In Honor of the Holiday, Tell Us For What You Are Thankful...

I have so many things to be thankful for. From the breathe I take to the enjoyment of tasting dark chocolate. Life provides so many things that we should be thankful about. First and foremost, I'm most thankful for a life that my God has provided me with. A life full of learning experiences, adventures, love, passion..... And I'm also thankful for:

~To know the feeling of true love. I've been blessed to of experienced it once, but I get to experience the feeling over and over again each and every day thanks to my wonderful daughter.
~My daughter and her health and happiness.
~My health (even though it's got its bumps...lol).
~Our home and food on our table and in our bellies.
~For those who are serving and has served.
~The memories we keep alive within us.
~For family and their health and happiness.
~For friends and their health and happiness (both online and home life).
~Teachers who help us to educate our children and ourselves.
~For the freedom we have in this country.
~To see the beauty all around us - in people form and in other forms.
~The sense of smell to smell all the wonderful things around us.


My list could go on forever. My reasons to be grateful are termendous. But today, these are what I'm most grateful for. I hope everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving!!!

Self-Love Affirmations

I've been looking for some self-love affirmations, and so far here is what I've found... I will be using these for myself and I hope that others will use them as well, plus I have other plans for them but can't tell at this time.

Enjoy!

1 - I believe in myself.
2 - I am taking many steps to make my life better.
3 - I appreciate myself. I five thanks for my wonderful life.
4 - I take time for myself today and every day.
5 - I am strong and capable.
6 - I wake up full of joy. I look forward to my day.
7 - I appreciate all that I am and all that I have.
8 - I speak positive, uplifting words.
9 - I am loved. I am lovable.
10 - I have the right to choose who I want to be around.
11 - I am open to receive my soul's joy. I am full of joy.
12 - I congratulate myself often.
13 - I easily sustain a positive lifestyle.
14 - I release any negative or fearful self-images.
15 - I let go of any burdens that are not mine to carry.
16 - I appreciate often how I feel good.
17 - I am filled with light.
18 - I look more beautiful everyday.
19 - I release guilt and shame. I am perfect as I am.
20 - I am generous with my love.
21 - I keep my promises to others and myself.
22 - I am a success. I congratulate myself often.
23 - I am comfortable with my feelings.
24 - I receive love easily. Others give it to me generously.
25 - I know what I love to do and I do it.
26 - I have a wonderful, nurturing environment.
27 - I value my time and energy.
28 - I give generously to myself.
29 - I love and honor everything I create.
30 - I accept and love myself for who I am right now.
31 - I honor myself in everything I do.
32 - I am a special, unique person.
33 - I put myself in situations where I feel honored, loved, and valued.
34 - I am lovable just as I am right now.
35 - I give myself all that I need.
36 - I honor my magical child. I have fun and play.
37 - I am aware of the images I send to other people. I send them positive, confident, and loving images of who I am.
38 - I choose to live in a balanced life.
39 - I feel vibrant and alive. I love how I feel.
40 - I am confident and serene.
41 - I take good care of myself.
42 - I have the right to change my mind.
43 - I smile often.
44 - I back up my feelings with my words and actions.
45 - I have frequent feelings of well-being.
46 - I honor my deepest truth with my words, actions, and behavior.
47 - I choose to be around other people who contribute to my feelings of aliveness.
48 - I pay attention to my body's wisdom and act on its message.
49 - I release all self-pity and blame. They flow out of my body and are replaced with love.
50 - I am true to myself in all that I do.
51 - I believe in myself. I know I have an unlimited capacity to create whatever I want.
52 - I recognize my own divinity.
53 - I acknowledge and appreciate my good qualities.
54 - I release all images others hold of me. I choose my own self-image.
55 - I release power struggles with others. I choose peace.
56 - I treat myself with respect. I am a worthy being.
57 - I accept myself for who I am.
58 - I trust my future self to take right action. I now live in the present moment.
59 - Everything I give to others is a gift to myself. As I give, I receive.
60 - I feel good, calm, and at peace with myself.
61 - I honor and value my creativity and ideas.
62 - I can have what I want.
63 - I am a valuable person. My path is important.
64 - I love myself unconditionally.
65 - I am open to allow and accept good things into my life.
66 - I give myself permission to be all I can be.
67 - I forgive myself, knowing that I did the best I knew how at the time.
68 - I am in charge of my destiny. I am the builder of my life.
69 - I am pleasing to myself.
70 - Every day, I experience more love in my life.

