Navigating through life with ease!

Navigating Through Life with Ease!

This video will give you tips so you have more ease as you go through your day.

Video by Bob Cheal, Section on Aging, Sonoma County

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Nourish Your Heart with Gratitude and Self-Love

Take time right now to think of how you can nourish your heart with gratitude and self-love. You may find that you are always giving to others first. You deserve love.

Welcoming February

If you’re anything like me, you’re happy that January has moved into February. Don’t get me wrong. There was a lot of good stuff in January. I especially loved my Disneyland trip with my kids! As you might have read in my articles, I make a really good little kid and can step into total enthusiasm real easy.

The reason that I like leaving January behind is that it has this “thing” about needing to let go of the old and prepare for the new. All good, of course. But, I for one, can get real bogged down in the lists and the “oh, oh, forgot to do that and didn’t manage that.” It’s pretty easy to get down on yourself in the midst of that mind chatter and forget how awesome you really are.

Dedication to Loving Yourself

So, here comes February — the month for love. It is after all the month that gives us Valentine’s Day, the day that is dedicated to showing our love for the special people in our life. But here’s the clincher: we can’t really love others and be able to fully express that love for someone else if we don’t first love ourselves. That love is all about appreciation for yourself and all that you do, gratitude for your body and spirit that allows you complete expression, and accepting who you are and what you offer in the world.

Louise Hay says it perfectly. “Love is the nourishment that we humans need to fulfill our greatness. As we learn to love ourselves more, we learn to love everyone more. Together we tenderly cultivate an ever more beautiful world.” By the way, you can feed yourself daily with beautiful and meaningful affirmations by going to www.louisehay.com/affirmations.

Gratitude Ritual

So, one of the best ways to discover how great you really are is to have a ritual around gratitude. Because when you’re expressing gratitude you’re discovering how much you really offer and that you are indeed a gift. It’s in that space of reminding yourself of your greatness that you will create your best life. My ritual goes like this. I start every day writing a gratitude and putting it my gratitude jar. I first re-read yesterday’s daily quote on Louise Hay’s daily calendar (thank you to my good friend Ronnie Roche for that annual Christmas gift!) Then I write my gratitude of the day on the back of yesterday’s page and put it into my gratitude jar. I started this last year when my friend and colleague, Cynthia Riggs, was promoting her “Good Things Challenge.” It was a good thing to do last year, so I’m even more committed to following through in 2016. Check it out at www.bizdiva.biz/goodthingschallenge. Discover how good it feels to contemplate gratitude and how it easily feeds into loving yourself.

Self-Help Energy Balancing Creates Appreciation

I continue my ritual with doing self-help energy work which lets my body know how much I appreciate what it does for me and that I’m willing to focus my attention on optimal health and wholeness.

Earlier in the morning I do the Daily Clean Your House Flow so I’ve already helped prepare my body for all that I’m going to ask of it and all that might come at it. Either during the “gratitude ritual” or when I have finished writing and putting it in the jar, I do one or more of these steps to get that feeling set in my being:

Hold your upper arms (to bring in breath and connect with heart and love)
Left hand: move fingers to right elbow (will help let go of old stuff) and
Move right hand to base of right skull (will help be clear and focused)
Left hand: move fingers to outside of right wrist while still holding head (will calm the whole being and allow you to be in the moment)

Give Gratitude for Valentine’s Day

And then, when you’re completely in that space of appreciating and loving you for who you are, you can step into fully loving others. Here’s another idea: instead of a regular Valentine’s Day card for that someone special, how about writing a list of everything you are grateful for in that person? Give that as a special “I love you because” gift. I’m willing to bet that you will bring on some huge smiles. Further, try it with the people in your life who are part of your team, whether it’s in your personal life or your business life. That kind of energy and love is the nourishment that we humans need to fulfill our greatness.

Have fun being the great and awesome you!

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January is National Mentoring Month

Where is time going? Have you heard that question from your children? Time is passing so fast and it seems like every minute is filled with stuff that has to get done. No wonder our children are experiencing stress and the feeling of “not enough time.” We’re the best models of that behavior!

Here is a suggestion that I would like to share with you. Be a mentor to your very own children! Mentoring is simply a way to ensure that our young people have the support they need to discover success. It’s an attitude and a way of being.

What Makes a Mentor?

A mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser who can be instrumental as a guide, counselor, confidant, trainer, teacher, or tutor. Granted it wold be great to spread the wealth and mentor others as well, but if you can’t fit it in to your schedule, at least discover and utilize the skills with your own children.

Or maybe you mentor another family and those parents mentor your children. Sometimes it really makes sense to get different perspectives and who better than someone you already know and trust? At the very core, mentoring children guarantees that there is someone who cares about them and makes them feel like they matter.

