When the trees begin to shed their leaves during the fall, could this act of nature possibly be applied metaphorically to ourselves… a time to let go of what no longer serves us? Maybe we could be like the leaves falling from their source and trust the process by letting go in order to create the opportunity for something new to come into our lives. I realized how symbolic transitions and change can be for all of us, but if we pay attention there are so many lessons from nature. Ever notice when trees begin losing their leaves, they provide us with the most spectacular color display showing us how “letting go” can be so beautiful? When the fall season arrives, I often feel let down; why did all this beauty cover the ground? I finally found solace in my heart today
Read more →A YEAR BY THE SEA….THOUGHTS OF AN UNFINISHED WOMAN By Joan Anderson I read this book in my early forties, and rereading it in my sixties gave me a whole new perspective about how life experiences offer us a glimpse into the continuous struggles we have to find meaning in our personal relationships. Joan speaks to ALL of us… Our lives are always changing just like the sandy shoreline along the beach; especially during these tumultuous past few years which have affected so many! Joan’s book inspired me to take the time to rediscover my second half of life potential and hope her unique story will give you the courage to reveal and release the untapped resources inside of you! The Story of Joan Anderson: Joan was a loving wife and a supportive mother, but she slowly and unconsciously replaced her own dreams with
Read more →“CHARACTER-REVEALING MOMENTS” GO TO THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE I have often heard the saying; “Character is defined as what you do when no one is looking.” Character reveals a person’s deepest intentions toward another human being. We ask ourselves, “Will this person be helpful or hurt me?” Knowing someone’s character provides important information about how the person is likely to treat you. The strength of a person’s character also determines how well they follow through on plans, goals, commitments, and values. Reading the obituaries offer rich information about a person’s character by summing up a person’s life by describing their legacy and impact on the world. I read a great example about this recently because one particular obituary really caught my attention! It started “George….has left the planet!” I thought to myself, “Wow, I wonder what George was really like, I
Read more →The secret is OUT: all of us, NO exceptions, have qualities we won’t let anyone see, including ourselves—our shadow. If we face up to our dark side, our life can be energized. If not, there is a price to pay; our true selves will be buried forever. If you are ready to seek greater self-knowledge and tune into the voice of your soul this topic is for you! My hope is to provide an accessible exploration of the mysterious dark side of human nature and provide tools for a more authentic way of living. A quote by psychotherapist Carl Jung; “What we resist; persists.” How true! We have a difficult time exploring our unconscious forces and acknowledge or hidden negative traits like jealousy, impulsivity, self-centeredness as well as our under-developed traits which hold our creative talents and have tremendous healing abilities. How are
Read more →“Everyone wants to live on the top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.” ~ Andy Rooney I thought this quote was perfect to describe how our lives have been full of so many challenges lately and finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel feels like we will eventually enjoy the view after such a long climb! All of us could use some positive words and a good source of inspiration as we head into the spring; so, I wanted to share with you a book I recently read called “The Mount of Olives” 11 Declarations to an Extraordinary Life”, by Michael V. Ivanov. We should never quit searching, never settle, and never stop seeking our greatest purpose in life. It is in the struggle during our search that our purpose will
Read more →UNDERSTANDING YOUR EMOTIONS and HOW TO APPLY EFFECTIVE COPING SKILLS Suppressing feelings takes an emotional toll and when letting them out may not be a good option, there might be healthier ways to cope. Making sure you remain your authentic self is the first step by setting appropriate boundaries by asking yourself; “What is okay, and what isn’t okay that works for me?” HOW TO COPE: Name Your Emotions: So many times, we do not know exactly how we are feeling and what is rarely acknowledged is that courage and fear and not mutually exclusive. Most of us feel brave and afraid all day long at the exact same time. When you have a strong emotional reaction to something try and identify what the trigger is and reflect on what is causing the problem instead of unleashing on another person. Be Honest with
Read more →Role modeling what you expect from your child is difficult for every parent, but one is expected to try their best, at least most of the time right? If a child sees his parents day in and day out behaving with self-discipline, restraint, dignity, and with a sense of orderliness in their own lives, then a child will come to model these same values with every fiber of their being and learn to live this way. Unfortunately, if a child does not see these qualities than the opposite of this is also true! Remember that wise old saying we always need to “Practice what we preach.” But, one thing that is even more important in building a healthy relationship with your child is love. Even in chaotic and disorderly homes, if genuine love is occasionally present, children can become self-disciplined people. It is
Read more →Remember the song, “He Had the Whole World in His Hands”? We need to restore our faith in our fellow human beings and it reminded me of a story I heard recently: A well-respected physician was being interviewed one day and was asked if there was a pivotal moment while he was in medical school; he paused for a moment and thoughtfully mentioned it happened in his gross anatomy class. He went on the explain how students were assigned a human cadaver and the tremendous amount of respect he had for this 87-year-old woman who donated her body to science. Her decision was selfless and what a gift she was really giving all of us as she continued to teach a future doctor long after she had left this earth; for all of should be grateful. The physician went on to say something
Read more →THE PSYCHOLOGY TO FREEDOM Are you ready to escape the prison of your own mind? We can be our own jailers or we can be our own liberators, which one would you choose? As I read the following quote from Dr. Edith Eva Eger’s book; The Choice, Embrace the Possible, I felt an immediate sense of empowerment because as a Holocaust survivor who endured unspeakable horrors and brutality, Dr. Eger decided to transform her suffering into a powerful gift—one she uses to help others heal. “The most important truth I know is that the biggest prison is in your own mind, and in your pocket you already hold the key: the willingness to take absolute responsibility for your life; the willingness to risk; the willingness to release yourself from judgment and reclaim your innocence, accepting and loving yourself for who you REALLY are—-human,
Read more →On a flight home from Germany a few years ago I watched a documentary about Fred Rodgers and the creation of his show, Mister Rodgers Neighborhood. They shared a very sentimental symbol he used to incorporate into his television program that has always stuck with me. 143 Not only did Mr. Rogers keep his weight at 143 pounds throughout his life, but they also explained why the address on his mailbox was 143. I learned it meant: 1- was “I” 4- was “love” 3-was ”you” There were other heartfelt details Mr. Rodgers put into his show so I can’t wait to see the movie! Everyone knows the holidays are coming up so I thought it would be a good idea to do my own “1-4-3” to honor Mr. Rodgers. Book Review of Manuscript Found in Accra I recently read a book by Paulo
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