Christmas wishes for all...

 May your holiday season be blessed with the true meaning of Christmas. 

Preparing for Christmas can be a lot of work. There is the pressure of buying gifts, sending Christmas cards, decorating our homes, cooking, entertaining and traveling to see family, in the busiest time of the year. This doesn't leave much time to think about the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas decorations at the stores start earlier and earlier and many times before even Thanksgiving. The reason why we celebrate has totally been forgotten. Most people when asked why they celebrate, they say things like:

• being home with my family
• I got a Christmas bonus
• My children are visiting
• I finished all my shopping
• I am not celebrating anything, I am just staying home to relax
• I am going on vacation......etc etc....

A lot of the answers have nothing to do with Jesus, and yet that is the reason for the holiday.

Luke 2:10  The angel declares ....I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL people"

The good news of Christmas is worth celebrating for three reasons:

1. I bring "YOU" (it is personal)

2."GOOD news" (it is positive)

3. "For ALL the people" (it is universal, for everybody)

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; full of joy, purpose and good health!

 

Anger and bad temper

When we lived in Los Angeles we would encounter many people with anger issues and short tempers. Road rage was a serious problem on the busy freeways, and crowded streets. People are stressed out with work, family, poverty, health issues and anything else in between. In many ways life is not as simple as it was when our parents were growing up. There were many things they didn't need to worry about. So I can understand people being on the edge. However, being angry and lashing out doesn't make things any better, actually it makes things worse. I read a story that went something like this................

There once was a boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that everytime he lost his temper, he had to hammer a nail into the back of the fence. 

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. 

He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "you have done well, my son", but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.

When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. Wether you physically or verbally hurt someone, the wound is the same .It won't matter how many times you say I am sorry, the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. I hope we can all remember this story when we are ready to lash out at someone.

Let's be careful not to leave a "hole" in the people's fences.

Have a blessed week.

  

Dirty Dishes!

A couple of months ago, I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone, and she was telling me how frustrated she was with her niece who had visited her for 3 months during school break. She said that her 20 year old niece would not help with any chores, expecting everything to be done for her, but she would even leave dirty dishes out. My friend asked her nicely to at least put water in the cups or dishes so the stuff would not get dry and crusty, and yet she didn't do it. When we don't wash a dish after a meal, and it sits in the sink overnight, the food on it will dry and it will take longer to clean. The crust left behind on dishes, made me think about things in our lives that need cleaning that we don't clean immediately.

Much like washing dishes, the best thing to do is to acknowledge the dirt immediately and not leave it for the next day, or the next month, or the next year. The more we postpone it, the harder it is to get rid of. Whatever the problem is that we are dealing with, we need to address it immediately and take care of it. It may not be easy to do. Sometimes we may not feel up to it. I do leave dirty dishes in the sink sometimes, because I am too tired, but it shouldn't happen all the time.The more we wait the harder it gets. The "dirt" and "grime" we are not dealing with in our lives will destroy and harm our relationship with people and with God.

So don't wait! Make it a priority and you will feel much better.

Have a great week!

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

 A few weeks ago Galen and I attended "Senior Safety Academy". It is a safety seminar offered by the senior centers and law enforcement.  Although many things that were covered are things we are aware of,  it is good to refresh your memory, and unfortunately there are also scams and frauds that were new t us. 

One of the things they stressed was "DO NOT TRUST ANYBODY". I know it sounds too extreme, but in today's world we must use exteme measures. One of the scams that is increasing are online cyber fraud. Cybersecurity should not be any different than protecting your home or car from intruders. We lock our front doors and car doors and we have cameras and alarms to discourage thiefs. When it comes to your personal identity, banking records, health records and other sentitive information such as passcodes and other data which is available on line, we must be as vigilant.   

 CISA is a federal agency (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency) under the Dept of Homeland Security, and they are responsible for online security and protection. Here are some of the things they recommend for online security.