Reasons to Be a Mentor

What better person than a mentor to help a child, no matter their age, to move forward towards goals and objectives that YOU help them realize?

Mentoring, at its core, guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. Ultimately, mentoring connects a young person to personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunity. Yet one in three young people will grow up without this critical asset.

When you’re spending time with your own children or others in that mentoring mode, plan on doing the Daily Clean Your House Flow before you “get down to whatever is happening that day.” It will help everything go smoother, even homework!

Photo credit: Northern Ireland Executive viaFoter.com / CC BY-ND

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Mentoring is a Way to Create Success for Our Children

Mentoring is a way to share with our children. It seems appropriate to contemplate what we can do for the children in our communities as we celebrate National Mentoring Month during January.

How You Can Help

Mentoring doesn’t have to take a huge amount of time. It can easily be a short period of time in your week. Contact one of your local schools to see how you could participate in any of their programs. Or go to www.mentoring.org to see how that organization can get you on the mentoring track.

Everybody Wins with Mentoring

When you’re contemplating the possibility of becoming a mentor, consider these positive effects noted on their website:

Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class. (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters)
Young adults who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor. (The Mentoring Effect, 2014)

In addition to better school attendance and a better chance of going on to higher education, mentored youth maintain better attitudes toward school. (The Role of Risk, 2013)

If you decide to become a mentor, let me know how it goes! And a suggestion is to make use of the Daily Clean Your House Flow when you get together with the young person you’re working with. Both of you will discover how much more you get accomplished and how much better you feel!

Life Is So Very Full

And yet it is so very important to find ways to help our children discover success at home, school, and in all of their activities.

The children, parents and teachers I work with have found that doing the Daily Clean Your House Flow (a self-help acupressure flow) helps increase focus, attention, and productivity. It reduces stress and anxiety and helps balance emotions. So imagine what benefits are being seen when a classroom of kids are doing the Daily Flow together! And it takes less than 10 minutes to watch the video!

Mentoring is another way to ensure that our young people have the support they need to discover success. At the very core, it guarantees that there is someone who cares about them and makes them feel like they matter. A mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser who can be instrumental as a guide, counselor, confidant, trainer, teacher, or tutor. What better person than a mentor to help a child, no matter their age, to move forward towards goals and objectives that YOU help them realize?

Photo credit: opensourceway viaFoter.com / CC BY-SA

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Being a Kid and Discovering Magic

Disneyland is beyond magical —three days of being totally involved in the excitement and joy of Mickie and Minnie, parades, light shows and rides! And of extra special note — I was there with my family. For someone who loves amusement parks and being a kid-at-heart, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

I wasn’t the only one excited to be at the park. Even though it was raining, there were so many people who were thrilled to be at the happiest place on earth. So how did I contain some my excitement so I wasn’t a complete embarrassment to my kids? And how did I make sure my body cooperated so I could do everything I wanted to do? One of our days was fifteen hours long, so I had to make sure I didn’t lose my juice, especially since that day was cold.

Discovering Magic with These Energy Tips

As you follow these easy-to-do suggestions, you’ll notice that both you and your children can easily do them. All of you just might discover how much smoother your days can be!

I started the day with the Daily Clean Your House Flow. And then while I was waiting in lines and waiting for rides to start I did the following to make sure my body was prepared for what I was going to ask it to do:

To release any neck tension and boost the immune system

Right hand — hold fingers at base of right side of skull
Left hand — hold fingers just below center of right collarbone
Right hand — move fingers to right side of neck
Left hand — move fingers to left chest below left collarbone

To warm up — hold fingers on outside of knees

To expand breath and “handle feelings”

Jumper cable — gently cup each thumb and finger
Cup ring finger and middle finger at the same time — will help create a sense of happiness and joy and take away frustration, all at the same time!

Being a Kid

One of the things I discovered as I played in Disneyland is that it creates a child-like excitement when you allow yourself to be caught up in the moment. I love being a kid and I don’t mind being seen as a kid. I might be sixty-three years old, but whether it’s Disneyland, or Christmas, or being with little ones, I’ll never grow up.

I wish for you to have lots of fun-filled moments — whether you’re on your own or with your children. My suggestion is to find ways to be a kid. It really is okay to be filled with the child-like joy!

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I Am One Tremendously Lucky And Astonished Girl Full Of Disneyland!

It happened! I was at Disneyland! My excitement got even more ramped up when I got to the park. And, in my daughter’s and son’s opinion, I played like a three year old. For three fun-filled days, we took one ride after another and we watched parades, light shows and fireworks. One day was fifteen hours long, and my kids never suggested we should quit even though it was raining most of the time. I am one lucky girl!

