Power From Within

Power From Within
by Annie Tornabene



The power from within allows us to do amazing things. We have a power from within that allows us to conquer all obstacles.

We have a choice to be angry, blue, fearful, and depressed or we can be courageous, happy, joyful, and peaceful. It is not other people that make us this way. We can choose to rise above them and live our best life with the power from within. What do you choose?

Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and living our best life now with the power from within.

Getting To Know You

Getting To Know You
by Annie Tornabene

Getting to know you is just what the doctor ordered. Blues, depression, loneliness may be helped with thoughts of happiness and friendship. Sometimes just getting to know someone makes us feel connected. After all we are all connected and impact each other's life whether we realize it or not. You may think happiness will come with material things or relationships. Usually, it doesn't.

All too often the problems we see in others are the problems we see in ourselves. If you think someone is looking at you in a strange way, it may be that you walked in with an attitude. Try a different perspective and see what happens. Getting to know you may be your cup of tea.

Happiness comes from peace and joy of your positive attitude being shared with others. The more you give out the more that comes your way. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and getting to know you in a positive light. Little things make the difference in loving your life.

Wisdom

Wisdom
by Annie Tornabene





Do you ever feel blue or down and don't know what to do? Do you wish you could find the magic code or wisdom secret to living a victorious life? Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of every day life, we get caught up in every day strife. There is a key to understanding depression. It is understanding that we need to seek wisdom. Wisdom is having gained the knowledge, understanding, experience, discretion, and intuitive understanding, along with a capacity to apply these qualities well to our lives and to those surrounding us. It is the judicious application of knowledge we have learned from our past as well as from others and their past.

Maybe that is why they say you learn wisdom with age. Some of us though go through life repeating the same problems year after year, day after day ... never learning from our past ... never picking up bits of wisdom from others and only experiencing a problematic life. Maybe that is because we never change anything. What is holding you back?

Erik Erickson stated wisdom was the last stage of his eight-stage theory of psychosocial development. Erickson's theory states each stage in the strings of life are in the form of internally-generated questions or tensions. Erickson claimed that in the last stage of human development, each of us must resolve a psychological conflict between integrity and despair. He proposed that attaining wisdom is a favorable resolution and product of this conflict. I don't know if I agree with Erickson about it being the last stage but I would say it is a key that we must learn.

Confucius stated that wisdom can be learned by three methods: by reflection of the past, by imitation of others that have had a similar problem and by experiencing the strings of life without the benefit of wise counsel. Some of us know the third one all too well. As I learned, sometimes you have to fake it before you make it ... imitation of others that have traveled the dark cloud of depression. This one you must be careful because some of those that have traveled that path have chosen the wrong path. Therefore we must choose our friends wisely. Hum? Friends of a feather flock together.

Wisdom, according to Christianity, Judaism and Islam beliefs, is represented by the sense of justice of the lawful and wise counsel. Wisdom consists in manifesting a clear character, loving the people, and abiding in the highest good. I believe all beliefs are consistent in knowing that wisdom is a mature integration of appropriate knowledge, a seasoned ability to filter the inessential from the essential.

Take control of your life by taking an active part in living and loving your life. If you play a passive role, you will be doomed to repeat the sorrows of yesterday. However if you take a stand, the robbers and naysayers will start to flee. You are learning wisdom. Let them know they no longer have control of your life. That you intend to live a life of victory. You can do it!

Take time to meditate for it lets you listen to your heart and spirit and reflect on the past and form your future. See your light from within burning brightly.

Love your life. For with love, all things are possible. Live, love and laugh for they invite peace, joy and tranquility to flow through and around you. Wisdom flourishes with love and laughter.

Don't be afraid of taking a step forward - even just one baby step at a time. The journey gets easier with each step you take. Have courage. Have no fear. As Helen Keller said, "I do not want the peace that passes all understanding, I want the understanding that passes peace." Together we can make a difference in understanding depression and passing on peace with wisdom that we have learned.

The Attitude

The Attitude
by Annie Tornabene



I wish I could say that my teaching in school was made like this man, Zig Zigglar. Unfortunately they were not. However, I did get a lot of positive forces from people like him outside of my schooling and Zig Ziglar was one of the most influential forces in my early development and career over thirty years ago. I didn't realize it at the time, but the things I heard him say and the things I heard my Dad say about him as he read his books helped change my life and my decisions in what to major in school.