1. Implement multifactor authentification on your accounts...that is when you logon with your passcode, they also send a security code to your phone, that you need to type in, in order to access your account.
2. Update your software...but make sure it is coming from the company that created it and beware of fake "urgent" downloads.
3. Think before you click...Avoid text and emails that look too good to be true, too urgent or have unusual request. Don't react. Delete anything that looks suspicious.
4. Create strong passwords....use long, unique complex words or phrases, with a mix of capital letters, characters etc.. 

I will look thru my notes and follow up with some additional tips, on the next post.

Have a great day!

"Forest is my home"

According to an old Native American Legend, there was a big fire in the forest. All the animals fled in terror in all directions. 

We experience several fires close to our home in Southern California. It is a frightening experience. You never know which direction the wind will go, and if your neighborhood will be next. All you cando is pray, since you have no control. The island of Rhodes, Greece, had a big fire a few weeks ago. When we lived in Sweden, in the sixties, many residents would vacation in Rhodes. It seems like we have more fires around the world in recent years, than ever before. The fires in Maui this past week have been devastating. Lahaina, such a busy tourist place, looks like a war zone. What a tragedy. We have many memories there and beautiful pictures. I am sure it will take a long time to recover. I pray for the people who have lost their homes, pets and family members. All of these events reminded me of the story I came accross a while back.

The native American grandmothers would occasionally tell this story to their grandchildren.

In this forest, as the animals were running every each way to escape the fire, suddenly a jaguar saw a hummingbird over his head, going the opposite direction. The hummingbird flew towards the fire! Whatever happened he wouldn't stop.

Moments later, the jaguar saw him pass again, this time in the same direction as the jaguar was walking. He could observe this coming and going, over and over, until he decided to ask the bird about it, because it seemed such a bizzare behaviour. 

"What are you doing hummingbird?" he asked.

"I am going to the lake," he answered. I drink water with my beak and throw it on the fire to extinguish it."  The jaguar laughed. "Are you crazy? Do you really think that you can put out that big fire on your own with your very small beak?"

"No" said the hummingbird. "I know I can't. But the forest is my home. It feeds me, it shelters me and my family. I am very grateful for that. And, I help the forest grow by pollinating its flowers. I am part of the forest and the forest is part of me, I know I cannot put out the fire, but I must do my part."

At that moment, the forest spirits, who listened to the hummingbird, were moved by this birdie and its devotion to the forest. Miraculously they sent a torrential downpour, which put an end to the great fire.

So, the grandmothers would tell this story and always conclude with "Do you want to attract miracles in your life? Then, do your part." This may be a fable, but it is so true. We can all do our part, in our small universe, no matter what the problem may be. We don't have the responsibility to save the world, but we can make a difference with what we have. Maybe all you can do is pray, maybe donate money, give of your time, or if someone needs a listening ear, just listen, no need to give advise.

Remember the story about the boy who was picking up the starfish on the beach, and was throwing them into the ocean,  and a man who saw him doing that said, why are you doing that? there are so many, you cannot throw them all back in, you canot make that much difference..then the young boy picked up another one and threw it and said "It made a difference to that one." We can all make a difference, if we all do our part, and see miracles happen!

Have a blessed week!

.

Habakkuk???

 What or who is Habakkuk? It sounds like a foreign language, doesn't it? Well, Habakkuk was a prophet in the Old Testament. He lived in a time when hope was gone. Violence and destruction was all around him.  He could not believe what was happening. We may feel the same way in the world we live in. He couldn't believe that God was allowing these things to happen. Right in the beginning of the book he asks: God, how long shall I cry and you will not hear? Sounds like when we are going through some difficult situation and we ask: where are you God? Why don't you do something! God promises, but He doesn't need to explain anything. We wait for His timing. Evil may appear to triumph, for a while, but it will not last. God is always in control. Although Habakkuk's situation doesn't change, by the end of the book, he is rejoicing. Why? What changed? What made the difference? The difference is that God tells him how the story ends. He tells him that things will be OK. Knowing God's plan for the future renewed his faith in God's sovereignty in the present.

