Happy Heart Month!

Because happier hearts are healthier hearts, and vice versa!

Author

Yasmine S. Ali, MD
February 04, 2026

“Find the good and praise it.”

—Alex Haley

Hello again! Happy Heart Month!

February is always a special month, for many reasons (some of which you’ll see below), and as a preventive cardiologist, I’ve written my share of educational pieces for American Heart Month as well as for Go Red for Women (which is this Friday—wear red to show and raise awareness of heart disease in women)! But now that, thanks to Positive Vibes, I’ve become known as “The Positive Cardiologist” (yes, really 😂), whenever I write the words “Happy Heart,” I think of what I’ve been saying for a while now:

❝

Happier hearts are healthier hearts, and vice versa.

Yasmine S. Ali, MD

Think about that for a moment. It’s actually based in science—as well as common sense!

This ties in so fundamentally with why I do this, why I believe in the transformative power of optimism and beauty in our lives and for our health physically, mentally, and spiritually.

It also ties into my ORCHID Model for Positive Living—the pillars that I believe, after decades of research and practice, lead to healthy longevity and a happier life. They’re also the ones that encapsulate my own values and life work. If you’ve been listening to my podcast, you’ve heard what ORCHID stands for:

So stay tuned for more about this in every issue of the Positive Vibes e-magazine and in every episode of the podcast! ORCHID is my guiding theme. 😊 

Thank you again for being part of the Positive Vibes community!

Cheers,

Yasmine

P.S. I hope that everyone affected by the recent winter storm (it hit us hard here in TN) is recovering! Thinking of you!!

What I’m Feeling Good About

This February marks a milestone birthday for me, and it is also the 2nd anniversary of the launch of Positive Vibes! 😄 

It was also 3 years ago this February that my first book, Walk through Fire: The Train Disaster that Changed America, was published, to commemorate what was then the 45th (and now the 48th) anniversary of the Waverly Train Disaster of 1978. If you’re a relatively new subscriber and would like to learn more about that, and how the writing of that book led to my creation of Positive Vibes, you can see the entire webinar here, which appeared as Episode 1 of my podcast last summer:

I’m looking forward to another great year! Stay tuned for more to come!!

From the Podcast

For the new year, I ran a refresher on the power of optimism to transform your health and your life—the essence of Positive Vibes, really:

Ep. 17: Optimism for a New Year | Positive Vibes: On the Sunny Side with Yasmine S. Ali, MD    

www.positivevibessunnyside.com/e/optimism-new-year-2026

Listen to the audio version on any platform, including Apple podcasts and Spotify.

View the webinar on YouTube:

What You’re Feeling Good About

Congratulations to Zach, who became a grandfather on New Year’s Eve!! 😀 

And thank you to Larry, who sent these pictures of his wonderful model train setup—you’ll be hearing more from Larry (along with more pics) in a future episode of the “Positive Vibes: On the Sunny Side” podcast!

(This section is where I’ll be featuring good news, tips, and bits of wisdom from readers—so please reply to this email and share some with me! It can be anything, big or small. Whatever you’re feeling good about.)

To Your Health

Taking care of your health is one of the most positive things you can do, so here are a few tips I’ve vetted:

How to Get Enough Vitamin D - Consumer Reports

Here's what vitamin D does in your body and how to make sure you're meeting your daily needs.

www.consumerreports.org/health/vitamin-d/how-to-get-enough-vitamin-d-a4335131703

What the Research Says About Low-Fat Diets (and What Type of Fats You Should Be Eating Instead)

  By Dr. Will Bulsiewicz  In the late twentieth century, dietary fat became the villain of our plates. Grocery aisles transformed into battlegrounds

www.bluezones.com/2026/01/what-the-research-says-about-low-fat-diets-and-what-type-of-fats-you-should-be-eating-instead

(The Mediterranean Diet is the one I follow, by the way.)

More Good News

If you aren’t in TN, here’s an idea of how remarkable the snow and ice accumulation was for us—and how one girl made the most of it by skating on her front lawn:

11-year-old ice skates on front yard, shares powerful purpose to her skating

11-year-old McKenna Fuller's little sister is now in remission for leukemia. McKenna's ice skating has taken a deeper purpose, with her performing with the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation.

www.newschannel5.com/news/11-year-old-ice-skates-on-front-yard-shares-powerful-purpose-to-her-skating

Pawsitive Vibes

Thank you to Zach for this photo of his 4 dogs and 1 cat enjoying a collective snooze!

Got a pet or animal pic you’d like to share? Please feel free to reply to this email!

Riddle Me This

A photon checks into a hotel and is asked, “Do you need help with your luggage?” What does the photon respond?

Answer at the bottom of this issue.

For Your Playlist

3 very different love songs for Valentine’s Day!

Listen to the entire Positive Vibes: Sunny Side playlist on Spotify.

Last Word

❝

You have to be willing to get happy about nothing.

Andy Warhol

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Positive Vibes: On the Sunny Side with Yasmine S. Ali, MD | Yasmine S Ali MD

Welcome to the podcast of bestselling author and cardiologist Yasmine S. Ali, MD. Her Positive Vibes brand shares uplifting stories, inspiring insights, and powerful ideas to help others live their happiest, healthiest lives, guided by her ORCHID Method™ t...

www.positivevibessunnyside.com

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Answer to the riddle: “No, I’m traveling light.” 

(A groaner, I know!)