I will survive though because I know there is an end in sight. I also did things like make sure I got to the pool with the kids to swim out some stress and have fun. And turned off my phone and computer for an evening. And I won't miss my bi-weekly lunch with a friend tomorrow.
It's easy to get caught up in a "everything is an emergency" mode. But, most things aren't. Where can you chill?|||111466346316158530|||Crazy Time
http://www.encouragingcoach.com/newsletter-April05send.htm|||111449563484936567|||Newsletter- Relationships
I almost planted my garden last sunny and almost 80 degree weekend. I'm glad I didn't get a chance to since we had one last snow.|||111434829851533628|||Snow in April
expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a
problem."
-- Theodore Rubin|||111431862783419996|||Problems
My Energy For Joy health plan is up and ready to go.
You can print out week one at the energy for joy page. I think I will go through this plan a second time starting Monday. And I would love to have company.
http://www.encouragingcoach.com/programs-energyforjoy.htm|||111431855062069679|||Energy for Joy
I like to tell the kids when they are trying a new food, "You need to try it. Otherwise it could turn out to be your favorite food and you would have missed it."|||111417506863326298|||Artichokes
We have about 4 bird feeders in the yard. She will spend hours just looking at a spring peeper frog or a colony of ants. Spiders and bugs are gently taken out of the house - never killed. She even took in more than one hurt bee until its wing healed and it could fly away (the bee charmer didn't even get stung.)
Today is Earth Day. Let us remember what it was like to be in love with the world around us.|||111417408892839003|||Environment
Read this article on work and pick a couple of ideas to do this week:
http://www.businessknowhow.com/manage/beautiful.htm|||111413508794894831|||How do you spend your work day?
Here's a great article on Information Overload:
http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/infooverload.htm|||111413489842714873|||Information Overload
"Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your
fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make
you a far happier and more productive person." – David M. Burns
I can relate. How about you?|||111387964055281908|||Perfectionism
Sunday was our writer's meeting. Sue was asking what blogs were because one of her former students wrote about her in hers. The post choked us up. The rest of her blog is wonderfully written. Amy has a real way with words.
I got a nice surprise today. I got an issue of Successful Small Business in my mailbox with my article on 24 Time Management Tips in it.|||111385935663444151|||Writing
I am so thankful my kids love to read. I can't understand how people can go through their lives not devouring books :)Which reminds me, I went to Barnes and Noble this week and ran across a book for bibliophile's like me called So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson. I can't wait to dive into her journal of a year of reading and how the books she reads weaves into her life. Actually I didn't wait. I already read chapter one.
Tonight I hosted the duck pond booth at Fun Night at my daughter's school. I get there early so I can pick the easier booths. My son wanted me to do the cross bow booth. They may have been NERF bows, but it looked a little complicated. That's o.k., a dad picked that booth and was having a blast. It was fun seeing some of my kindergarteners from Sunday School from the past few years there. They kept getting in line over and over again.|||111362673604247088|||Books
I usually start with journaling. I journal just about every day to keep me sane. But, when I need to change how I am feeling, I first figure out what I am feeling. I will write in my journal, "I feel..." Once I acknowledge my feelings, then I can see if maybe there is some faulty thinking going on, or maybe I am tired, or see if this is an issue I need to take action on.
I pray. Then I picture good scenarios in my head (we play enough worrisome, tragic scenarios) and release the outcome, knowing I am being taken care of. I think positively about what might happen, but at the same time I let myself know whichever way it turns out will be o.k. How much optimism can you have when you cannot lose!|||111362603456404942|||Positive States
~An easy, friendly solution from the bank this morning
~Book club
~Getting a lot done on the basement
~A coral/stone new necklace that my daughter and I are sharing
~A bigger scholarship for my son from Blue Lakes Fine Arts Camp
|||111341855249692530|||Solution
|||111336106547374570|||Learning about myself
|||111326032473969096|||What is this flower?
~Monday was biking and spring cleaning
~Tuesday we visited my grandparents a couple of states over
~Wednesday we went to the park and the nature preserve. We have been trying to teach the kids that the quieter they are and the slower they walk, the more we see. We were able to see a snake, birds, squirrels playing around the trees, frogs attempting to hide, turtles sunning themselves on logs and even a deer. My daughter says she wishes we all lived outside. We found a vine that the kids were able to swing on (after Dad made sure it was safe).
~Thursday the kids had a day with Dad
~Friday and Saturday we spent at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. We all relaxed and had fun playing at the indoor water park. And the hot tubs. The atmosphere was perfect for this nature loving family.
|||111325807280915527|||Spring BreakUse your problems to work perfect your coping skills. Practice relaxation techniques like baths, playing with pets, doing yoga. Learn to reframe problems into opportunities. Read about others who fought through difficult times to reach success. Focus on what you can change and improve, not on what you can't control.
All these things are not easy. I'm not going to lie to you. It's hard going through difficult times. But you can make it through. And grow during the process. You get to choose whether to become a better person through your problems or a bitter person using problems as excuses.
Now go have a magnificent Monday! Choose well.|||111267254616274303|||Stress Awareness Month
First whiny thoughts, "It's not fair, just when I am doing so good, something else happens." Then my hope was renewed when I remembered that it isn't how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up that counts.|||111247456582242361|||Beginning Again Go to the Archives, and click 'republish all'.