Sometimes when I pick up a book to read, I like going to the end first. I want to know how the story will end. Sometimes the ending determines if I even want to read the book. I like true stories, and if there are pictures in the book, I look at them first. That gives me an idea what the story is about and who the players are. Sometimes we may wonder how long we have on this earth and how it will all end. We cannot know. However, one thing I do know is that some day I will go to my "forever" home, where I will be reunited with loved ones, and that gives me comfort. Habakkuk also felt comforted, once God told him how all this mess he was surrounded by, would end. In these uncertain times that we live in, we must entrust our future to God. We must have joy and live in the present. Try to take one day at a time and look forward to what tomorrow may bring. There are still good things in this world. There are people who have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go. My husband, Galen, is always joyful. When people ask him how he is doing, he always says, "I am happy to be here". That takes some people by surprise, but one thing it does is that it usually puts a smile on their face, and then they say something nice, or "me too, I am happy to be here". There are some things we cannot fix, so leave them to God to figure out.

If you have time I suggest you read the book Habakkuk. It is very short.

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control......

Have a Blessed Day!

Independence Day and the American Flag

 In a few days we will be celebrating 4th Of July. I have lived in different countries and I have travelled overseas to foreign lands. While it is fun to experience other cultures and meet wonderful people, everytime I return home, I am reminded how blessed I am to live in the United States of America. I believe that it is still the land of the free and the home of the brave, contrary to some people's opinions. With Independence Day, just around the corner, I hope that we can all come together and focus on what is important for our country. As they say, united we stand and devided we fall.  It is time to get our act together. Unfortunately, there are people who hate America and the American Flag. They burn the Flag. Well, I would like to share with you the meaning of the American Flag and what it stands for. The flag is the symbol  of freedom and liberty to which Americans recite the Pledge of Allegiance. In California I was on the board of The Telephone Pioneers of America, a charitable organization, and before starting any meeting we would recite the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Let me share some cool facts about our flag, that maybe you don't know about. There are 50 stars on the flag, symbolizing the 50 states, and 13 alternating red and white stripes to symbolize the original 13 colonies. The colors were not chosen randomly but they have a meaning. Red stands for hardiness and valor. White stands for purity and innocense. Blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice. The flag was originally created in 1777, and the design has been changed 27 times, with the last one being in 1960 to add a star for Hawaii. Over the years many people have written poems and songs inspired by our flag. Johnny Cash, who was born in Kingsland, Arkansas, wrote the song "the ragged old Flag", which ends with the words: "I do like to brag, 'cause I am mighty proud of that ragged old flag."

Well said, and so should we.....be proud... 

Where we lived in Los Angeles, California, fireworks were illegal for private use, although people would go buy them in other cities and do it anyway. However, we were lucky to be able to watch all the fireworks around the San Fernando Valley, from our home. They were beautiful. We used to have 4th of July parties in our backyard with friends all the time. Here in Bella Vista, Arkansas, fireworks are legal, July 3rd through the 5th. We have had some spectacular displays from our neighbors on the lake. Some people go all out!! Of course, the city also puts together a fantastic fireworks display on July 3rd, by the Marina, on Lake Loch Lomond. 

Whatever your plans, have a safe and enjoyable Independance Day!

   

Are YOU Special?

Most of us don't think we are "special". We think our mothers, fathers or children are special, and of course our pets. But do we think of ourselves as special? Why do we think of some groups as special and celebrate them? Do we need a whole month to celebrate a specific group of people? Why do we say certain lives matter? ALL lives matter in God's eyes, and that is because, God made us unique. Each one of us is gifted for some special talent, and He wants us to discover all that He has for us. We are His Masterpiece. Unfortunately, we see ourselves as lacking. We are always short of something, that somebody else has.

