1. Love yourself.
It is impossible to love anyone, unless you truly love yourself first.
2. Make the commitment.
Affirm your importance and significance to each other and never negate it. If an event or situation arises that requires a decision, it should be discussed before a final answer is given.
3. Express appreciation and affection daily.
Think of yourselves as "diamond miners" digging through the rough to find the good (the diamond) in each other. By doing so, you will build each other psychologically and satisfy one of the deepest needs that everyone has, the need to be appreciated.
4. Re-examine your perspective.
Some of the traits that may irritate you about your mate are actually good qualities carried to the extreme. Bossiness can be viewed as leadership. Having a lack of emotion is desired and required for an excellent mediator. This does not give one the right to be bossy or repress emotional expression. It enables you to overlook the extreme, should the occasional occurrence arise.
5. Share positive communication.
Keep the conversation positive, not hostile. Never assume you know the answer or interrupt while another is speaking. This will enhance the ability to share thoughts, promote respect and feel cherished. Positive communication builds trust, the foundation for all lasting relationships.
6. Spend as much time together as possible.
This will vary based on schedules, but do attempt more than once per week. Quantity counts as much as quality does when it comes to forming a lasting bond.
7. Nurture romance and well-being.
At least once a week, take the time to indulge each other with the following:
· Give each other a 30 minute massage
· Take a bubble bath by candle light (wine & champagne are optional)
· Give each other a foot or hand massage
· Serve breakfast in bed
· Dance in a candlelit room while listening to soft music
8. Deal with stress constructively.
Realize that crises encourage unity, making bonds more powerful. Never take conflict personally and realize that disagreements aren't personal. Discussions when angry are not acceptable and should never be tolerated.
9. Laugh more.
There is humor in any situation! Laughter will ease those awkward and/or embarrassing moments. It makes “the hard pills in life” much easier to swallow.
10. Review your progress in thirty days - your achievement will surprise you.
The most important, savvy thing to remember – never settle for ordinary because life’s extraordinary!
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Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Giving Thanks
Contrary to popular belief, the first recorded Thanksgiving ceremony took place on September 8, 1565. Under the leadership of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, six hundred Spaniards landed at what is now St. Augustine, Florida, and immediately held a Mass of Thanksgiving for their safe delivery to the New World; there followed a feast and celebration. It had nothing to do with Pilgrims, Indians or turkey…that happened fifty-six years later.
In fact, the Pilgrims of Plymouth owe quite a bit of thanks to Squanto, a Patuxet Native American who resided with the Wampanoag tribe. Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to catch eel, grow corn and served as an interpreter for them; he learned English as a slave in Europe.
In 1621, immediately after their first harvest, the Pilgrims set apart a day to celebrate. At the time, this was not regarded as a Thanksgiving observance; harvest festivals were existing parts of English and Wampanoag tradition alike. The Pilgrims did not hold a true Thanksgiving until 1623, following a drought. The Pilgrims prayed for rain and a rain shower followed. In the Plymouth tradition, Thanksgiving Day became a church observance, rather than a feast day.
The day two races came together to give thanks, share food and fellowship should be remembered, celebrated and honored. However, the commercialism of today’s Thanksgiving celebration, with the plethora of tacky turkey trinkets makes me gag, yuck! Not to trivialize an important day in American history, but shouldn’t we be giving thanks for the gifts, blessings and love we receive on a daily basis, not just on a designated Thursday in November? Yes, many of us do, but far more do not.
On Thanksgiving Day, when you sit down to your traditional meal and celebrate with family and friends, start a new tradition…giving thanks daily.
In fact, the Pilgrims of Plymouth owe quite a bit of thanks to Squanto, a Patuxet Native American who resided with the Wampanoag tribe. Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to catch eel, grow corn and served as an interpreter for them; he learned English as a slave in Europe.
In 1621, immediately after their first harvest, the Pilgrims set apart a day to celebrate. At the time, this was not regarded as a Thanksgiving observance; harvest festivals were existing parts of English and Wampanoag tradition alike. The Pilgrims did not hold a true Thanksgiving until 1623, following a drought. The Pilgrims prayed for rain and a rain shower followed. In the Plymouth tradition, Thanksgiving Day became a church observance, rather than a feast day.
The day two races came together to give thanks, share food and fellowship should be remembered, celebrated and honored. However, the commercialism of today’s Thanksgiving celebration, with the plethora of tacky turkey trinkets makes me gag, yuck! Not to trivialize an important day in American history, but shouldn’t we be giving thanks for the gifts, blessings and love we receive on a daily basis, not just on a designated Thursday in November? Yes, many of us do, but far more do not.