It's My List - That's Right - MY LIST!!!

After a lot of thought, I have decided to do a list of things that I want to do within my lifetime. You know, one of those "To-Do Lifetime Lists". I think by writing down things that I want to one day accomplish, I will have a better chance of it happening. Writing things down has always gave me that push to go for something. And I want to have a full-filling life of things that I want to try and actually doing them.

My "To-Do Lifetime List" will contain anything and everything I want to try, do, learn, ect. Things I want to accomplish before my lifetime is up. A planning list of sorts, I guess you could all it. It's of things that I want to do, not what others want me to do.... It's my list...

Edith's 'To-Do Lifetime List':

1 - Learn the Spanish and french language.
2 - Travel to Greenland and Iceland.
3 - Become a better student.
4 - Experience each cultures lifestyle.
5 - Learn to dance to upbeat music.
6 - Be well educated.
7 - Fly a plane.
8 - Attend a concert of Christina Aguilera.
9 - Meet Johnny Depp in person, carry on a conversation, have my photo taken with him.
10 - Live in Maine on the ocean front.
11 - Vacation in Devon, England.
12 - Learn about fashion.
13 - Be a good example to my daughter, Devon.
14 - Own my own custom built home.
15 - Be known in other countries in a good way.
16 - Graduate collage with a duel degree.
17 - Learn to sew.
18 - Learn to meditate.
19 - Be a better mother.
20 - Understand sign language.
21 - Be more assertive.
22 - Learn to cook cultural foods well.
23 - Vacation in Mexico.
24 - Take a cruise to the Caribbeans.
25 - Learn wood carving.
26 - Visit Disney Land/World with my daughter, Devon.
27 - Build a sand castle on the beaches of Florida with my daughter, Devon.
28 - Become an Interior Designer.
29 - Build a butterfly garden.
30 - Visit a live circus with my daughter, Devon.
31 - Learn to use coupons and deals offered to save the most money.
32 - Be financially stable.
33 - See my daughter, Devon, succeed in life.
34 - Find the right man for me.
35 - Learn to create signature tags for online use.
36 - Learn photography and be good at it.
37 - Be organized.
38 - Be physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy.
39 - Be more self-sufficient.
40 - Give my daughter, Devon, a positive outlook on life.
41 - Go on a hot air balloon ride.
42 - Learn to ice skate.
43 - Go skydiving.
44 - Learn to roller skate.
45 - Be seen in a romantic-comedy movie starring Hugh Grant.
46 - To snorkeling.

As time goes by, I will add to my list, cross things off, and post my experience of each accomplishment I make. This list is my list. No anyone else's. It's what I want to do, try, learn, ect. It's my list.

Life

Life growing up was so different. I was full of life, energy. I was outspoken and unique all at the same time after I got out of school. I had fun each and every day. I hung with friends. I went to church. I was out and about each day doing something that felt good to me.

All the 'life' in me seems to of faded away. Where has it gone? My hopes and dreams have mostly faded away. My child like outlook on life has vanished, and it's something that I'm in need of to keep my sanity. It's something that I want to hold onto. Something that I want back.

Depression took hold of my life early in my teenage years, but hasn't fully let go. Things I used to love doing, I no longer feel the joy from. One day soon, I hope things change. I want to feel that joy again from doing every day things. I want to feel the hop build for another chance; another day. I want laughter to full my heart. I want my heart full of endless sunshine and warm love and laughter.

