This AARP Special report gives tons of ideas about how to save money. Some are old standbys, but others have ideas and resources I’d never heard of before. Free on-line classes from major universities, a furniture bank to pick up the furniture you want to discard, electronics trade-in programs, coupon discount codes, replacement owner’s manuals, how to look for money that might be owed to you are all topics included in this article.
Sun, August 29 2010 » Consumer Advocacy » Comments Off on Ideas for conserviing, earning and saving money
My clients frequently express their feelings of sadness and helplessness about children in their lives who are not adequately nurtured or cared for by their parents. I assure them that their loving presence in the child’s life may be all that is needed to allow the child the possibility of growing up into a health adult.
Gavin De Becker, a renown security consultant and writer, speaks of this phenomenon in his book “Protecting the Gift”. I quote from p. 276-277.
“The good news is that children who are at risk of growing up violent can often be helped more easily than most people realize. In her emotionally evocative books (including The Drama of the Gifted Child and The Untouched Key), psychiatrist and child advocate Alive Miller makes clear that if mistreated children have effective human contact, some recognition of their worth and value, some “witness” to their experience, this can make an extraordinary difference.
I have leaned that the kindness of a teacher, a coach, a policeman, a neighbor, the parent of a friend, is never wasted. These moments are likely to pass with neither the child nor the adult fully knowing the significance of the contribution. No ceremony attaches to the moment that a child sees his own worth reflected in the eyes of an encouraging adult. Though nothing apparent marks the occasion, inside the child a new view of self can take hold.
Not just a person deserving of neglect or violence, no just a person who is a burden to the sad adults in his life, not just a child who fails to solve his family’s problems, who fails to rescue them from madness or addiction or poverty or unhappiness. No, this child might be someone else, someone whose appearance before this one adult revealed specialness and lovability and value.
A child’s value might be revealed through appreciation of his or her artistic talent, physical ability, humor, courage, patience, curiosity, scholarly skills, creativity, resourcefulness, responsibility, energy, or any of the many attributes that children bring us in such abundance.
It might literally be matter of a few hours with a person whose kindness reconnects the child to an earlier experience of self a self that was loved and valued and encouraged. I can say from experience that it doesn’t take much. As a boy, I needed most of all to know that the violence and the madness was not my fault. The people who gave me that knowledge gave me the great gift of my life.”
Sun, August 8 2010 » Parenting » Comments Off on Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and other Adults in Children's Lives
Everyone has been told “Eat more vegetables”! How do we know which vegies give us more “nutritional mileage”? “Rating Rutabagas” from Nutrition Action Newsletter illuminates the vegie truth.
Mon, July 12 2010 » Weight Loss, Nuitrition » Comments Off on "Rating Rutabagas"
Many people misunderstand what foods contain protein, how much of it to eat, when to eat it, and why it is important. Click here to read an up to date informative article about this important issue.
Tue, June 1 2010 » Weight Loss, Nuitrition » Comments Off on Protein!
I’ve been curious about the phenomenon of blaming ourselves for events that are completely out of our control. I was surprised to find an eloquent answer when reading SJ Rozan”s book “The Shanghai Moon“.
“Bill shifted on his perch, about to break in and give me a hard time for giving myself a hard time, but Alice spoke first. ‘It’s so natural,’ she sighed. ‘To blame ourselves when something terrible happens. I think it’s comforting in a way. It makes us feel there’s something we could have done if we’d been smarter, or faster, or whatever it is. Sometimes thinking we’ve failed is less frightening than admitting we were helpless.’ “
Mon, May 31 2010 » Other, Weight Loss, Nuitrition » Comments Off on Understanding of Self-Blame
Are you considering marriage? How do you know that you are choosing the right person to marry? This series of questions allows couples to talk about all of those pesky beliefs, habits, interests, etc. that are difficult to discuss and might predict the viability of the relationship.
This program is also good for couples who are wanting to know one another better.
Visit www.questionsforcouples.com to learn more.
Mon, May 31 2010 » Relatioinships » Comments Off on Are You the One for Me?
Many people ask me about what to do about procrastination. I have to admit, when faced with a task that is challenging, eating chocolate, petting the dog, “surfing” the internet all appeal to me, but end up wasting time and putting off the very thing that need to be done. This Psychology Today article helps us understand that procrastination is related to impulsivity. The related article gives tips on how to overcome the procrastination habit.
Wed, February 24 2010 » Procrastination » Comments Off on Procrastination
Nutrition Action Health Letter is one of my favorite sources of information. This fascinating article explores the biological basis of overeating and gives some helpful tips in dealing with this urge. Click here: why_we_overeat to download the article.
Sun, January 10 2010 » Weight Loss, Nuitrition » Comments Off on "Why We Overeat"
I love Martha Beck’s approach to the psychology of losing weight. I recommend her book “The Four Day Win” to many of my client’s. This article briefly summarizes much of her book.
Fri, January 1 2010 » Weight Loss, Nuitrition » Comments Off on Martha Beck's Easier Way to Diet
I’ve wondered why, despite the popularity of affirmations, they make many people worse. Read about this interesting phenomenon here.
Fri, January 1 2010 » Other, Weight Loss, Nuitrition » Comments Off on Do Affirmations Work?