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Simple Truths for Authentic Living December 2010
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Greetings! 
Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.
In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.
~ Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
Teresa
TeresaDrake.com
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Cultivating Character: The Golden Rule
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Everyone knows this rule. Most of us agree it's a good idea, and we're generally willing to play along, extending courtesy and respect unless...
...we're in a hurry
...we're upset (sad, angry, ecstatic and distracted, etc.) ...we're on our cell phone ...we're just one (okay, maybe two) items over the 15-item limit
...we're reciprocating rude behavior that offended us ...we're (fill in the blank)
In those cases, we feel justified in our less than golden behavior. Perhaps that would be appropriate if The Rule included the words "except when (fill in the blank) happens". But it doesn't. Nor is it alternatively called, The Conditional Golden Rule, which would suggest golden behavior depends upon varying factors.
It's a Rule, and rules can be hard to follow; but that doesn't mean we should disregard them because doing the right thing might be hard, inconvenient or time-consuming.
Busy holidays provide perfect opportunities to practice courtesy in response to boorish behavior. We can surprise someone with unexpected kindness while also teaching our children, by example, to do the same.
It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Manage Your Anger Right Now
 At least once a day I hear the question, "Are you ready for Christmas?" Even now, few people can answer yes, and the simple act of admitting you're far from ready can be a little unsettling. For some, this innocent question may be an anger trigger in disguise!
During these last few weeks days before Christmas we may have to work a little harder to keep our emotions in check. Here's a short list of ideas to help you manage your anger right now, if you find yourself heating up:
1. STA = STOP, THINK , and ACT. Avoid your first impulse when you're angry. Give yourself 10 seconds to regain control of your senses and you may prevent a choice you'll later regret. 2. Walk away whenever possible. 3. Put yourself in a Time Out. 4. Talk yourself through your anger; positive self-talk, not negative, not venting. 5. Defuse your angry energy in a non-aggressive way. (Walk, jog, yardwork, journaling, etc.) 6. Consciously decide whether or not to express your feelings. If you choose to speak up: · Go slow & speak softly · Express feelings without assigning blame · Stick to the issue at hand 7. Apologize when you blow it. It's the beginning of forgiveness and healing. |
What can you do when the grouchies take hold? How can you keep a bad mood at bay?
With funny rhymes and a silly chant, The Grouchies shows kids simple and fun ways to turn around grouchy moods. But most of all, kids will understand how their mood and negativity can affect their family and friends, and really get in the way of having a good day.
An extensive Note to Parents further explains the child's experience and provides parents with easy-to-apply tips and tools for helping their kids when a grumpy day comes along.
I've got three autographed hardback books to giveaway, so be sure to enter! Entry deadline: Tuesday, December 21st. Please email entries to teresa@teresadrake.com with "December giveaway" in the subject line. Winners will be notified via email.
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Simple Truths for Authentic Living is a monthly email newsletter featuring items of interest
to parents. If you received this tip from a friend and you'd like to continue to receive tips yourself, you can sign up through the "Join My Mailing List" icon to the right. Thank you. Copyright December 2010 Teresa Drake. All rights reserved.
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