 Happy June! Interesting past 30 days, lots of fun and laughter (wonderful mini-reunion with a number of my International School Bangkok friends!), but I also have an unusual amount of friends who are going through trying times. This is a Facebook post I made:
Reflecting on this week....two wonderful men friends had cancer surgery, another friend gave a kidney to her ailing brother, another finished her first round of chemo, one marking a milestone of the 1st anniversary of her husband's passing, and yet another is back in the hospital after recently receiving a new kidney. My strong, resilient friends with such positive attitudes seem to live by, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." I love you all, you make ME stronger.  Today one of the friends, Phil, who had cancer surgery, wrote on his wall: I have the most wonderful and caring family and friends anyone could ask for. I'm home convalescing and thanking the Lord for the positive people in my life. I'm a lucky guy! Most people focus on being unlucky having cancer, Phil reflects on how lucky he is to have loving friends. Once again - it is all about attitude. Keep smiling, |
| |
|
Giggle Your Way to GREAT Ideas Prevention May 2011
Before you tackle your next crossword or big work project, check out "crazy cat antics" on YouTube or the latest boogie by Ellen DeGeneres. A recent study form Northwestern and Drexel universities found that people are more likely to have that elusive Aha! moment - the spark of creative problem-solving that seems to come out of nowhere - when they're amused. "A positive state of mind increases the likelihood of a creative insight," says Dr. John Kounios.
|
| |
|
Top 5 Regrets
Bronnie Ware was a Hospice Nurse and compiled a list of the most common regrets people had on their death bed. They are:
- I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
- I wish I didn't work so hard.
- I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
- I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
- I wish that I had let myself be happier.
Interesting that #5 is not "I wish I had been happier" but "I wish I had let myself be happier."
|
| |
|
Summer Treat
Broiled Strawberries with Balsamic, Black Pepper and Basil
- Heat broiler. Put 2 cups quartered strawberries on greased, foil-lined shallow baking pan.
- Broil strawberries 6" from heat until slightly charred, about 4 minutes.
- Pour into bowl and toss with 2 tsp each sugar and balsamic vinegar. Season with pepper to taste.
- Serve on crackers with goat cheese and basil leaves.
|
| |
|
Fun Stuff!!
I was in speaking in Walnut Creek, and at breakfast noticed one table at the restaurant was decorated differently. I stopped to ask, and the woman told me she always decorated her table when she eats out. Told me this was a simple design, some are really elaborate. I thought that was SUCH a fun idea. She inspired me; I want to do it now too.
|
| |
|
|
Quotes
No one can drive us crazy unless we give them the keys. ~ Doug Horton
It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere. ~Agnes Repplier
If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.
We do not deal much in facts when we are contemplating ourselves. ~Mark Twain
|
| |
|
Another Manic Monday
-Harvard Business Review -
Levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which has been linked to increased blood pressure and weakened immune responses, are higher in white-collar workers' saliva on Monday mornings than on Sunday mornings, says a study led by Jason Devereux of University College London.
How do we fight this? Well, find a job you love (like I do) or if you can't make a change right now..
- Buy yourself some flowers for your desk. Research shows it makes you happier.
- Plan something fun for the office every Monday. Why does it have to be casual Friday? How about casual Monday? Even having a 5 minute let's all watch a great video on YouTube is a great (and quick way to start the day). Try this one:
Emerson
- Plan something fun that you do on Monday evenings. Take a class, meet friends, go to a movie. Something you look forward to.
- Call an old friend every Monday on your way to work.
Any more suggestions? As the quote says "Loathing Mondays is a sad way to spend 1/7 of your life." |
| |
|
Pay it Forward Ideas
I am trying to do at least one pay it forward a day, yesterday was pretty simple. I was in line at the grocery store and there was a kid behind me with a gallon of milk. I asked if that was all he had, "yep" (no eye contact). I said to the cashier, put it on mine and then he can go. He was so confused and just stood there, and said I don't know what to do. He really had no idea what just happened. ☺ And you know what? THAT IS OK.
Pat wrote:
On Saturday, 2 weeks ago, I stopped at a doughnut shop in Paso Robles and had picked out my sugary, delicious, breakfast only to discover that they don't take debit cards. I rarely carry cash now that I have discovered the versatility of the debit/credit card. The owner said "no problem just bring us the money next time you are in town". I couldn't believe the trusting nature of this proprietor. So, the next Saturday, I dutifully went to pay my debt. I enjoyed a delicious maple bar and the best coffee in Paso. In came a young father with a very small male child. It took probably 15 minutes for the child to decide which doughnuts he wanted. That's when the father saw the dreaded "NO debit or credit cards" sign that I had faced the prior week. The proprietor didn't make this customer the same offer, so I paid for the doughnuts, milk and coffee because I wanted to and I hated to see the waterworks start if the child was told no. It felt so good and I know it was appreciated. Where can you get that kind of feeling for $3.98? Nowhere.
April wrote: I sent your latest newsletter to my boss, and she just told me about something cool that happened to her in the parking lot at the grocery store this week. She came out of the store and saw two roses and a card tucked under her windshield wiper. When she opened the card it said "to a wonderful person, I hope you have a wonderful day!"
|
| |
|
ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS
Disappearing Bees
I don't have a lawn, just flowers. I love the look, smell and all the critters it attracts. I became aware of the "disappearing bee" issue a couple of years ago and then a gardener attended a session of mine and shared even more. What we can do to stop this? I look for plants that attract bees and butterflies:
For more information on this topic:
Finally, I read a very interesting article written by a local bee-keeper who adds, be very careful to not use pesticides that contain nicotine based chemicals.
|
| |
|
