top of page

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ANDY
This blog is all about exploring the joys of everyday life.
Whether it's through chasing your dreams, finding joy in the small things, or just making the most of each day; I strive to show that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Through sharing my adventures and experiences, I hope to motivate others to pursue their dreams and find happiness and their passions in life. Join me on this journey of discovery as we navigate life together.


The Power of Regret: Why Looking Back Helps You Move Forward
Most of us spend enormous energy avoiding regret. We view it as evidence of failure, a painful reminder of wrong turns and missed chances. Yet neuroscience and psychology reveal a surprising truth: regret, when understood and channeled constructively, becomes one of the most powerful catalysts for self-discovery and meaningful change.
Andy Honda, MD
4 days ago11 min read


Books That Change How You Think: What Reading Does to Your Brain—and How to Build a Daily Learning Habit in 2026
Discover how reading rewires your brain, builds cognitive resilience, and enhances critical thinking. Learn science-backed strategies to build a sustainable daily reading habit in 2025 with curated book recommendations.
Andy Honda, MD
Jan 216 min read


Winter Wellness: How Cold Weather Affects Your Dog’s Body
Winter presents significant physiological challenges for dogs that extend beyond simple discomfort. Cold weather impacts canine body temperature regulation, hydration status, and paw health in ways that require informed management from pet owners. This guide examines the biological mechanisms at work and provides evidence-based strategies for winter dog care, with particular attention to urban environmental hazards.
Andy Honda, MD
Jan 143 min read


The Science of Goal-Setting: Why 92% of Resolutions Fail (And How to Be the Exception)
Every January, millions of people set ambitious resolutions with genuine conviction. By February, over 80% have abandoned them. By year's end, a staggering 92% of New Year's resolutions end in failure. This isn't a crisis of character or willpower—it's a predictable outcome of misunderstanding how human motivation actually operates at the neurological level. The good news? Decades of research in behavioral psychology, neuroscience, and habit formation have revealed precisely
Andy Honda, MD
Jan 77 min read


The Alchemy of Christmas: Where Neuroscience Meets Wonder, and Tradition Finds Its Pulse
There exists a peculiar alchemy to Christmas—one that persists even as we navigate the complexities of adult life, with its relentless demands and necessary pragmatism. Each December, despite our sophistication and skepticism, something shifts. The twinkling lights against winter's encroaching darkness, the sharp scent of pine cutting through cold air, the quiet satisfaction of thoughtful giving—these aren't merely nostalgic indulgences. They're portals to something more esse
Andy Honda, MD
Dec 24, 20253 min read


The Science of Gratitude: How Your Brain Actually Changes When You Say "Thank You"
Gratitude is more than a warm feeling—it's a biological process that literally reshapes your brain. When you practice gratitude, you activate reward centers, boost mood-regulating neurotransmitters, lower stress hormones, and strengthen neural pathways for resilience. Over time, these changes become trait-like rather than momentary, meaning your brain begins to default to positivity, connection, and emotional regulation. This article explores the fascinating neuroscience behi
Andy Honda, MD
Dec 17, 20257 min read


How Fun Facts Light Up Your Child's Brain: The Neuroscience of Learning Through Wonder
When your 7-year-old suddenly announces at dinner that jellyfish have no brains, or that dogs can smell in 3D, something remarkable just happened in their mind. It wasn't just memorization—it was their brain's reward system firing up, their hippocampus encoding new information, and their curiosity circuits creating pathways that make learning feel effortless and joyful.
Andy Honda, MD
Dec 10, 20257 min read


Why the Holidays Overwhelm Dogs: The Surprising Science Behind the Stress
The holidays mean twinkling lights, family gatherings, and festive cheer—at least for us humans. But if your dog seems on edge, clingy, or downright panicked during December, there's actual science behind it. Your pup isn't being dramatic or "bad." Their brain and body are genuinely responding to legitimate stressors in ways they can't control. Let's break down what's really going on inside your dog's body when the holiday chaos hits—and more importantly, what you can do to h
Andy Honda, MD
Dec 3, 202510 min read


Finding Gratitude in the Everyday: A Reflection on Being Thankful
As the seasons shift and the year winds down, I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude—not just the kind we talk about during the holidays, but the quieter, gentler kind that shows up in the small moments we often overlook. Being thankful doesn’t require grand gestures or picture-perfect days. More often, it’s hidden in the ordinary rhythms of life, waiting for us to notice.
Andy Honda, MD
Nov 26, 20252 min read