His ability to strike a piercing chord in everyone who desires positive change in their life, has made him a master in the field of personal development. His perseverance and determination to living the natural laws, has made a remarkable difference in thousands of lives throughout the world. He doesn't just talk the attitude ... he walks the attitude ... he breathes the attitude ... he lives the attitude. That's what I'm talking about. You gotta walk the talk and talk the walk.

It doesn't matter how rich or how poor you are... depression hits us all. We are all subjects to emotions because we are human. It doesn't matter if you are just a little blue or if you've been down for years. It just matters that you get back up. So what if we've hit a bump in the road. So what if we've been hit by a storm... Things happen ... life changes. We will survive and do even better next time because we have the attitude.

Someone told me the other day, how much I had changed in the last ten years... how far I had come ... I wasn't waddling in pain... I didn't seem depressed.... I wasn't Taz (Tasmanian Devil)! I stepped back and smiled. Yeah, I was in pain but I've learned how not to let it affect me. The day I chose not be depressed anymore, was the day my life turned around. Sure, I have bad days but I don't stay down. I'm not gonna let anger rule me. I'm not gonna be discouraged. I'm not gonna be depressed. They can take everything from me. I will always have what someone else wants. I have me. I have my life and I'm in control of my life. I have the attitude. No one can take it away from me. I have the power! Do you know what I'm talking about?

Maybe you're not depressed but not living your full potential. You can learn this too. It is stuff we need to hear to empower ourselves with the attitude that our life matters. We do make a difference and together we make a difference in learning to live with the right attitude - The attitude of gratitude and abundance

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Hit Me With Your Best Shot
by Annie Tornabene

Sometimes we feel like nobody notices all that we do. We feel nobody knows how deeply we love. Nobody know how hard we try. Little acts of kindness never go unnoticed. Someone is always watching. You may not realize it, but someone is watching. They may not tell you, they may not be thankful for all that you do, but they notice. Don't worry, be happy that you are able to do those little acts of kindness, that you are able to love so deeply.

Turn your fears into little steps of faith. Trust in our Creator. No excuses, no fear, no boundaries. Forget about the past. Forget your resentment. Live in the present. Allow abundance to flow through you. In an attitude of gratitude be thankful for all that you are able to do. Be thankful for this moment to love. Don't worry about the approval from others. Live your life to the fullest. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. It is your life!

When you least expect it, someone will notice and it will come back to you when you least expect it. The expecting it blocks the flow of abundance. Take a deep breath. Let go of your fears. Let go of your worries. Your Creator is always by your side, no matter what good or bad. Meditate and talk to your Creator--talk, laugh, cry, scream, sing. You'll discover that you are never alone on this journey, and knowing this is vital in getting wherever you want to go.

Turn those stinking thinking to positive and move forward in your life. You'll be saying hit me with your best shot. Nothing can get you down. Trust that everything you do is notice.

Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye

by Annie Tornabene




My nephew didn't get to come to his Granddad's (my Dad) funeral two and a half years ago because of the distance and cost. My how time flies. Since he's been down here, I've tried not to say anything about Granddad. Being a curious boy, he has asked many questions about Granddad. He instinctively knew not to ask the questions around my Mom or his new Grandfather (PappaSam). I don't know if his parents said something to him before he came down or how he figured it out. However, I am thankful.

One day, he asked me when we were in the car, "Where's my Granddad?" I thought he was referring to PappaSam and told him where is was.

He said, "No, I love my new PappaSam, but I miss my other Granddad."

"I miss him, too," I said, then added, "Remember he died."

"I know, but where did they put him. Remember I couldn't come down for the funeral."

"Oh, you want to know where he's buried?" I said.

"Yes, can we go there?" he said.

It was getting close to dusk but I thought the cemetery was still opened. So we hurried over there so he could see. I pointed it out and brushed a few leaves off the headstone. He notice several of the markers had flowers and Granddad's didn't. I guess the keepers remove the flowers or in one of the storms we've had recently they blew away and the vase was turned back into the marker. He said he wanted to get some more flowers for the grave. I told him we couldn't now because the cemetery was closing but we would another day.

