"HAPPY" Wednesday! with #IGOTSOLE on The University of Texas Campus!! Please Indulge Me While I Shout Out Some Campus LOVE to My TEXAS Alma Mater! HOOK 'EM!!

Just a Few Minutes of Sweet Self Congratulations by the Little Birthday Girl- Whoever Smiles First WINS!

Parenting Approaches Demonstrated: Lead with Empathy & Avoid the Power Struggle

Whew! Times... They Are a 'Changin'... Empty Nesting Prep 101-A

Fascinating phase of life... Our youngest (her daughterness) asked me a few weeks ago: "Mom, what are you going to do without me?" (Half of parenting is deciding when it is ok to laugh and when it ISN'T!) I reflected "Well, that is hard to imagine... I will have a lot of trouble knowing when the light turns green, which way to turn, how to set the table and pour the milk and ..." 

I love the fact that she sees the world from her 17 year old perspective! She is incredibly sweet and thoughtful, while she retains the fervor and teenager central focus- that piece which is so absolutely necessary for successfully launching... We'll see... So far, so good... In the meantime, we are repainting our little soon-to-be-empty nest and I really am thinking that I may well need help in order to know when the light turns green... and so it goes... :-)

Looking at Sweet Faces Raises Mood and Decreases Blood Pressure

What a lovely way to start the Monday morning... Enjoy this cute face, make a wish, say a prayer, write down a Gratitude List, smile at ten people, wave at everyone at traffic lights, leave messages for people you appreciate, think about funny YouTube videos, kiss your spouse and any children who will allow it, sing a song, bop to the music in the car... These are all tools to lift your mood, boost the amount of seratonin and dopamine flowing through your bloodstream, lower your blood pressure, raise your galvanic skin response (now, THAT'S a great piece of news!) and contribute to your overall good health. 

Finding the Life Balance (AKA "I CAN"T DO THAT!") YES, YOU CAN!

The whole idea about balance is based on the idea that you must always be in motion.  You must be present, in the moment, in your body, attuned to yourself and the person in front of you. Sometimes, you may have some other things on your mind (or on the front of your head!) which some people call "intrusive thoughts." You know, the ones that sound like this "I can't do this right now! I have to get to the office/grocery store/feed the dogs/take a run/decorate for Halloween..." Right? I can hear the chatter in my head. Can you? Listen to it, take a breath (in through your nose, out through your mouth- smell the cookies, blow out the candles...) Then, tense up your shoulders and hold it... higher... and release them suddenly... feel that warmth? The relaxation allows you to take another breath; deeper this time... and exhale... Repeat as necessary. Select a thought. Some people call this a "mantra." One of my favorites is "I love and accept you just the way you are for today." Another is "I will trust that the universe is unfolding just as it should and I will improve every encounter I experience today." If you have trouble finding one, look up "affirmations" and choose one that speaks to you... Practice this every day until it becomes a part of your daily self care routine. Affirm the good and pass it on... "Validate the positive and embrace the challenges and changes ahead of me today. We call these  adventures..."

Playing with Friends Can Be So Simple!