Book Review: In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
In Five Years is a beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant novel that explores fate, friendship, and the unexpected turns life can take. Rebecca Serle begins with a premise that feels almost like a thought experiment: what if you caught a brief, startling glimpse of your life five years in the future—and it wasn’t at all the life you had planned? From that moment, the story unfolds with a quiet urgency, drawing you into an intimate journey of love, loss, and self-discovery
Andy Honda, MD
Nov 19, 20252 min read


The Science and Heart of Therapy Dogs
When my Rhodesian Ridgeback, Koa, walks into a children's hospital room, something miraculous unfolds. A child who moments before was withdrawn suddenly looks up. Eyes brighten. A small hand reaches out. The monitors beeping in the background fade into white noise as connection takes over. What I'm witnessing isn't just heartwarming—it's a profound biological transformation happening in real time, one that scientists have spent decades trying to understand and measure.
Andy Honda, MD
Nov 12, 202510 min read


Book Review: Abundance by Ezra Klein
What if the biggest obstacle to progress isn’t a lack of ideas, but a lack of belief that we can actually build the future we dream of? That’s the premise of Abundance: How We Build a Better Future by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, a book that blends political critique with forward-looking optimism. At its core, this is a call to move beyond scarcity thinking and rediscover a version of liberalism, and governance, that builds big, bold things.
Andy Honda, MD
Nov 5, 20252 min read


Howl-o-Ween in NYC: Two Days of Tricks, Treats, and Tail Wags
Halloween in New York City is always magical—but when you add dogs in costume, it becomes Howl-o-Ween! This year, Koa and I celebrated across two days of spooktacular fun, from the family-filled streets of the Upper West Side to the patio of the Virgin Hotel.
Andy Honda, MD
Oct 29, 20252 min read


A Fall Escape from the City: Apple Picking and Family Fun at Dr. Davies Farm
There’s something about fall in New York that feels like pure magic. The air is crisp, the leaves are golden, and weekends are made for cozy sweaters and outdoor adventures. With my aunt and uncle visiting from out of town, I wanted to show them a slice of autumn beyond the city skyline—so we packed up the car and headed to Dr. Davies Farm in Congers, New York, for a day of apple picking, pumpkin patches, and cider sipping.
Andy Honda, MD
Oct 22, 20253 min read


Koa’s Ruff Life: Christmas Time in New York City
Author Dr. Andy Honda Announces the Release of 'Koa’s Bryant Park Scavenger Hunt,' the Second Book in the 'Koa’s Ruff Life' Series
Andy Honda, MD
Oct 15, 20252 min read


A Tail-Wagging Adventure: Visiting the AKC Museum of the Dog
Located at 101 Park Avenue in Manhattan (entrance on W 40th St), the AKC Museum of the Dog reopened in New York City in 2019 after spending three decades in St. Louis. The museum has moved to the Park Avenue location where the AKC headquarters, library, and archives are currently located, creating a comprehensive hub for all things canine.
Andy Honda, MD
Oct 8, 20254 min read


Chasing Sunrises, Building Resilience: The Science of Transformation
Let me share my journey through the neuroscience of letting go and building new patterns, not from textbooks, but from the daily practice of rewiring my own brain, one sunrise at a time.
Andy Honda, MD
Oct 1, 202511 min read


The Wearable Revolution: How Smart Health Devices Are Transforming Chronic Disease Management
The landscape of healthcare is experiencing a profound transformation, one that's literally worn on our wrists, arms, and bodies. Wearable health technology has evolved from simple step counters to sophisticated medical devices capable of monitoring vital signs, tracking biomarkers, and providing real-time health insights. For the millions of Americans living with chronic conditions, these devices represent more than just technological novelties, they're powerful tools for ta
Andy Honda, MD
Sep 17, 20257 min read


The Science Behind Why Dogs Love Fall Weather
gait with unmistakable excitement in Central Park, knowing his favorite season is coming. His nose works overtime, sampling the air like a sommelier discovering a vintage wine, and his pace quickens with an energy I haven't seen since last spring's thaw.
Andy Honda, MD
Sep 10, 20255 min read


Restful Nights, Powerful Days: The Science of Better Sleep
your brain operates like a sophisticated air traffic control system for your consciousness, with different control towers managing the complex choreography of sleep and wake.
Andy Honda, MD
Sep 3, 20259 min read
bottom of page