Well, out of the clear blue on Sunday afternoon, he reminded me that we were suppose to get flowers for Granddad's grave. You know kids are better at reminding you of things than any PDA or Blackberry or any reminder. So we went to pick out some flowers and he wanted a lei too. He remembered that from being in Hawaii. Then we had to pick up some duck feed too.

We went to the cemetery. He said he wasn't sure how to say goodbye to Granddad. Many of us find it difficult to say goodbye to someone who has died. I remembered an episode of Magnum PI where Magnum's Granddad died and he had to help his nephew say goodbye too. We talked about how death is like the butterfly in the cocoon. My Great Grandfather told me this when I was three on the day he died. It has helped me throughout my life. So we talked about how much we loved Granddad and how blessed we were to have him in our life. We said we missed him, but we believe that we will see him again someday. We talked about how even though we could not see him, the love we have for him is still in our hearts and will always be there. We put the flowers in the vase and then he put the lei on the headstone. We sat silently for a few moments.

We got up and got the duck feed out of the car. He said that Granddad was lucky to have been buried in such a beautiful garden. His site overlooks the duck pond. There are majestic oak trees and flowers all around. He said that Granddad was blessed to have the ducks and trees all around. We fed the ducks and had a wonderful time.

Death is not reserved for the privileged few. All of us at one time or another will experience the loss of a loved one - it just part of the strings of life. Just remember after the death of a loved one, to find that thread that survives death. Love survives death. Love is eternal. My Dad told me in many of the talks we shared before his death, how every day of his life after his parents died, he thought of them but remembered their love. I have thought of my Dad everyday since he died but it is his love that keeps me going. Your love will continue throughout and remain in you heart. Cherish it. Honor it. Have you said goodbye to your loss and found your thread that survives their death? Together we can make a difference in understanding depression.

Count Your Blessings

Today I started a taking a water aerobic body flow class. The great thing about water aerobic exercise is that if you are overweight or recovering from an injury or illness that has left you very weak, it is very hard to hurt yourself doing them. The water is supporting your weight instead of your lower limbs so a workout is less painful. The aerobic water exercises are increase muscular stamina and improve cardiovascular fitness in general. It can also help build strength and increase your flexibility. It is the type of exercise where you can work at your own pace. It is also up to you how hard you will work out in the water making it difficult to overdo it. It is also difficult to get overheated as the water is always cooling you off.

After class, a lady started asking me questions about how she can rid herself of depression. After talking a while, I asked her if she knew it was her last day on earth could she count her blessings. This is what she came up with:

1. I would stress less about the little things.
2. I would categorize everything as little things.
3. I would do more to escape from the pain instead of complaining.
4. I would invest the time I lose in unproductive and dangerous thoughts into planning creative outings for myself and for the family.
5. I would worry less about what others think.
6. I would make more time for coffee or tea and phone calls with friends.
7. I would visit my mom and my sisters more.
8. I would eat more dessert and not care as much about my waist line.
9. I would laugh more - make a point to laugh every day.
10. I would publish my journal online every thought I have, no matter how stupid.
11. I would spend more time outdoors.
12. I would eat breakfast with my kids, lunch with husband, and dinner with my family.
13. I would keep a mood chart that would track how I feel from day to day.
14. I would identify some possible triggers for my bad days.
15. I would invest in some friends like a support group that won't tire of me talking.
16. I would say to myself, "There is a better way. Together we can make a difference."
17. I would learn to take baby steps one day at a time.
18. I would learn to live in an attitude of gratitude.
19. I would write a journal so that I could remember my good days and count my blessings more.
20. I would learn to distract myself more so I could turn myself around.
21. I would make a bucket list and do everything I wanted to do.
22. I would make sure I made a list of the reasons I want to live so when I get down, I can pick myself up again.
23. I would thank my Creator each day for another day to live.
24. I would dance to the music.

What would say to count your blessings?

Monday Morning Blues

People write me all the time telling me how much they stressed out on Monday - like the song says, Monday, Monday can't stand that day -- just because it was "Monday."One lady said she thought every Monday she was pregnant because she had morning sickness on the way to work. I wrote him back and asked her why? She said "I get so nauseated on the way to work now cause I can't stand it there! I feel like I'm gonna get sick even as I get ready for work!" And that's a Crappy way to start the week, I thought. And this woman's NOT alone!!

