Start a new tradition that will stay with your family always. It’s never too late to begin! Have you always wanted to plan something nice you could do as a family, but haven’t quite figured it out yet? Here are five ideas to get you started.

1. Go Fishing

You can gather everyone and go to the lake. Take the boat, or rent one. Or, just set up on the bank of the river or lake shore, or pier (depending on your location of course). Pack the fishing rods and bait and just enjoy the day together.

Once the sun goes down, chances are you’ll be close enough to watch a great firework display. Just being together for the whole day will create memories you will cherish forever.

2. Go Camping

Especially since the Fourth lands on a Saturday this year, you can make an entire weekend event out of it. Go to the lake or your favorite camping grounds…or even your own backyard if you aren’t adventurous enough or ready for a full-fledged camping trip.

Again, there are firework displays set up pretty much everywhere, so be sure to find one ahead of time and hopefully you can see it from your campground!

3. Go to the Park

 Play your favorite sport together- baseball, basketball, football, soccer, etc. Bring a picnic and blankets and balls and have fun. Again, make the whole day about being together and having fun together. Even the most uninvolved teen will usually end up having fun…who can resist when fun and laughter are so contagious?

4. Have a BBQ

If you, a friend or family member have a nice big backyard (especially if anyone has a pool) have a big barbeque for the whole family. Great food, great company and an important day make for good times. Do you really need an excuse to get together?

5. Go to a Ball Game

 Pack the family up to go to a ball game. There are many activities and games that take place on the Fourth that you can all enjoy. If you don’t live near a baseball stadium, or if your team is traveling, see if there is a local parade or something like that.

Many communities have large celebrations to honor our country’s birth, so bring the family and celebrate together!

Remember to bring sunscreen, blankets (it may get chilly at night), plenty of water, food, a camera to capture all of the smiles, and leave any worries behind. This is a time to have fun and celebrate and relax. There are enough days to worry and fret later, so let it all go for now.

The most important thing is being together, having fun and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

What does independence mean to you?  Make today the beginning of the BEST of your life!!!!

It’s really a shame that many of our school chidlren don’t know why we celebrate the 4th.  We celebrate it because it is America’s “Indepence Day” the day America became a free Nation.

We live in a great nation that allows us the freedom to be who we want to be.  We have the freedom to voice our opinions, the freedom to marry whom we wish, the freedom to choose our own career or start our own business, where women are free too - and are equal.

Regardless of your political views or your personal views of war -  we ask that you take the time to honor all the men and women, past and present, that have fought for your freedom

Hope you have a Happy, Safe, Fun 4th of July!

Freedom Quotes:

“Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be.”
Daniel J. Boorstin

“The greatest lesson we can learn from the past. . . is that freedom is at the core of every successful nation in the world.”
Unknown

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.”
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
 
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE — Author unknown

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He’d stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers’ tears?

How many pilots’ planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves?
No, freedom isn’t free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant “Amen,”

When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington

No, freedom isn’t free.

Enjoy Your Freedom!!!

 

Technorati Tags: 4th of July, July 4th

If your family is experiencing …

Difficulties interacting with each other

Financial hardships

Loss of job or income

Sickness and/or death

A troubled teen

You may want to consider family counseling. A problem experienced by anyone in the family can affect other members also.

Below are some widely used techniques in family counseling:

In home Observations

This is a fairly new technique where the family therapists actually live with the family for a few days. This enables the therapist to observe family interactions first hand and allows them to meet their clients real needs better.

Communication Skill Building

Good communication skills are the basic foundation for a healthy family environment. Any trial that a family member goes through will affect the rest of the family either positively or negatively depending on their communication skills.

Families that face one crisis after another will soon break down if they do not know how to communicate with each other.

The family therapist will focus on communication patterns between family members. During sessions the family members will be encouraged to take turns expressing their feelings, while the other family members practice listening without judging the other persons actions and statements.

Reframing

Therapists use this technique in order to present different perspectives of family problems. Reframing is an attempt at turning negative behaviors into positive behaviors.

For example a daughter may see her parent as untrusting if the parent repeatedly questions her behavior after a date. In reframing the daughter can be shown that the parents actions are out of love and concern.

Tracking

Tracking is a technique widely used by most therapists. Some therapists see it as an essential part of family counseling.