Not too long ago, I was with a group of people and this young woman said that she did not feel like she had done much for any major cause. She was in awe of this couple who had founded "Best Friends", back in the 70's, and had achieved so much for homeless animals. What they have accomplished is indeed remarkable and inspiring. Their non-profit group has expanded nationwide and has over 250 thousand members. However, we have to remember that not everybody can do big things. We can do little things in a big way. We cannot, and should never compare ourselves with others. What God thinks of you doesn't change. What we think of ourselves changes with time. How do we evaluate ourselves? Well, we evaluate ourselves with how we look, what we have achieved, other people's approval for us and how successful and affluent we are. Those are some of the things we judge our worth by. So, your selfworth changes everytime one of these four things change. However, as I mentioned, God's view of us doesn't change, because He created each and every one of us in His own image, and He said that it was GOOD! We are NOT mass produced. We are SPECIAL. Think about it....

In all the world there is nobody like you. Since the beginning of time there has never been another person like you. Nobody has your smile, your eyes, your hands, your hair. I know a few identical twins. My best friends in Turkey, when I was growing up, were twins. My nephews in Greece, are twins. They are supposed to be exact replica of each other, and yet..they have something that is different and unique. Nobody owns your handwriting, or your voice. YOU ARE SPECIAL.

Nobody has your taste of food, music, dance or art. Nobody in the universe sees things like you do. In all time there has never been anyone who laughs in exactly your way, and what makes you laugh, cry or think may have a totally different response in someone else. So, YOU ARE SPECIAL.

You are different from any other person who has ever lived in the history of the universe. You are the only one in the whole creation who has your particular set of abilities. There is always someone who is better than you, at one thing or another. At the same time, you are better than someone else. Every person is your superior/inferior in at least one thing. Nobody in the universe can reach the quality of the combination of your talents and your feelings. Like a roomful of musical instruments some might excel in one way or another, but nobody can match the symphonic sound when all are played together. It is YOUR symphony. Through all eternity no one will ever walk, talk, think or be exactly like you; not your parents, your siblinsg or your children! YOU ARE SPECIAL.

You are rare, and in all rariry there is enormous value. It is NO accident that you are special. Please realize that God made you for a special purpose. He has a job for you to do that nobody else can do as well as you can. Out of the BILLIONS of applicants, only one is qualified. Only one has the unique and right combination of what it takes, and that one is you.

So, next time you doubt yourself in any way, don't worry, remember that YOU ARE SPECIAL. God thinks you are, and He sent his only son to die for you, so you can live.

There are some people in the world who have the gift of finding joy everywhere, and of leaving it behind them when they go. I pray that we can all strive to be like those souls.

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control......Galatians 5:22

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers.

Have a blessed Day!

 

The Samaritan.....

 Another month has gone by and I think of all the things that have happened in that time! Almost three months ago, both Galen and I were hit by some health issues we were not expecting. He had a migraine for a week, that resulted in him having  'double vision'. The eye doctors could not see anything wrong with his eyes, so they sent us to the hospital for more tests. We spent the night at the hospital, for further observations. The MRIs, Cat Scans and other tests could not detect anything wrong, but the double vision persisted. The neurologist determined that it was probably a vascular blockage of a nerve behind his neck, going into the brain, that connects to the eyes! The diagnosis was 6th nerve palsy. It was great that they finally figured something out, but they said there was nothing they could do, the problem usually can heal itself in three to six months...so..we had to be patient and wait. In the meantime, many of our friends around the country, and our church family were praying for him. They put him on many prayer chains, which resulted in many other people praying for us, who we don't even know, and for that we are so grateful! At the same time as he was going thru his ordeal I had a problem with my back and neck, which made it necessary for me to go to physical therapy three times a week, and that is another story.