It's estimated that about 65% of ALL people suffer from what's known as "Monday Morning Blues." This means that about 65 out of every 100 cars you see on the drive to work have a driver at the wheel that feels sick enough to turn the car around and just go home, put on that old T-shirt and be stress-free!

I've had people tell me that doing mundane thing around the house on Monday sends their blood pressure through the roof. I suppose no matter who you are, obstacles and challenges will be tossed in your way. Stressful situations happen to all of us and pressure is a personal thing. Remember it's not what happens to us, it's how we react to what has happened.

It can be our stumbling block or our stepping stone. You can't control the universe, but you can control your thoughts and reactions. The key is to acknowledge and confront our fears, our anxiety and our worries because when we do, and we begin to realize that we are capable of handling them. You are the master of your own fate. Your mind controls your body so you control your mind. Good things in, good things breathe out. Don't get stuck, you take control and take those baby steps forward. The more you do it, the more confident you will become and your mind healing will chase those Monday Morning Blues away.

Doing our daily mind healing rituals is just as important as our physical rituals. Maybe even more important. If you believe you can, then you can. Do whatever it takes to chase those blues away and have your best life now. It helps in clearing the chaos of your mind and in cleaning out the cobwebs. If you need talk, just email me or IM me. Together we can make a difference in understanding depression. Be happy, don't worry!

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you. - Marsha Norman

Close your eyes. Forget about the chaos in your life right now. Clear your mind. Use your creativity to visualize yourself approaching a beautiful home on a sprawling green lawn. The shady front porch invites you to step inside. As you enter the open door, you see a large living room with large glass windows that displays the sunlight outside. You see fresh flowers and pictures of your family adorning the tables. A sweet aroma fills the air of freshly baked cookies. Then you hear someone quietly speak your name. You turn with a big smile as you see the most wonderful loved one. You feel a heartfelt warm embrace. You know you are home. Home is where the heart is.

Every day, take time to quiet your mind to allow your mind healing from the past. Simply take time to slow down and simplify your life. This allows you to become more mindful of your choices. We are stressed, overwhelmed, and slowly sacrificing our sanity in the attempt to be in ten different places at once. Unless you’ve hired a stunt double, who really has the time to find balance? It seems to be the problem that a lot of us face. We just don’t have enough TIME. Declutter your life and find more "Me" time. Reconnect with the most important person in your life - you. This allows you to have more to give away. Understanding depression makes a difference. This will help alleviate insomnia, anxiety, muscle pain, and improve our overall health.

Remember, nobody is perfect or has a perfect life. Ask yourself what’s really important to you. Home is where the heart is. Together we can make a difference. What is your soul writing about you? Follow your heart and your body will follow.

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

Laughter is the best medicine. It is free...readily available to us whenever we remember a funny story or act in a silly way. Or maybe we see something in life, on TV or at the movies that is magnified in are own lives. Just watch our children or grandchildren. Like the time, my granddaughter hit the aquarium with her head and she said, "The fish bit me." If we are lucky, we continue to share our laughter with our family, friends and those we come in contact.

We talk about fun things or going somewhere that is fun for us. How many of us actual take the time to find humor in each day or laugh about anything? How many of us schedule into our today list a time for fun. It's important to work, but don't forget to play. We feel less stressed and feel more at eased when we laugh. Laughter is contagious. Don't think so? Try laughing and see what happens. It is like a drop of water that causes a ripple effect that courses through the depth and breath of water. Just as our words positive or negative can makes such an impact on the people around us. Our laughter can plow a course through the universal depression. It can inspire hope and reduce the number of suicides.

Of course, it is also important to allow ourselves to stay balanced. My motto is work hard, play hard.

Living a life of positive thinking and laughter is bound to have you feeling happier and more successful throughout your day-to-day routine. In fact, those that make positive thinking and laughter a key goal in their lives tend to experience more daily success and more happiness than anyone else. Visualizing goals and going after them are a key component to positive thinking. Keeping a light attitude towards life is a great way to keep laughter as the soundtrack to your life and have things looking a little bit brighter. When it comes to a healthy state of mind and body, positive thinking and laughter work hand in hand.