The therapist listens intently to family stories told by each member of the family. The therapist then records the events in order to identify the sequence of events. At this time the therapist will be able to design interventions between the various points.

Family photos

Family photos are an excellent way for a therapist to determine how the family functions in the present s well as in the past. Family members look at memorable photos as they talk about them. The therapist is able to gather verbal and nonverbal actions between the family members. It also reveals family relationships, customs, roles and communication patterns.

Genogram

The genogram provides an enormous amount of insight for the therapist. This technique should be used early in family therapy. The genogram provides a graphic picture of the family history which reveals the families basic structure and demographics.

A genogram is a family history listing three generations, including names, dates of birth, death, marriage, divorce, and other relevant facts.

Family floor plan

This technique should also be done during the beginning stages of counseling. Family members are requested to draw a floor plan of their home. They are asked to remember the sounds, colors, odors and people in the house. While they are drawing specific questions are asked about the environment such as;

• What room does the family gather in?
• What conversations take place in the various rooms?
• Are any rooms restricted or off limits?
• Where do guests gather?

This technique will reveal the comfort levels between family members, space accommodations and rules. It can also indicate family triangles and subsystems. Discussions often bring out meaningful issues related to ones past.

Family Sculpting

Family sculpting provides recreation for the family. Family members are asked to physically arrange the family representing relationships to one another at a specific period of time. Children often make good sculptors as they are able to nonverbally communicate their thoughts and feelings this way.

Family Choreography

This technique goes beyond family sculpting. Family members are asked to show how they would like to see the family situation as well as the way they see it in the present. They may be asked to reenact current family situations and then re-sculpt them to the preferred scene.

The Empty Chair

In this technique a family member will express their feelings to another member – the empty chair. The family member then will play the role of the other person and carry on a dialogue. Expressions to absent family, parents, and children can be arranged through utilizing this technique.

Family Council Meetings

This is simply an organized family meeting. The family is there to share and discuss any concerns they have. The goal is to find a solution together. It is important that all family members attend. Set a specific time to meet and have rules that all must abide by: i.e. Attacking others is not acceptable. Often times family therapists will prescribe Family Council Meetings as homework for the family.

Strategic Alliances

This technique involves the therapist meeting with one member of the family as a means of helping that person change. When each person changes their individual perspectives and outlooks, it enables the entire family system to change. This technique attempts to disrupt a circular system or behavior pattern.

Prescribing Indecision

Faulty decision making increases the stress level of families. Not making decisions becomes more problematic. The therapist encourages the family to reframe the indecisive behavior – decision is showed as caring and taking appropriate time on important matters. The head of the family is directed not to rush into anything or to make hasty decisions.

Putting the Client in Control

This technique places control into the hands of each individual or the head of the family. For example if a family member has a problem with anxiety - Specific directives are given as to when, where, and with whom, the person can exhibit their anxiety or worries. A time limit is also set. In time the client begins to feel in control which results in a positive change.

Caring Days

Families can get stuck in behavior cycles, become bored with each other, and take little time for one another. When this happens members of the family feel unappreciated, unloved, and taken for granted.

With this technique the family sets aside days where they are asked to show that they care. This can be done by giving a specific a special day, or by family outings and mini vacations.

In Conclusion …

Remember that all therapists are different. Family counselors customize their techniques according to their training, beliefs and that of the family they are counseling. When choosing a counselor check out their skills in handling the problems your family is facing. If you are a religious person, you may want to find a counselor that has the same beliefs as you. It’s a good idea to interview more than one counselor to find a good fit for you and your family.

If you are currently in a crisis situation you may be able to get immediate expert advice from a LivePerson.

WOW!!! Is all I can say.

Over the last few years we have heard so much about The Law of Attraction. The fact that we become what we think about. That we can ATTRACT ANYTHING into our lifes!

All of this is very true - Yet so many people constantly struggle on changing their thoughts. They don’t know how to change their thoughts.

We have all grown up hearing excuses constantly. Dr Dyer calls these Viruses in our Minds. They keep us from creating the life we deserve and want. As adults they just flow out of our mouths (and our thoughts) just as easily as saying our name!

Dr. Wayne Dyer discusses the main 18 excuses we use - and explains how to overcome each one! How often have you yourself said the following ….

• “I’m too tired.”
• “I’m too old.”
• “There’s not enough time.”
• “It’s to risky.”
• “I don’t have enough money.”