So, why do I want to talk about the Samaritan, mentioned in the Bible? (Luke 17:12-19). Well, because it has to do with being thankful. You see, the story is very interesting. As Jesus was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus have pity on us". Leprosy is still around in some third world countries today, and the people who suffer from it, are still being considered outcasts and they are rejected by their families. Back in Jesus' time, if you had leprosy you were not allowed to be close to others. People thought you were cursed, that you or your family had done something wrong, or sinned in some way and that was the reason of your ailments. Anyway, when Jesus saw them, he said "Go show yourselves to the priests", and as they went, they were cleansed! It was customary then, that if you were sick with something like leprosy and then you were healed, you had to go to the priests, in the Jewish Temple, for them to verify it. So, the ten men, must have had a lot of faith because they had heard of the miracles that Jesus performed, that they didn't wait to be cleansed and THEN go to theTemple, but they started going while they were still sick. 

Now, here comes the interesting part. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus's feet and thanked him. This man was a Samaritan. Why is that important? It is important because the Samaritans were despised by the Jews. The jews did not want to have anything to do with them. Although they were also jewish, they were viewed as pagans. They had intermarried with women from other tribes,who were worshipping other gods. I don't know all the details, but I do know that they were shunned by the jews., and they did not mingle with each other. Samaritans had a bad reputation. Jesus was Jewish, and yet he healed this man, and this man was the ONLY one who came back to thank Him. 

Jesus, actually asked his disciples..:"were not all ten cleansed? (of course He knew they were all cleansed).  Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he turned to the man and said "Rise and go; your faith has made you well'.

Galen's vision has returned to almost normal in less than the three to six months the doctors were predicting. We are so grateful to all the doctors, and most appreciative to all the people, who we know and don't know, who have been praying for his healing and still continue to do so. Sometimes when unwelcome things happen to us we must have faith and trust that God will help us go through them. Whatever the outcome. We must be inspired by the actions of this man so long ago, and give thanks to God daily for all our blessings, big or small. Thank Him for the accident you missed on the freeway, the rainstorm that you didn't have to drive through, or the doctor appointment that someone rescheduled and you were able to get yours moved up. Be thankful for all the little things, that we take for granted.

I hope you enjoyed the story of the Samaritan. 

Enjoy every day, beacuse it is a blessing! 

Benefits of sunrise and sunsets....

I have often heard that when we experience hardships we are being strengthened by God. So, it seems appropriate to say that we should be happy or joyful when we encounter conflicts, because as we are forced to deal with them, we come out stronger at the end. Maybe it is not easy, but simple, when you think about it. With each trial we become stronger and better. Of course, we don't see that while we are in the midst of the trials. 

Patience is another virtue I think most of us miss, and I am very guilty of that. I want things to be fixed NOW, get an answer or a solution to a problem NOW, get over an illness NOW, and so on. Have you ever been in a  grocery line that doesn't move, or behind a slow driver, or a traffic jam, when you are late for an appointment? How about dealing with an individual who, in your estimation, is not doing things fast enough?  Don't you want to scream? and tell them off... as if that would fix the delay. Sometimes, that person is me. On the other hand, my husband, Galen, is the opposite. He is patient with everybody and everything. Nothing phases him. If he cannot fix it, why get all upset over it? He always allows enough time on the road, so no matter who is in front of him, he will still get to his appointment on time. He is calm, cool and patient in all situations (well, at least most). I am working on becoming more patient and understanding, one little step at a time, and I know I have a long ways to go. I try to go outside with nature, and enjoy watching the birds and hear their beautiful songs. I love listening to the rain, and thunder. Nature can calm you down. Go to a quiet place and just close your eyes and be intune of the environment, and your surroundings.

Something I read about the other day made me feel so fortunate and so blessed. The "scientists" and "researchers" have now discovered/concluded that sunrises and sunsets are good for our health! When we lived in California our backyard faced the East, and I used to enjoy a cup of hot coffee early in the morning, watching the amazing sunrise. Although we had a great 185 view, and could also enjoy sunsets, they were nothing compared to the sunsets I have experienced here in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Our backyard faces the West, and we get the most spectacular sunsets. I have seen the most unusual colors in the sky, over the lake, at dusk, especially after a rain storm! I am never tired of taking pictures every time I encounter these amazing colors. What a privilidge to observe this awesome creation on earth.