Having daily happiness and success are all about developing a habit. You'll need to start making a few changes in your life if you want to experience positive thinking and laughter on a regular basis, and you'll want to create an environment that encourages both those qualities, too. This may sound like work, but don't worry; it can actually be a lot of fun! One of the first things you'll want to do in developing your "happy habit" is to change the way you look at things in your life. Keep the focus on the bright side and think of the good side all the time. You may find that your mind will try to drag you down and look at the negative things in life more often than you'd like, but you have the power to change that focus and keep it on positive aspects. If you try to make your first thoughts about the bright side of the situation, you'll find yourself well on your way to developing your "happy habit". I'm checking on you and I'm gonna tell Santa!



Live, love and laugh!

Hugs in an attitude of gratitude

You Are The Dream!

Be in the moment enjoy the day!

The greatest support we can have is mindfulness, which means being totally present in each moment. If the mind remains centered, it cannot make up stories about the injustice of the world or one's friends, or about one's desires or sorrows. This is the day that you are alive. This is the moment that you are in.

Beyond this moment, nothing else exist. Take responsibility for this moment. Enjoy it. Savor every precious thought, every moment before it slips away. Take time to smell the roses and other beautiful flowers along the journey.

Watch a sunset. Pay attention how much pleasure you experience. The best thing that can happen is that we learn from our experiences and the worst thing that can happen is that we fail to learn from our experiences. Enjoy the moment.

Engage in some activity that you would like to do. How did it make you feel? What did you learn about yourself? Did you make a mistake? Remember it is the journey that makes life worth living. . . nothing is set in stone or frozen. It is like dust in the wind. Dare to dream.

All your hopes and dreams are real right now. All your possibilities are ready to be lived. Everything you've ever done has led you to this point. You are more fully alive, aware, experienced and prepared than you have ever been. What matters is not how old or how young you may think you are. What matters is making the most of this moment you now have.

What matters is not how much or how little you may think you have, how fairly or unfairly you may think life has treated you. What matters is that you make the most of who you are.

This is it. This is your moment to fill with the best you can imagine.

Live it with love, with purpose and joy.

Hugs in an attitude of gratitude,

Lessons for Truth, Justice and Creativity

Within every human being exists an infinite supply of creativity, strength, and fight for justice.
You are capable of more than you know.

Let me tell you about a real life person. Her name is Lynn Boudreaux.

Lynn was born a few minutes after her twin sister Donna on February 4, 1961. Shortly after birth, Lynn was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Doctors told her parents that she would not be able to talk, and she would never be a student in a regular classroom. Her parents were great believers in possibilities. They worked with their daughters. Their Mom was a music teacher. By the time Donna was 3, she was not only talking up a storm but had a thirst for vocabulary. Lynn had a language that only she and Donna could understand. One day, while their Mom was getting breakfast ready, the most beautiful music came out of the piano room.

Their Mom told Donna to get off the piano and come to breakfast. Donna came. The music continued. The Mother looked puzzled at Donna because she knew it was too early for her students, and said, "Who's that playing on the piano?"

Donna went into the piano and said, "Mother get in here, because you're not gonna believe me!"

When the Mom arrived, she dropped her jaw. There sat, Lynn, playing the piano; looked up and smiled. The subconscious mind had listened to the Mother giving the other students lessons and though she had never had one lesson, was able to play the piano. In fact, I believe it was one of Mozart's pieces that one of the students had been practicing for an upcoming recital.

Lynn continued to amaze her family and friends.

When I met Donna, she was a little embarrassed about introducing me to Lynn. Because Donna was so beautiful, every boy wanted her and because of her twin sister, many didn't. Even back them I was trying to be supportive and give her possibilities and empowerment.

I don't know what happened to them. Some people come into to our lives and leave footprints on our hearts. We are touched by everyone we meet. Anyway, I thought of them today and decided to write about it. In loving memory!

Are you a success if you play it safe your whole life and never dare anything unless you are guaranteed victory?

When you set milestones, it is important to set many smaller milestones that coincide with it. Even if you fail to reach your deadline for one milestone, you will still succeed at many, and you will build your confidence to a much higher level. Give yourself empowering reasons for getting up when you feel down.

There is a champion inside YOU.

What can you do that will inspire you to unleash it?

Keep On Keeping On.

Live Your Dreams.

Hugs in an Attitude of Gratitude,

A Strum of the Heartstrings

Bam! The door slammed as Janice stormed out of Darrell's office. Darrell had shot down the proposal, just as Janice had feared. Just like every time before. "Why is he so obsessed with control?" Janice seethed in resentment. "How many times am I going to have to fight this battle?"