Tremendously Lucky

My body cooperated — even with the rain and cold and long, long lines. I was doing a lot of energy work to help my body be happy. Prior to the trip, the energy work was all about being productive and getting as much of the to-do list as possible taken care of.

It was a different story at Disneyland. It was all about having the energy to be able to fill every moment with fun. I’ve managed to retain that joy since my return home which is a big plus. It’s in the space of experiencing joy and good memories that we can be creative and step into being more productive.

And I assure you I’m in need of a “feeling productive space!” It’s the beginning of a new year and there is a real long list of what needs to be done to get a good start on my intentions, objectives and goals for 2016.

My Disneyland Inspired Energy Tip

Try this energy tip to help you be engaged with your list and boost your productivity:

To connect with clarity and focus and step into possibilities —

Place fingers on left and right base of your skull
Right hand — cup back of head so fingers are on left base of skull
Left hand — cup forehead so fingers are on right side
Left hand — cup sternum directly below your clavicle

My hope for you is that you have lots of astonishing moments of fun and that they fill you with joy!

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Disneyland Express Fires Up My Imagination

I’m on the Disneyland Express, heading there for the time of my life! It is like a train that has a mind of its own with its engine pulling me along for the ride. I’ve been called a big kid many times and yet, this is a whole level of excitement that I haven’t experienced for a long time. I totally get why it’s so hard for kids to concentrate on the day-to-day stuff when there is a big exciting event coming around the corner. Because that is exactly where I am!

But I need to get some stuff done before I leave so it’s all about creating focus and attention. So, realizing that the teacher needs to make use of what she knows, I’ve been doing what I’ve taught elementary school teachers and parents and kids.

Tools To Use When Excitement Wants to Take Over

Here are some of the tools that have helped me and will help your kids, no matter what exciting adventure is being planned. AND it will even help them get in the mode for returning to school. That in and of itself can be an adventure!

Do the Daily Clean Your House Flow. It helps create the foundation for easy and effortless “being in the flow”.
For an extra boost of clarity and focus, with right hand cup the back of the head so fingers are on the left base of skull. And with left hand cup the forehead.
Discover how easy it is to balance emotions and feelings by simply doing the Jumper Cables. Hold each thumb and finger for several good breaths. By the way, holding the middle fingers helps let go of frustration and anger! And holding the thumbs helps decrease worry and anxiety.

And consider checking out the animated video of the Daily Clean Your House Flow. It’s a fun way for teachers to make a difference in the classroom and for parents to see how much smoother family life can be.

Wishing you LOTS of adventures for 2016 for you and your kids!

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Colossal Disneyland Excitement Makes it Hard to Sleep

Yep! I’m a kid at heart and that has been totally apparent for the last several months as the departure for Disneyland has been getting closer and closer. Though we’re arriving late on the first day, I talked my kids into getting a park pass for that day because “Why on earth would you even want to miss the opportunity to start the enjoyment?” And, of course, we’re doing the Hopper Pass so we can go to both Disneyland and California Adventure.

For someone who has always loved amusement parks and has super clear memories of the last time at Disneyland (it’s only been twenty plus years!), I’m ready to see and do as much as possible. I’ve been asking everyone who has been there what rides and attractions absolutely must be experienced.

Thrill of Anticipation

Have YOU ever had the level of excitement in which you get all wrapped up in the pictures in your mind and the anticipation of the thrill of what you have planned? At this moment in time I totally get why it’s so hard for kids to concentrate on the day-to-day stuff when there is a big exciting event coming around the corner.

I’m pulling out the “energy tips” to get my brain engaged so I can get at least a few things done before I’m traipsing all over Disneyland.

Here’s What I’ve Been Doing To Create Productive Space

Since it’s the beginning of a new year, it’s especially important to be “doing the steps” to meet my objectives and goals. If you want to get more out of your days, here are the flows I use:

Starting the day doing the Daily Clean Your House Flow. It helps create a solid foundation for the day.
Hold the mid-back near the kidneys, right hand on right side and left hand on left side. This creates space for “flow and manifesting”. Hold for several good breaths as you open up the energy and allow for new possibilities to come your way.
With the right hand, cup your sternum directly below the collarbone and with the left hand hold your fingers on your tummy. This will create energy movement that will bring in breath and ease and ability to “take in” all that does come your way. AND it will, because you’ve created the space that allows ALL to happen.

Wishing YOU all the excitement and joy of the New Year as you create and allow possibilities of transformation and expansion!

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I’m Truly a Kid at Heart!

I’m truly a kid at heart!

I saw Santa last week with some good friends and I know I had a really big smile on my face. I was right back at that place of total excitement that Santa was coming to town. As a kid growing up in a very small town in Minnesota (population 500), it was a big occasion with lots of planning and hype about the event. And, of course, sitting on his lap and telling him what I wanted for Christmas was a super big deal.

