Hogwarts Professor

Start your 2012 out right! Resolve to read about Harry and Edward (or Bilbo and Batman?) at least one more time in the New Year — 10 (Research-Tested) New Year’s Resolutions, Culled from the Work of University at Buffalo Faculty

Resolution #6 – ‘Read More Fantasy to Combat Loneliness.’

Reading fantasies like the popular “Twilight” vampire series or the Harry Potter collection of novels helps to satisfy a need for human connection, according to the research of UB associate professor of psychology Shira Gabriel, PhD, and graduate student Ariana Young. When we become engrossed in fictional narratives we feel close to others in the comfort of our own space and at our own convenience, their research shows. “In our subjects, this led to a reported increase in life satisfaction and positive mood, which are two primary outcomes of belonging,” Gabriel says.’

For more, see ‘We Actually “Become” Happy Vampires or Contented Wizards When Reading a Book’

Hat Tip, Kitty!

As many of you know, I am an Orthodox Christian which means today is not what it is for most; Nativity for traditional Christians is still two weeks away. I live in a different world than most people in America in choosing to observe the liturgical calendar of the Church but I am not so far removed from reality not to note the Western Christmas season and all it means to my many friends here who worship on the Gregorian calendar. Joyous Noel to you all!

This year I received a Christmas poem from Beth Priest in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, which annual event, because she has sent them since I first ‘met’ her online years ago and because they are so good, has become a marker of the Philippian Fast for me. I share ‘Standing Still’  below with her permission in the hope that you find it as edifying as I did — and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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I saw the Hobbit trailer today on the big screen at a TinTin matinee showing. The eight people in the theater watching — me and a few of my children with two dads and their sons (Christmas Day custody rights? alas, so it seemed) — all but stood and cheered.