Feelings can be powerful disablers when our wishes aren't being realized. Like in this story there was a history that poisoned Janice's unconscious beliefs about her chance to bring about her desires. Until she could become aware that she unintentionally self-sabotaged, she was confused and disappointed by her results and left feeling powerless and angry. Feelings are influenced by our expectations, which are based on our beliefs. If we are experiencing what we want, then we feel happy and life is good. If we are experiencing something that we do NOT want, then we feel that life is dealing us lemons.

What if feelings are directives - self-generated decisions, based upon beliefs that cause what we experience? Like many fundamental truths of life, we often have the cause-effect relationship backwards. We sometimes feel that if we work harder, we'll get a raise; if I love you, you will love me; I would be happy if I had a new ... Sound familiar.

It's easy to understand the fallacy of the first example. To get a raise, you generally need to work harder FIRST. Working is the cause - a raise is the effect. Raises don't cause work. When did you last see someone work harder after getting a raise - beyond a day or two? You may not always get a raise by working harder, but it's highly unlikely you'll get one any other way.

The second example: I'll love you back if you love me first, turns love into a bartering tool. We're afraid of being vulnerable, so we insist that the other person step out on the limb first. Is that really love? Love isn't something we get from another, it's a personal choice to become loving. It's a way of being first, then it's a gift you share. The one who insists that their partner love first is dealing in fear, not love. And even if the partner does express love first, it's unlikely that that love will be felt by the other. Love is born internally (cause) or it's never experienced (effect).

The last example may be the hardest to challenge. I'll be happy when I get what I want. We are surrounded every day by the message that our happiness depends on external circumstances. If we don't have the car we want, the house we want, the clothes we want, the job we want, etc. - if we feel we are lacking whatever we believe causes happiness, we feel unhappy.

Because our life did not meet our wants or expectations, we chose to feel badly. Our feelings are a result of what we tell ourselves it means. Some hide or run away from those feelings, while others take action and change things. In both cases the is reactionary - giving power to the circumstance without understanding that the circumstance is an effect, not a cause. The cause was the combination of expectations, personally-determined meanings, and erroneous beliefs that our quality of life is determined by our circumstances.

If you take power over those feelings and direct your result it is like an artist or writer. You are the artist, life is the canvas. You have the power of the pen to transform your life. Life is your agent fulfilling your commands. Through the thoughts and feelings you choose, you direct life to become. To be what you want. No longer a puppet controlled by someone or at the hands of thoses who would defeat you. You will often feel amazed and manipulated by what you learn. Believe me when I say, you ignited the effect by changing. You have the power to change.

Dream the live you were meant to dream!

The Courage to Find Happiness

Some days are good days, some days are bad days. Have you ever awaken with the dread of getting out of bed? You know it's going to be a bad day. Every nerve in your body is screaming "Bad day! Bad day!" Well, I have.

After my car accident, there were times when I had tossed and turned all night with nightmares, my body ached, I felt the black hole was swallowing me and if I got out of bed I was walking into a dark cloud of fog.

It took courage just to get out of bed, to attempt one more day to find a little something to be happy about. Courage is what you didn't know you had when everything else was saying run.

The Internet was a lifesaver for me. I found lost friends. I got in touch with them on the Internet and made new friends on the Internet. Maybe I couldn't move around much but I could connect a little on the Internet. My friends and my new friends sent me notes, chat, prayers and jokes. It got me to smile and then to laugh. A little here and a little there. Suddenly I felt connected.

Being connected to at least one person during a time of depression is extremely important. Depression hurts because you feel isolated, you want to run and hide, you want to throw the covers over your head and never come out. I know, I've been there.

Other things you can do is to change your routine. Drive a different route to work, switch your right and left hands for everyday activities, eat dessert first, and wear your pajamas to work. Wait, no, that last one will get your family giving you worried looks for sure? So wear a hat to work or out shopping. Probably it will be different and people are nice to you when you wear a hat. I opted for a bright colored one or a big floppy one.

Drink water. If your body is a little dehydrated, it can contribute to your depression. Sodas depeat the body of water. I had to learn to like water too. Now I love it.

Whenever negative thoughts come to mind, try to turn them into to positive thoughts. I'm not saying your problems are over, but simply looking at the world through rose-colored specs means that half your problems will look like exciting challenges, and the other half you'll probably realize aren't problems at all, just the strings of life.

