is calling me from the garage and I have 300 miles to ride. Make a commitment and make the time.