These are just 5 of the excuses he goes over. I have never heard anyone explain how to overcome our negative thought behaviors in such an easy manner before. Following his program, you’ll easily be able to overcome your negative thought patterns.

Get Excuses Begone Today!

If you get a chance, watch Wayne Dyer on PBS the week of June 1st. There is an added guest speaker. Dan Caro, a true inspiration to us all!!! Dan was severely burned when he was barely 2 years old. When the doctors unwrapped his hands - his hands fell off. Dan underwent over 80 reconstructive sugeries.

With no hands he states his biggest obstacle - was tying his shoe. Today he is an accomplished drummer. Visit his site DanCaro.com and BE INSPIRED!!!

Wishing you happiness and prosperity in your life!

When the lady in front of me stepped up to the cashier, another cashier took my stuff to help me. Before I finished checking out, the first cashier was done, and she looked over at the cashier that was helping me …

She sort of smiled and said …

“What am I, invisible?” as she tapped her face and arms.

“Can people not hear me?” ….

And then she shook her head, and said “How does someone go through an entire transaction without uttering one word, and without acknowledging that I even exist?”

And before you ask - No, the customer was not on a cell phone.  Cell phones are probably for another post - but seriously, if you’re talking on your cell phone while conducting business, what are you telling the person that is front of you?  Maybe that their not really that important?

This whole interaction made me wonder what has happened to common courtesy.

I felt for this young sales clerk. She was ebing so friendly and upbeat. She did not deserve to be treated like she was “nothing” - nor does anyone else! We are all very unique special people and have so much to offer this world and others.

I often hear people complain about how “unfriendly” the world is. Could this be because they themselves no longer practice being friendly?

I very seldom come across rude cashiers, waitresses, pizza deliverer’s bank tellers etc ….

WHY?

Because I treat them as I like to be treated.

Try practicing the following common courtesies and see how much happier and brighter your world will become ….

1. Greet everyone with a smile

2. Treat everyone with respect

3. Make eye contact with them

4. Ask them how they are

5. Find something to compliment them about

6. Always say “Thank You”

7. Upon departing tell them to “Have a Great Day!”

In today’s hectic world the pressures of everyday life weighs us down and gets us tense. The tenser we are – the more things weigh us down. It’s a vicious circle!

There is a SIMPLE remedy – Practice Focused Breathing Exercise. This will help relax your muscles and calm your mind.

Practicing focused breathing exercises can help you relax and relieve the tension you’ve built up during the day. Our everyday lives tend to weigh on use, causing us to be in a constant state of arousal, even if we have nothing to be excited about.

Stress can cause emotional problems including irritability, anger and depression.

Stress can also create physical ailments including headaches and stomachaches.

Relaxation breathing methods can relieve all these symptoms. As well as relax you prior to turning in for the night. This enables you to get a night full of quality sleep that leaves you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated in the morning.

Many techniques will suggest different positions including: the prone position (on your stomach), lying on your back, sitting cross legged, sitting on your feet with your knees facing forward, or standing.

4 Steps to Reduce Stress By Breathing

1. Find a good comfortable position – In order to completely relax you need to be comfortable. It’s impossible to relax if your not. You may also choose to change positions through out your breathing exercises.
2.  Use a Proper Breathing Technique – This involves taking long deep fuller breaths. This type of breathing changes the percentage of carbon dioxide in our systems, putting us in a more relaxed state.
3. Focus on Your Breathing - Your mind can not occupy two thoughts at the same time. By focusing on your breathing you’re not allowing the hassles of everyday life to interfere with relaxing. If your mind does wander – just bring your attention back to relaxing and breathing
4. Visualize - While breathing picture each muscle in your body and focus on it feeling relaxed Once that part of your body is relaxed, you can move on to another part. You may also choose to focus on the stress physically pouring out of your body through your fingers and toes

Proper Breathing Technique:

1. Breathe in deeply through your nose
2. Pull Stomach out as you take a long deep breath
3. Exhale through your mouth
4. Pull stomach in as you exhale
5. Shoulders stay relaxed – if they are moving your breathingis too shallow
6. Allow 5 to 6 seconds for each inhale and the same for each exhale
7. Focus on technique rather than pace

You may also find it helpful to practice visualization exercises while you’re breathing deeply. Picture. Whatever method you use, deep breathing is a great way to get to sleep or simply unwind at the end of a long day.