So, this year I didn’t tell him what I wanted when I sat next to him on his sleigh. Instead, I told him “thank you” for creating so many happy smiling people, both children and adults. He was the ultimate Santa — red and white suit, white beard, twinkling eyes, nose like a cherry, and a big smile in the midst of those rosy cheeks.

I felt like I was a character in ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and I found myself laughing in spite of myself as I watched him being Santa.

He and Mrs. Claus have created the ultimate Christmas Winter Wonderland. The outside is beautiful with all of the lights and decorations and the sleigh that he pops in and out of. But what is different from any other decorated house in any other neighborhood — they open their door to thousands of visitors every year. The entire house is filled with Christmas music and some of the most beautiful displays I’ve ever seen — Santas, villages, snowmen, a holiday train, a carnival, a whole room of angels.

Edmundo, Mary Jo and Kathy start decorating in September to prepare their Christmas House. And they do it because they love to create magic and see the smiles and hear the laughter. Last year they had 44,700 visitors. How do they know? They handed out 44,700 candy canes.

Most of us aren’t going to go to that extent to bring the magic of the season into our homes and neighborhoods, but we can create the energy of joy by just being in the space of happiness and love.

Ready to see the Rombeiro’s Christmas House and get filled with magic? Their address is 34 Devonshire Drive, Novato, CA . They’re open every night through January 6^th, including 12/24, 12/25, 12/31 and 1/1/2016. And every single night Santa will turn on all of the lights at 6:00 pm, walk out to his sleigh and greet his visitors. Kathy waits at the front door, welcoming each and every one who walks through the door. Mary Jo (Mrs. Claus) waits in the kitchen to see the smiles and have short conversations with those who just want to say thank you.

Yep. This Santa and his family are remarkable. They share the joy of the season and you can’t help but accept their gift. I hope you and your family have found ways to experience the magic of the season!

Joy and Magic

And remember — each of your family members can have balance and harmony by spending time every day doing self-help acupressure. You will find it much easier to have everything on the list done, to be rested, and to see smiles on each and every face. Keep it simple. Do the Daily Clean Your House Flow and remember to Jumper Cable as often as you think of it.

Sending you lots of balancing energy!

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Creating Holiday Traditions for our Children

Holidays beckon for traditions. Can you even imagine a December without Christmas trees, without red and green decorations, without Christmas music, without sparkling lights? No matter the holiday, we surround ourselves with the chosen colors, music, and food that help us get into the mood, stay in the mood, and fully experience the events we create or attend.

As adults we follow our to-do list and the plan that allow us to be immersed in the traditions that make the holiday extra special for us and our families. So no wonder that our children expect to have the same, if not better, experience year after year. After all, it’s part of the plan!

It’s actually recognized that when we follow the expected we have less stress showing up. And then, when we are in the midst of full engagement, we are more likely to enjoy the experience.

Kids Need Traditions

Traditions actually have higher purposes, especially for children. No matter what you do as a family, it’s all about creating memories. Whether you read “The Night Before Christmas,” visit Santa, go caroling, attend a special musical event, attend church, or light the Chanukah menorah you’re helping your children create a firm foundation.

That foundation builds a sense of stability, unity and connection. Each member of the family can count on the traditions happening, expect everyone to be together, and can count on being able to participate. Traditions also build unity, bringing the family together. Everyone feels connected. Have you ever noticed that because of the traditions you’ve created around the holiday experience, your kids expect them to happen? And if you change it up, do you notice that they go into reaction and question why it’s different? They may even go into “you’re not thinking of me and what I want.” For the most part, what children want is to feel connected to the family, listened to and acknowledged.

Traditions Build Connections to the Past

They can serve as a bridge from the past to the present and from the older generation to the younger. Traditions can be as simple as the scheduled family outing to choose the Christmas tree or making a special ornament for the tree every year. Or it can be making Grandma’s extra special cookies or planning your annual Christmas party. What is important is that the holiday traditions work for your family.

You can see that one of our big traditions is decking the halls and decorating the Christmas tree! I have over 1000 ornaments, many of them from my mother, my great-aunt and my grandma. I have stories that go along with all of them, in addition to the stories about the hand-made ornaments and the many gifts received through the years. I love Christmas! And I love everything about it! I hope that you and your family have your traditions that make it an extra special time of the year!

Holiday Energy Tip

AND as a holiday gift — to help out any moments of time when a family member gets a bit anxious or unsure of “what is next” — consider following this energy tip. It will help bring breath and release tension.

Right hand — hold fingers at right base of ribcage
Left hand — hold fingers on right chest below clavicle
Switch to do the left side

And to just bring “I feel good” into your body remember to jumper cable! It helps all layers, all levels, and all emotions.

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