Putting a smile on my face just isn't doing it. All it's doing is covering the pain and hurt I have inside. I want a smile that's true. True to me. True to my daughter. She deserves it. I deserve it.

In time, happiness WILL prevail!!!

Setting Goals

Setting Goals

Teach your child to turn dreams into reality with the practical magic of goal setting.

Goal setting is the process of making a dream come true step-by-step. The desire to meet a challenge and succeed has been a part of many cultures throughout history. The ancient Peruvians used to draw out their goals in symbols and paint them in primitive colors on the walls of caves. The Egyptians used to create elaborate rituals to move from the state of desire to actualization. They believed that writing out a dream in advance would assure a positive outcome.

Here are a few simple steps to follow to help your child set goals successfully.

Seven Principles for Setting Goals

1. Listen First: Encourage your child to become quiet and listen to the wisdom within before setting a goal. Many goals are born out of competition or excessive striving rather than from one's own integrity. A healthy and solid goal follows listening to one's inner wisdom, rather than the reverse. Go over these vital questions before setting goals:

* Is this goal something i really want?
* Does this goal serve me in my life right now?
* What will I need to bring this dream into reality?

Once these questions have been answered to your child's satisfaction, you can begin to create a game plan.

2. Create Smart Goals: Getting clear and specific about goals will help your child to create a personal map to success. The more realistic the goal, the more likely it is to take place, as long as the goal is something that your child truly wants rather than something force-fed by a well-intentioned adult. Consider these five key questions when helping your child to set "smart" goals:

Sensible - Does it make sense to do this?
Measurable - How will I measure when I've arrived?
Attainable - Can I actually attain the now?
Realistic - Is it possible and realistic at this time?
Time line - How much time will it take me?

3. See It and Believe It: Once the goal has been set, encourage your child to begin to see it as though it had already occurred. Drawing out goals in pictures, writing the down in vivid detail, or describing the desired end result on tape are great ways to keep the energy flowing in a positive direction. Once your child has set the goals, this will be the most important step to focus on each day.

4. Set Monthly Goals: Setting one or two monthly goals is a good way to practice the principles and see results quickly. A family of four selects one main goal per month each, along with a chart for marking down their progress on the refrigerator. Each person places a start on a winning day. They don't believe in failure, and they claim that they only have two kinds of days-- "I did it" days and "Give it all you've got tomorrow" days. At the end of the month, they have a Excellence Dinner to celebrate their successes. (Usually all four of them succeed, since they enjoy keeping one another motivated.)

5. Set Yearly Goals: Make yearly goal setting a family affair. Consider creating goals for the ear in the following categories:

* Business or school
* Family and friends
* Money
* Vacation
* Learning
* Spirituality
* Physical health

Break these down into bite-sized pieces by creating goals for the month, and read over the yearly goals at least once a week.

6. Reward Your Progress: Rewards can provide a fun lift along the way. Create small weekly or monthly rewards to stay motivated, since every step along the way is a step toward success and worthy of acknowledgment! Give one another hugs, pats on the back, cheers, and encouragement. If someone slips, support that person in getting back on track.

7. Be Wiling to Let It All Go: Sometimes something unexpected appears, and sings indicated that a change is needed. Being willing to drop a goal in favor of something more timely is a mark of courage and wisdom. Encourage your child to remain open to changes, and practice the art of detachment. There is a Zen saying that offers wise counsel during times of unexpected change:

"Face change by resisting the current and perish. Move with change, resilient to the flow, and flourish."



(100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem and Teach Values by Diana Loomans with Julia Loomans)

Teaching Children a Wellness Lifestyle (Health)

Good Nutrition

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans are changing their eating habits for the better and teaching their children to eat fewer non-nutritious foods and more nutritionally sound meals. Red meat is being replaced by poultry, fish, bean products, nuts, and grains, and fresh produce consumption is growing rapidly across the country. The USDA's latest guidelines recommend a low-fat diet, with grains as the foundation, or at least 40 percent of one's daily food consumption. The USDA has divided foods recommended for daily intake into six food groups.