A common yoga technique is to tighten your throat when you exhale so it sounds as if you’re whispering.

Yoga is a GREAT way to reduce stress and relax. If you are looking for Yoga CDs and or accessories -  Get High Quality Yoga Accessories at Unbeatable Prices

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.

Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road.

After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

I recently came across this story and just had to share it with you.  What a BIG message it is saying. 

Think about the obstacles you face each day.  Overcoming obstacles is a part of life.  Overcoming obstacles can bring you happiness and wealth …

Are you the type of person that just ignores them … walks around them hoping they will magically disappear?

Are you the type of the person that finds somebody or something to blame obstacles on?  After all why should it be your responsibility?

Or are you the peasant?  You see an obstacle.  You do everything in your power to move it - to change it.  And not necessarily for personal gain.  You just know life will be better for you and for others by moving it.

The peasants are the ones that win.  They ultimately find success in whatever they do.  Why?

1. They pull up their sleeves and get to work when they see a job that needs to be done
2. They are not afraid of hard work
3. They are persistant!  They refuse to give up.

Let me know what what you think of this story and what it means to you.

After being together for several years, married couples often become so used to each other that they both forget to spice up their marriage with romance.
Get 101 Romantic Tips
by Michael Web For FREE!
The secret to a happy and healthy marriage is to re-vitalize it by constantly thinking of new ways to show love and appreciation to each other. Think of ways that you can make your spouse feel how important they are to you.

5 Tips to ReIntroduce Romance Into Your Marriage:

1. Reminisce About the Good Times …

Remember all the happy times you had together. Turn bad times around by remembering the love and happiness you shared during the good times.

Take walks together and talk about funny things that happened - laugh together. Walks are great to keep the communication open and improve your relationship.

2. Relive the Happy Times

If you had a fantastic first date - why not relive it?
My first date with Mike was breakfast at Denny’s and then miniature golfing. Every few years, Mike will surprise me by taking me to the same exact places again. Its fun and it’s romantic!

Visit the romantic vacation spot where you celebrated your honeymoon or anniversary.

3. Court Your Spouse

Schedule regular dates. Having some “alone time” can really liven things up a bit and put the romance back into your marriage.

It’s important to spend time alone … Away from your kids, your house and your work. It’s time to concentrate on making each other feel good.

4. Compliment Your Spouse

Nobody ever turns a good compliment down. As a couple, freely complimenting each other – and doing this often – would help put the romance back into your married life.

Also, over the years, you tend to overlook the basic things like thanking our spouse for a favor done, or complimenting her on looking great or saying I love you.

If you just go back to basics and not forget these simple courtesies, you will have a more respectful relationship that you both will be contented with.

5. Take Care of Yourself

One of the most effective and sure fire ways to put romance back into your married life is by improving your appearance. If you have had your hair done in a certain style for years, why not try to change it to look a little different?

Having your partner see you in a new light will may put the passion back into your marriage.

All in all, you still need to “work” on keeping your marriage strong and alive.

Pick up your copy of 101 Romantic Tips by Michael Web For FREE!

An unfortunate side effect of low self-esteem is that you stop being nice to yourself and don’t show yourself the love and respect you deserve.

You probably demand too much from yourself and push yourself to do more and be more than is really necessary.

Now you might be saying there’s nothing wrong with wanting to do and be better. That is true - but it’s the driving factor that might be of concern - is it healthy or unhealthy?

Healthy - You set goals for yourself that encourage you to grow and stretch. You accept and love yourself as you are but know that you can always be better.

Unhealthy - You are constantly beating yourself up because you believe that you need to overwork or punish yourself for not being “good enough”. You believe you have to achieve these unrealistic goals to be “worthy”.

Raise your self-esteem by beginning to accept, love and value yourself. All of the time from this moment on.

Does that sound impossible?

As difficult as it may seem, you need to learn how to love yourself NOW, exactly as you are in this moment. I won’t tell you it will be easy, but it is achievable if you’re willing to put in the effort.

A common trait of low self-esteem is that you believe there is nothing lovable or valuable about you.

You might believe you won’t be worthy of love until you lose weight, meet Mr. or Ms. Right, when you become a better mother, father, sister, friend, employee, citizen, and so on.

