Perfect is not possible - usually What a beautiful Fourth of July…we rode the Can Am and enjoyed the wonderful Colorado Rockies. We stayed away from the crowds and watched the amazing Macy’s fireworks display in NYC - in the comfort of our own sofa. Perfect is not possible – but days like yesterday are close. As a farm wife for 30 years, most Fourth of July holidays were … [Read more...]
Help grow little leaguers
Help grow little leaguers Watching my ten year old grandson play baseball is pure pleasure. In our rural town, parents, siblings, and grandparents attend and cheer for the success of "Their" team. Tents are erected, coolers are packed with everyone's favorite food and drink, and sunscreen is passed around the stands. The small boys try so hard, and … [Read more...]
Teens, Messy Rooms and Parental Frustration
Teens, Messy Rooms and Parental Frustration Third of four articles from the American Counseling Association - Honoring April: Counseling Awareness Month Somewhere, there might actually be a teenager who doesn't have a "messy room." Most parents would doubt that. A teen's messy room continues to be the source for ongoing parent-teen disagreements in many families. While we … [Read more...]
Sin – What do you think?
Sin – What do you think? (Opinion piece - I am a Christian - not a religious counselor) I researched SIN on the internet and reaffirmed that we have all sinned. Adam began with original sin and we all inherited it. Jesus died for our sins and gave us a second chance. But, then again, we have all sinned since then. We can say we are sorry and mean it sincerely, but then … [Read more...]
Positive Playfulness for Mental Health
Positive Playfulness for Mental Health Spring Breaks are upon us, and it reminds me of watching my son and granddaughters compete in a double-elimination Mud Volleyball Tournament. All participants showed up with bare feet, shorts, tee-shirts or swimming suits, and a smile. The muddy water was twelve to eighteen inches deep and the day was perfect; sunny and warm with no … [Read more...]
True giving – sincerity of the heart
True giving - sincerity of the heart Oh the holidays; the happy holidays; memories of childhood wonder; love in the air; Christmas carols humming in our heads; and festivities abounding. Our blessings are immeasurable…… That is one side of the story. That is the ideal. The other side of the story is the family living down the street that has no money for turkey or ham; … [Read more...]
Mimic Christmas tree for food choices
Mimic Christmas tree for food choices Christmas and food – decadent, mouthwatering, beautiful food – usually share the same stage; seldom do we envision one without the other. We usually allow our healthy choices for living to disintegrate the last six weeks of the year. Visions of dressing, gravy, fudge, apple pies, assorted cookies, and fresh bread are just a few mental … [Read more...]
Humility takes time to perfect
Humility takes time to perfect Humility is defined differently by many: lack of pride; modest; meek; shy; primary virtue; unpretentious; down to earth; self-abasement; sense of one’s own unworthiness; etc. Benjamin Franklin said, “Humility makes great men twice honorable.” I am learning the art of being humble: I am playing duplicate bridge twice a week. I play with … [Read more...]
Live a good story
Live a good story Everyone’s life is a story. History is passed to new generations through spoken and written stories. The decisions we make, the friends we choose, and our family/community environment all contribute to our personal stories. Would you be pleased to watch the true story of your life on the theater screen? Would you invite your neighbors to join you at the … [Read more...]
Failure – a prerequisite to success
Failure - a prerequisite to success Thomas J. Watson, Sr., the chairman and CEO of IBM from 1914 until 1956, is attributed with saying, “If you want to succeed, double your failure rate.” When Thomas Edison was asked about how he failed 700 times in making the light bulb, he said,. "I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 … [Read more...]
Be the person you want a kid to be!
Be the person you want a kid to be! Adults can learn from rules on children’s poster I recently visited my grandson’s school and the poster of rules caught my eye: • Always be respectful • Don’t talk when someone else is talking • Raise your hand – don’t shout out • Keep your hands to yourself • Don’t hurt others • Have fun • Learn • Treat others how you want to be … [Read more...]
Stress is the culprit
Stress is the culprit Every person is born with the ability to be intimate and to make changes. If true, why does every person not make needed changes and experience rich intimacy? If it is possible, why not just do it? What holds us back from having rich, intimate relationships with people we really care about? The answer is stress. No matter our age, stressful … [Read more...]
Behavior, not anger, needs management
Behavior, not anger, needs management We’ve all heard of “Anger management.” Anger does not need to be managed; it is the behavior attached to the anger that needs to be managed. Anger is an emotion just like worry, love, or excitement. There are dozens of definable emotions and anger is just one of them. We all feel anger, and it is the behavior accompanying anger that … [Read more...]
Challenges contribute to mental health
Challenges contribute to mental health My “Bucket List” included being a bartender. So, I enrolled in a Bartending Academy. It was a grueling, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., ten day class. I surprisingly passed both the written and speed tests and was awarded a certificate. Whew! You might ask what this has to do with mental health. It has to do with challenging our brains, our … [Read more...]
Use it up, wear it out…or do without!
Use it up, wear it out...or do without! I did not live through the great depression, but during that period of history, 1929-1939, frugality was considered a virtue, and the phrase, “Use it up, wear it out, and make it do, or do without!” was the guiding principal in most households. Those were the years when nothing was wasted. Women sewed clothes for the family, and then made … [Read more...]