The USDA's Six Main Food Groups to Eat Each Day

1. Grains: This category includes breads, cereal, rice, and pasta. Six to eleven servings are recommended per day, depending on age and body weight. One serving is approximately one slice of bread, or one-half cup of pasta, cereal, or rice. Grains have been the dietary foundation for people living in the temperate zones of our planet for thousands of years.

2. Vegetables: When it comes to vegetables, the yellow, orange, or dark leafy green ones are the richest in nutrients. Three to five servings per day are recommended. One serving is approximately one cup of raw vegetables, or one-half cup of cooked vegetables.

3. Fruit: The USDA recommends two to four servings of fruit per day. One serving is approximately one medium-size piece of fresh fruit, or three-fourths of a cup of berries, such as cherries, blueberries, strawberries, ans so forth.

4. Protein: This category includes meat (preferably lean meat with hewer than three grams of fat per ounce), poultry, fish, dry beans, tofu, eggs, nuts, and seeds (with a caution on the high fat content of nuts). Two to three servings are recommended per day. One serving is approximately three ounces of lean meat; three-fourths of a cup of tofu, beans, or low-fat cottage cheese; or one whole egg.

5. Dairy: This includes milk, yogurt, and cheese. The USDA recommends two to three servings per day. One serving is approximately eight ounces of low-fat milk or yogurt, or one ounce of cheese. For those who prefer an alternative to dairy, substitute soy or rice products.

6. Fats: Fat is found in tow forms: saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fat is found primarily in the meat group, while unsaturated fat is found in poultry, fish, and vegetable oils. To meet the need for essential fatty acid, choose from the unsaturated group. One to three servings per day are recommended. One serving is approximately one pat of butter, one tablespoon of oil or salad dressing, or two teaspoonfuls of mayonnaise.

Eight Ways to Help Your Child Develop Healthy Eating Habits

1. Plan your meals for the week with your child, adding flavorful dishes and variety, and make nutritional eating something to look forward to.

2. Serve a balance of foods from the six food groups each day.

3. Encourage children to drink at least eight glasses of water each day, including a small glass before each meal to help prevent overeating.

4. Teach children to eat snacks that are healthy and low in fat, such as fruits, vegetables, air-popped popcorn, low-fat yogurt, bread, or low-fat crackers.

5. Encourage children to eat slowly at each meal, chewing each bite of food thoroughly and putting the fork down between bites.

6. Teach children to eat until the appetite is reasonably satisfied, rather than overeating. Research has shown that those who eat moderate amounts of food, rather than overeating, live longer, healthier lives.

7. Make desserts low-fat and healthy, and save sugar and high-fat desserts (cake, ice cream, pie, pastries, or candy) for special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays.

8. Avoid additives, pesticides, and artificial flavor whenever possible, and eat food that is made with all-natural ingredients. Buy organic fruits and vegetables whenever available.

Five Benefits of Good Nutrition for Children

1. More energy.
2. More brain power for learning and thinking.
3. Better health.
4. Fewer illnesses.
5. Higher performance levels.

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ExerciseOne hundred years ago, scrubbing clothes in a washtub for twenty minutes burned about 140 calories and toned the upper torso and arms. Today, the same task involves putting the clothes into the washer and turning it on, which takes about tow minutes and burns about 14 calories. With all of our modern conveniences, it's no wonder that so many American families are overweight. The U.S. Government's Council on Health and Fitness cites exercise as one of the most important aspects of a child's health. Here are a few ideas about how you can promote a more active lifestyle for your family.