The thing you must do the most is fight to have courage to connect with someone, to try again. Who knows when the next blow could be the blow that vanishes the dragon.

Now get out there and dance like I've said before to be fluid with your body exercises every nerve in your body as all nerves pass through the neck. Connect with the music. Music is to the soul like a bandaid is to a cut. Life's too short not to dance and have fun.

Hugs in an attitude of gratitude.

Am I Blue?

I was reading an article this morning about the Blue Zone. People who live in these areas tend to live longer. Although the Blue Zone is not a physical zone like eastern time zone, it characterized the zone in terms of the people who lived in those areas. They found they tended to huddle together. Makes sense, birds of a feather flock together. One of the most important asset you will every own is your health!

These people tend to eat a healthier life-style by adding more fruits, vegetables and nut (almonds, cashews, walnuts and macadamia nuts). They enjoy the aging process no matter what age they are and interact with others in a relaxed or less stressful way. They find little activities to do all day to keep them busy. They take time to enjoy their sanctuary. Not eating right can contribute to your blues.

Some may think the secret to longevity lies in strenuous physical activity, such as running marathons or triathlons or pumping iron. Four things people can do that can potentially increase life expectancy: Create an environment that encourages physical activity, set up your kitchen in such a way that you're not overeating, cultivate a sense of purpose and surround yourself with the right people.

These are long-term fixes that have been shown over and over to add more years of life to you not life to your years.

Makes sense to me to enjoy life! Have a good day!

Dance To the Music

Some days are good days, some days are bad... sometimes we can be so busy that we forget moving our body is even an option. Some of us remain seated at our computer for hours every day, sit in a chair for hours in pain or rush from task to task with robotic precision. When we are caught up in crossing items off our to-do lists, we tend to neglect all the opportunities there are to enjoy our lives in the process of living. If this is true for you, begin looking for opportunities to move.

Bad days. . . just go for a walk even if it is just indoors and turn yourself around. Put on some music that your heart can't help but jump for joy. It is healing the heart. You might try dancing or moving about freely as you clean your home or in the garden or with your children. Children love to play this! Sorry no country music for this. In dancing, even slow dancing, our bodies adjust, realign and start to become fluid with the rhythm of life. Our mood lifts and we feel more connected with the world around us. Every nerve in our body flows through our neck. So if, we're rigid our bodies become rigid. If we are fluid, we are in a tune with life.

So come on and dance like no one is watching!

The Power of Now

Thoughtful retrospection—either oral or written—can help you focus on life's meaning and prepare for upcoming transitions, while leaving a history for future generations.

Upon reaching their middle and older years, men and women often look back on rewarding and warm moments, touching times, and challenging experiences. By making a conscious decision to contemplate the past, adults can reshape their perceptions and expectations and leave a legacy for other family members.

Looking at accomplishments and unresolved issues, the things that make a person what they are today, comes with the decision to harvest the wisdom of a lifetime and appreciate the lessons learned.

You can relive your happy moments. Have you ever noticed a child as they discover something for the first time? It is completely spellbinding.

Do you have any of those memories? If you do it every day for at least 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes before retiring to bed for 30 days, you will find you will feel better. Your mood will have lifted. Then your mind will start attracting you to similar experiences to make new happy moments.

Why am I telling you this you ask? Because, everything was a great "joy to discover," and there was so much of it to do. Each time, it was so incredible that you were constantly looking to find these discoveries. The power of living in the now is so incredible. Spend some time with a small child, and relive your earliest memories with them and through them. This is the reason I am telling you this.

Recapture the wondrousness of discovery. It is so cool to have the great memories, and to remember the happiness that you felt, and that is the reason to continue to create your future memories, but live in the present. Life is still an awesome thing to discover at any age. Spend some time with a small child so that you can remember how to do it.

Enjoy living in the present. Life is a beautiful thing, don't waste it by living in the past. Your mind will take you to unbelievable moments if you let it.

Have a good day!

Breathe life

For the most, we tend to live in either the past or the future and rarely in the now. We scorn our failures of past and look with anxiety and fear that the future will bring the same, yet we totally forget about right now.

Forget about what happened or what's going to happen. Today, right now, just do your best, be the best you can be. Breathe life into the today. Live it, love it, and enjoy ever second of it.