So, these studies have shown that these daily sunrises and sunsets, are very calming, soothing and therapeutic for us. In Canada, doctors started prescribing  "forest baths" to patients suffering from anxiety, and suggest to patients to get up a bit earlier so they can observ a sunrise, or timing a walk in the evening so they can see the sunsets. I remember as a little girl, living in Istanbul, Turkey, that many people who were suffering from anxiety, depression and various mental isssues, were sent to "sanitariums", usually in the mountains and forest areas, where the air was clean and they could clear their minds in nature. They got the benefit of the healing powers of nature and the outdoors, which has the ability to clear our minds, improve our moods and emotions, and help our overall well-being. I am surprised that we need scientists to confirm these things that should be just common sence.

When you see a scary and violent movie it does NOT improve your well-being, although some would probably disagree with me. When you are in nature observing a sunset or sunrise your mood is improved! No need to do a study. THAT is the study. Today we have a gloomy day, as we expect another rain storm this evening. It is a little depressing, not like when we have a beautiful, sunny day. Anyway, according to these studies published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, the effects of these fleeting moments of awe we experience, were never measured before. Hoever, since they now are measured, and proven..... well, I guess, it is official.

So, next time you get a dose of the winter blues, you will know what to do. Go outside and observ the daily natural phenomena, and they will have a positive impact on your mental health. Trust me.. you will feel happier and more aprreciative of what you have been blessed with.

Enjoy your week, and don't forget to change your clocks tomorrow morning, 2AM.

...1 hour forward.  

       

Happy Month-Happy Valentines

New month, new adventures. February also celebrates Mardi Gras. I just discovered that we have Mardi Gras parades in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, as well as in other towns. Not just New Orleans, Louisiana. How fun. I have never been to one, and Eureka Springs is less than two hours away. It is a beautiful, historic, resort town. So much to see and do. Apparently, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many recidents relocated to Arkansas, and "Eureka Gras", as they called it, started in 2006 and participation has risen to new levels since then. Weather permitting, I would love to go this year! 

Mardi Gras celebrations first began in ancient Rome when early Christians incorporated elements of pagan spring festivals to mark the time before Lent. The tradition became popular throughout Europe, including France where the name Mardi Gras was coined (French for Fat Tuesday).In United States, New Orleans, with its French heritage, and influence, is the most well known Mardi Gras celebration, dating back to the 1800's, and today it is estimated that they get over 500,000 spectators.

February is also the month we celebrate Valentine's Day. Love is for everybody, not just for couples. But if you happen to be a couple, consider yourself blessed if:

• you continue to be loving and considerate long after the wedding bells have ceased ringing
• you are polite and courteous to one another as you are to your friends
• you have a sense of humor and laugh often with each other
• you love your mate more than any other person in the world
• you are helpful and faithful to each other 
• you remember to thank God for all your blessings, and you make time to pray together
• you never speak loudly to one another and you make your home a place where one seldom hears discouraging words
• you can work out problems of adjustments without interference from relatives
• you understand and have a perfect partnership in financial matters 
• you appreciate and support each other 

I hope you get your heart's desires on Valentine's and always, and enjoying some good candy always helps!  Go celebrate!!

Are you having success with your New Year's Resolutions?

We pray that 2023 will be a great year that will bring many blessings to you and your family. 

Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? I gave that up long time ago. It never seemed to work for me. According to a study of 1500 Americans, the top three resolutions of the previous year were: exercise more (58%), losing weight (48%), and saving more money (44%). Among these categories there were many more. Improving diet (39%) was one of them, spending more time with family (18%), spending less time on social media was another (13%), volunteering more and doing charity work was (10%) and cutting down on drinking was (4%), but quit drinking altogether was only (2%).