On Thanksgiving Day, when you sit down to your traditional meal and celebrate with family and friends, start a new tradition…giving thanks daily.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Healthier by Intuition
In her book, Awakening Intuition, Dr. Mona Lisa Schultz unveils phenomenal information about intuition. Years of research, the result of her quest to find answers to her own health issues, enabled her to scientifically prove that intuition is “real” and should be listened to in order to maintain optimum balance of the mind, body and spirit.
Intuition doesn't exist exclusively among a picayune group of individuals possessing extraordinary, God-given powers. It is a sense we all possess, like seeing or feeling or hearing. Intuition is a unique language created by the brain and body. It helps us understand our past and provides solutions for the future to create stronger, more pleasurable lives.
Accepting the presence and working of intuition in your life can involve a leap of faith. It requires the suspension of disbelief. Most of us must go through the act of intuiting, to experience the amazing sensation involved, before we can begin to implement intuition in our lives. Learning to decipher your own unique language of intuition can help you immeasurably in creating a happier, healthier life and a healthier body.
Memories and emotions are stored in every tissue and organ in our bodies, revealing themselves as symptoms and disease in our organs. In fact, a substantial number of scientific studies have indicated that certain emotional and psychological patterns are associated with diseases in specific organs; other studies support the link between specific memories and emotions and certain organ-specific diseases, such as breast cancer, coronary heart disease and Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Schultz states, “The key to healing lies in the unconscious. If we are aware of what’s stored, we gain a rational understanding of how our past influences our conscious minds and actions.” To accomplish this, we must learn to tap into our intuition network, to help us envision and create healthier lives, instead of allowing old memories and patterns of behavior to continue recreating painful experiences.
Intuition doesn't exist exclusively among a picayune group of individuals possessing extraordinary, God-given powers. It is a sense we all possess, like seeing or feeling or hearing. Intuition is a unique language created by the brain and body. It helps us understand our past and provides solutions for the future to create stronger, more pleasurable lives.
Accepting the presence and working of intuition in your life can involve a leap of faith. It requires the suspension of disbelief. Most of us must go through the act of intuiting, to experience the amazing sensation involved, before we can begin to implement intuition in our lives. Learning to decipher your own unique language of intuition can help you immeasurably in creating a happier, healthier life and a healthier body.
Memories and emotions are stored in every tissue and organ in our bodies, revealing themselves as symptoms and disease in our organs. In fact, a substantial number of scientific studies have indicated that certain emotional and psychological patterns are associated with diseases in specific organs; other studies support the link between specific memories and emotions and certain organ-specific diseases, such as breast cancer, coronary heart disease and Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Schultz states, “The key to healing lies in the unconscious. If we are aware of what’s stored, we gain a rational understanding of how our past influences our conscious minds and actions.” To accomplish this, we must learn to tap into our intuition network, to help us envision and create healthier lives, instead of allowing old memories and patterns of behavior to continue recreating painful experiences.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Person vs. Activity – How Do You Choose?
My dear friend, ZuZu, asked me for advice regarding what she referred to as “a puzzling situation.” She and a particular gentleman have been friends for about a year and a half. There is an astounding bond between them – so astounding, when together, it is felt by strangers - yet hectic work schedules and personal situations make it difficult for them to spend quality time together on a frequent basis. When they do, it is always memorable.
Recently, she received tickets to a WWE event. For those of you unfamiliar with WWE - it is wrestling. She asked her friend to join her. He said, “No. It’s not my thing.” She’s puzzled because it is on a Monday night, thus they both actually have some free time…a rare thing. Considering their history, she really believed he’d accompany her.
My advice to her – if a man really wants to spend time with you, there is absolutely nothing that will keep him away. This is WWE, a guy thing, not shoe shopping.
My loyal readers and Twitter followers, here’s a question for you, “When it comes to spending time with someone you care about, does the activity really matter?”
ZuZu would love to hear your advice, thoughts and comments, so please post yours for her to read.
Until next time, I leave you with a quote from Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
Recently, she received tickets to a WWE event. For those of you unfamiliar with WWE - it is wrestling. She asked her friend to join her. He said, “No. It’s not my thing.” She’s puzzled because it is on a Monday night, thus they both actually have some free time…a rare thing. Considering their history, she really believed he’d accompany her.
My advice to her – if a man really wants to spend time with you, there is absolutely nothing that will keep him away. This is WWE, a guy thing, not shoe shopping.
My loyal readers and Twitter followers, here’s a question for you, “When it comes to spending time with someone you care about, does the activity really matter?”
ZuZu would love to hear your advice, thoughts and comments, so please post yours for her to read.
Until next time, I leave you with a quote from Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”