Don't worry about the past or the future. If you pay attention and live fully in the now both of those will resolve themselves.

If right now is the best time for you to learn, then seize the day, don't put it off.

Activity is Therapy

Research shows us that positive mental exercises can lift depression, even major depression. Some ways to put us in a happier mood: Will Rogers once said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

I know sometimes it feels like ‘I don’t want to do anything.’ A few minutes can turn in to hours, hours turn in to days, weeks, months and even years. So when you feel the darkness coming on, that’s the time to do something.

If we were never depressed, we would not be alive - only physical non-living things don't get depressed. If humans were not capable of depression, we would not be capable of happiness or excitement. Some things were meant to depress us such as death and things related to death. It's a matter of how long and how deep we're depressed. When you examine yourself, take in to account your capacity for depression.

Depression tends to turn us away from doing the ordinary things of life. In doing little things we find inspiration and that is taking control against depression. We must take these baby steps to find inspiration. If, however, we do little things just to fight depression we will only deepen our despair. When our spirit leads us to do something, the moment that we do it, depression vanishes. As soon as we arise, we enter a higher pleateau in life. Try it! Listen and do the little things again.

Little things make a difference. Activity for as little as 10-15 minutes can make a difference.
1.) Try going to a different room to get a drink of water. Take a sip or two of water in each room for 10 minutes. Make a game out of it. Our bodies are made of water and need to be replenished. Movement makes a difference.
2) Go for a 10 minutes walk.
3.) Try 15 minutes of stretching.
4.) Do 10-15 of gardening or painting.
5.) Clean a room or corner for 10 minutes.
6.) Go for a 10 minutes swim.
7.) Find a hobby or group you can join and go do it for at least 10 minutes. There are usually groups that play 42, dominoes, checkers, bingo, etc. or volunteer your time at a retirement home – there are many people there that want someone to play a game with, play the piano, sing, put a puzzle together or just talk to. They are happy to have someone.

Other things you can do to improve your mental state are to eat a good breakfast, avoid negative people and don’t snooze when your alarm goes off in the morning. Get on up! You mentally start your mind on the right track when you do. Positive thoughts increase your immune system as proven by recent research. So whenever you see yourself having a negative thought, try to rephrase it to a positive thought. Make a plan for the next day so you have a reason to get on up.
Reward yourself in the morning for getting up with a special tea, coffee or breakfast treat for getting up. Chart your activities at the end of the day. Count your activities – one point for each activity. See how many points you can get each day. Chart to see your improvement. The only one you are competing with is yourself.

Activity is therapy!

Change of Habits

Whenever you have a negative thought see if you can think of solutions. Focusing on the seemingly impossible problems you have in your life will not help you solve them any quicker. It brings you down faster. Watch how quickly a child will try to find a possitive solution. Try to do the same.

Watch some cartoons or read a funny story. Always try to make time in your day to find a way to laugh. Make sure you get your belly to laugh every day.

Listen to music that relaxes you or uplifts you. Giving yourself energy through listening to music you like is an important part of developing your “happy habit”. Music is to the soul like a bandaid is to a cut.

Read or listen tobooks, anything else that inspires you. This will keep your thoughts positive and will help you stray into negativity.

Try to make other people happy. Volunteer to do something for someone else and see how you feel better. In doing something for someone else, you take you mind off your own problems. Doing at least one task each day for the express purpose of making someone else happy will help create and spread your “happy habit”.

Be happy for others in their happiness and don't envy their happiness. It's hard, sometimes to see other people feeling happy if you are not. Instead of feeling envious of them, just feel happy for them. It is great to surround yourself with lucky, fortunate people. Keep positive company around you. If you surround yourself with genuine people with positive attitudes and laughter, you will find that you will catch some of that energy. Joy is contagious, as is laughter.

Focus on your accomplishments and not the things you didn't accomplish, within reason. Focusing on goals you have met will help you develop plans to meet new goals.

Focusing on your goals can be complicated, but with a plan in place to visualize your goals and accomplish them properly, you might find that achieving goals can actually be fun. Of course, many people don't know how to make a plan to meet their goals and, instead, struggle with all of the negative feelings. Don't let negativity break you down. Instead, use your energy to find ways to step towards what you wish to have in life and make it happen.

Have a good day!