I found the list very interesting for many reasons. The top two deal with how we look and how we feel, rather than how we behave or interact with others. Self oriented rather than other people oriented. Nothing wrong with wanting to exercise more, lose weight and eat better. We all need to do that. However, I see a lot of people drinking excessively and sometimes that leads to bad behavior. Also, many people spend more on their cell phones than spending time with family, and yet they don't feel they need any improvement in that area of their lives. As I mentioned earlier, it seems like we are a society of more "self" oriented, than "others" oriented, just my opinion. I think we have a lot of room for improvement in the second category. 

Another thing I thought about is that the reason most of our New Year's  "resolutions" get abandoned by February, is because we are too vague. Instead of setting specific, doable goals, we set goals that are too general and too hard to achieve.

Lose weight..OK..how much and by when. Save more money..OK..how much more exactly and from where? Exercise more..wonderful, but where, when and what kind of exercise. We start with goals that are too big, too ambitious, and none specific, and then we fail. we fail because we cannot attain them. I have been there way too many times. So what do we do? 

• Pick one or two specific goals and  make it realistic. Instead of saying lose 100lbs, say 10lbs and work on that. Make a detailed plan, and small steps will get you there.

• Avoid repeating past failures and don't make the same resolution year after year.If you already tried and failed, you will not have confidence that you will achieve your goal this time either, except IF you evaluate what you did and how it failed. Evaluate what worked and what didn't work. Use a new strategy if you still want to tackle the same resolution.

• Be patient with yourself. You can restart and keep going until you have achieved that goal.

• Find someone who will support you, or work with a "buddy" who also has the same goals.

• Keep a journal (that doesn't always work for me) by jotting down your successes and struggles. Jot down what worked and what didn't work, and adjust your process accordingly.

• Don't give up..Remember it was the turtle who won the race, not the hare.

So, I am not going all out with resolutions this year, but if YOU are, follow these small guidelines and you will DO IT.

Wishing you much success in 2023!..

The New Year is here!

We have welcomed a New Year, 2023..Where did another year go? Every December I complain of getting out the decorations and sending out Christmas cards. I hate the clutter with all the boxes spread out throughout the house. However, when I start the process, I thoroughly enjoy it. I think it happens with other things too. The hardest part is getting started. Anyway, I usually put on some Christmas music on, and as I start putting out decorations and trimming the tree, I get flashbacks of the friends and family members, who gave me some of the tree ornaments and knick knacks. I have memories of going shopping with my mom, Galen or a good friend. As I go through the process, I feel a smile coming on. I start feeling happy. Of course, there are also moments when I may feel a little sad as well. I remember the pets and people who are no longer with us.   

Long time ago I received an angel ornament from a co-worker. At the time, our dog Bunny, was a puppy. She somehow got a hold of the ornament  and chewed one of the wings. It was so funny and cute at the same time. I kept the ornament and everytime I put it up I think of our cute (and mischievious) puppy. I am sure everyone has similar stories. 

Unfortunately, as years go by, we tend to slow down a bit and it takes us longer to fix up our home for the holidays, inside and out. (Then it is time to take it all down. I keep it out until January 10th or so). Every year gets a little bit harder. However, we must keep going, keeping ourselves active and motivated. I ran accross an article the other day, on how to stay young and content. I thought it would be something to consider and start the new year with. The tips are not new, but worth re-visiting. .

• Throw out non-essential numbers--this includes age and weight
• Keep only cheerful friends, you don't need grouches who pull you down
• Keep learning
• Enjoy the simple things
• Laugh often, long and loud
• Endure grieve and move on
• Surround yourself with what you love
• Cherish your health
• Don't take guilt trips--Go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country, but not guilt
• Tell the people you love, that you love them, at every opportunity....

These are easy steps we can take. If you cannot do them all, try to do a few at a time and have a wonderful year!!