You have believed these lies long enough …

You are a unique special human being!!!

Two Ways to Start Loving Yourself Right Away:

1. Speak Kindly to Yourself

Like most people with low self-esteem, you probably have an ongoing negative monologue playing in your head – and you don’t even know it!

This chatter is filled with negative comments and perceptions about yourself, and it keeps you feeling badly about yourself. In order to turn it around, you’ll need to start replacing those negative messages with more positive ones.

You won’t be able to turn it around completely right away, but if you work at it a few times each day, you’ll eventually begin to feel more positive about yourself.

Praise yourself when you do something well.

Say positive things about yourself. Look in the mirror and compliment yourself (”I have a nice smile”, “I like my eyes” etc.)

Don’t recite these comments. Be sincere, use a kind and loving tone that you would use with he people you love and care about.

You might feel a little silly - that’s ok. Laugh at yourself if you want to - because laughter actually helps you take yourself less seriously and makes the process of learning to love yourself more fun.

2. Emphasize Your Positive Traits

Spend a few minutes each day focusing on your positive traits and capabilities. What character traits do you like? What characteristics do others see and like?

You might have a wicked sense of humor that serves you well. You might be a caring, kind giving person. Maybe you are a good cook, or good at organizing.

The items you choose to focus on don’t really matter, except that they are true about you.

Besides boosting your self-esteem, this type of activity can also help you become more confident too! As you keep emphasizing the things you’re good at, you’ll get bolder about finding out what else you can do well – and probably discover that you’re capable of a whole lot more than you ever realized!

Or

Do you believe the New Year’s holiday is an opportunity for change?

Resolution makers generally fall into one of three categories:

1. Serious Resolution Makers

These individuals dedicate themselves to reach their goal - usually in self-improvement. They set their goals and plan the steps to achieve them. They take ACTION.

2. Good Intentions

These people really want to change. They say “This year will be different”. They probably manage the first week or two of following through then they abandon them. These people usually have a plan to begin with.

3. On the Spot Resolutions

These poople make up a New Yeaar’s Resoultion on the spot when they are asked what their resoultuion is. They rarely have any intentions on following through.

What group do you fall into?

Often times people don’t take New Years Resoulutions seriously. They believe it’s all a big joke ….

New Years is actually the perfect time to dedicate yourself to a goal. Here’s why:

• You can reflect on your successes and failures of the previous year
• You have the right frame of mind to plan for the future
• It’s easier to gain the support of family and friends that have thesame or similar goals
• It’s easy to measure your goals. The timeframe of a year is an excellent yardstick
• You have 12 months which is enought time to plan, execute and achieve your goals - even if you hit some roadblocks along the way.

Why do we make resolutions?

Think about your past resolutions …

• Why did you make them?
• What did you hope to accomplish?
• Were you just going along with the crowd?
• Did you really want to change your life?
• Did you take the opportunity to change your lfie seriously?
• Do you subcribe to the theory “Resolutions are made to be broken”?

Do you really want to change your life?

YOU CAN!!!

Want to give it a try?

Here’s how:

1. Choose a resolution that you believe you can attain. If you choose a goal to lose 30 pounds in January or to exercise an hour every day you’ll brobably give up because within a week or so you’ll feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Choosing small goals you can attain helps you to create a pattern of success.
2. Break it up into small steps. Any large goal can be broken into a series of smaller goals. For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds, begin by setting a smaller goal. Maybe losing five pounds is a good start.
3. Set a Deadline. Having a deadline helps you to stay on track and to track your progress. For example, if your goal is to lose 50 pounds, and your smaller goal is 5 pounds a month, you should achieve your big goal in 10 months. (Sound like a long time? How fast did 2008 pass?)
4. Reward yourself - For each small success you need to reward yourself. If your goal is to lose weight, then you don’t want to reward yourself with food. You may want a new outfit, a night out, a massage - get creative.
5. Be Prepared - Regardless of your resoulution you will have obstacles to face. Plan for these obstacles and be prepared to face them head-on. For example, if your goal is to stop smoking, be prepared for cravings and have something ready to distract you for 5 to 10 minutes. (Any type of cravings rarely last longer than 10 minutes)

New Year’s Resolutions don’t have to be broken!

Establish a Winning Attitude, Set Proper Goals, and your New Year’s Resolutions will be life changing and rewarding experiences.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2009!!!