Exercising Together

1. Walk Together: There are over seventy million walkers in the United States. Exercise walking has now become the number one fitness activity in America, with enthusiasts spanning all age brackets. When you are going on short neighborhood errands with your child, consider the benefits of walking rather than driving. A mother of a first grader began to walk her daughter to school each morning instead of driving her. "It makes such a difference in how I feel for the rest of the day, and we have a good time, too!" Taking fitness walks with your child to nature reserves, state parks, or interesting parts of town offers a fun adventure together as well as a good workout.

2. Take Up a Sport with Your Child: More and more parents are combining play and fitness with their children, teaching them how to lead active lives while having fun together. Biking, hiking, tennis, roller blading, running, playing Frisbee, swimming, baseball, basketball, or even kite flying are just a few of the ways that adults and children can keep fit and have some fun together. A mother and her sever-year-old son took up roller blading as a sport, and they now spend some time each week practicing their new skill. "I'm the only second grader with a mom who roller blades," her son Brian said, beaming. A father and his tow teenage daughters recently signed up for an aerobics class together at a local gym. "We have a lot of fun going together, and we keep one another motivated," one of his daughters said.

3. Take a Hike: Hiking is one of the best ways to do aerobic activity together, since the scenery distracts you from the vigorous workout that you and your child will get in just one hour. A single father of five-year-old twin boys takes them on a hike every Saturday morning before lunch. "It's playtime, quality time, and a workout, all rolled into one for us," he said.

Five Benefits of Regular Exercise for Children

1. More energy.
2. More motivation.
3. Better health.
4. Trim appearance.
5. Greater self-esteem.

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Managing StressChildren cope with a certain amount of stress each day, depending on their age and upon circumstances at home and at school. Two questions children often ask when they experience stress are, "How will I get through this?" and "Will it ever end?" The following list of stresses children may experience can be used as a springboard for discussion and to help offer reassurance that, with support, they will get through their stress, and at some point the stress will end.

Twenty-One Ways Children Experience Stress

Ask your child to rank the following list of twenty-one stresses, with 1 being the most stressful, and 21 being the least stressful. Note that this checklist covers only some of the most common fears and stresses that children may experience and is intended for discussion only.

* Moving to a new location and going to a new school.
* Being teased or put down by friends and classmates.
* Losing a parent through divorce or death.
* Getting poor grades in school.
* Fighting or arguing with Mom or Dad.
* Getting lost.
* Going to the doctor or dentist.
* Hearing Mom and Dad quarreling.
* Being suspected of lying.
* Fear of death.
* Being spanked.
* Being left out.
* Getting sick.
* Losing a game.
* Having nightmares.
* Being embarrassed in front of other people.
* Being yelled at.
* Fighting with friends.
* Being harassed, attacked, or molested.
* Being held back a year in school.
* Have a new brother or sister.

Twelve Ways for Children to Reduce and Manage Stress

1. Talk to an adult you can trust about your feelings.

2. Work off tension with physical play or exercise.

3. Breathe slowly and relax your whole body from head to foot when feeling tense.

4. Write about your feelings in a diary or journal each day.

5. Talk to a good friend who listens when you're having a rough time.

6. Ask for some extra attention from your family when you need it.

7. Get plenty of sleep each night, drink lots of water, and eat healthy food.

8. Have a hobby, such as drawing or playing a musical instrument, for relaxation and relief.

9. Learn to laugh at yourself when you make mistakes.

10. Get your tension and anger out in ways that don't hurt anybody -- go for a run, yell into a pillow, punch a punching bag, jump on a trampoline, or throw pillows.

11. Agree with people who tease you with it makes sense to do so. If you drop a ball, for example, say, "You're right, I did drop the ball," in a carefree voice. When the teasing or put-downs are more cruel, learn to walk away, telling yourself, "I don't have to listen to this."

12. Dont' keep secrets inside that are hurting you. Reach out to someone who can help.

Help you child to lead a lifestyle of wellness that includes good nutrition, regular exercise, and skills in managing stress by encouraging the above ideas, and by learning a healthy and active wellness lifestyle of your own.

(took from: 100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem and Teach Values by Diana Loomans with Julia Loomans)