When writing, blogging, and reaching out to others in this day and age, one makes lot’s of discoveries along the way. One fun adventure for me has been my time spent networking and goofing off on Twitter.

I just set my intentions for this day and one of them is to laugh more. In that spirit, I thought it would be fun this morning to poke fun of myself and others who love Twitter.

So here it is…

You know you are a Twitter addict if you:

1. Replace your morning newspaper time with Twitter.

2. Your kids are scheming up ways to hide your laptop, iPad, or Smartphone.

3. You begin to think of people as “Tweeple”.

4. The universe is now the “Twitterverse”.

5. You think of interesting subjects in terms of hashtags (#)

6. When you experience something interesting, you immediately have the impulse to share it on Twitter.

7. Famous quotes are constantly swimming around in your head.

8. You feel quite impressed with yourself for you know the breaking news before anyone else

9. You can compose a 140 character count message in your sleep.

10. You love Facebook but you have a secret snobby belief that “real people” are on Twitter.

That’s it for now. I can’t wait to publish this post so I can get it out on Twitter as quick as possible!

Happy Tweeting!

Debra

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We need to take care of ourselves to get a good night of sleep each night.

Here are fifteen excellent habits to do regularly:

1. Eat cleanly

2. Exercise during the day

3. Spend time with people you care about

4. Work on projects that feed your passion (not just work for a paycheck).

5. Take mental breaks

6. Pray

7. Write in your journal

8. Drink water

9. Spend time outdoors

10. Enjoy the arts: music, art, dance, literature and poetry, live theater…

11. laugh

12. make love

13. try new things

14. invest in a quality mattress, pillows, and linens. You deserve and need them!

15. keep your home beautiful and clutter free (especially your bedroom)

Sweet Dreams!

Debra

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Three Goals of The Warm Milk Journal:

1. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, for you to know that you are not alone.

2. If you have anxiety, for you to know that you are not alone.

3. Life getting you stressed out? We want you to know that you are not alone!

Remember that whole six degrees of separation idea? We really have so much in common with one another. Add on the miraculous things we can do to connect with one another thanks to today’s technology… nobody needs to be alone in this day and age. Period.

We are here for you. We are here for each other.

Feel free to comment and share your experience and challenges.

If nothing else, I hope that when you visit The Warm Milk Journal you will find a place of love and support.

Sweet dreams to you tonight and every night,

Debra

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As the day ends, and we ease ourselves into the mellowness of the night, it is wonderful when we can sit back and think:

Today was a great day!

I guarantee you that if we end our days feeling this way our chances of getting a good night sleep improve tremendously.

I invite you during your journal writing time tonight to write on the top of the page: “Today was a great day!”.

Then list as many things as you can think of that affirm your declaration.

I challenge you friends, to do this even if you do not think you had a good day at all. Reach and see if you can think of some good that came of this day…

Shall we give this a go?

Let’s see….

Today was a great day!

These are the reasons why:

1. I found out today that I get to remain at the same grade level (next school year) with the same teaching partner and subjects (I am a fifth grade language arts teacher and I love it and I have a great partner to work with)!

2. Although storms were forecasted, we had no rain for our annual outdoor play day at school.

3. We have smoked salmon, bagels, cream cheese, and tabouli ready to eat for dinner tonight (with pina colada sherbet for dessert)

4. I had a great talk with my husband this afternoon when I got home from work.

5. We are enjoying some prosperity! Yes, checks are coming in (always a good thing)!

Your turn, sweet friends. How was your day great?

In Peace,

Debra

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Good morning, God.

Thank you for this new day.

With the things that are under my control today, may I do my best with them: take action (or inaction) where appropriate, see the opportunities and the good around me, inspire others, and do what I can to be productive.

With the things that are not under my control, may I not stress about them. Please help me to accept or release what I can’t control such as the weather, other people’s decisions, behavior, or driving, etc.

As always, I thank you for my health, family, and life.

I will do my best to choose love and peace.

Thank you.

Amen,

Debra

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Being in an angry or fearful state of mind do not set us up well for a good night sleep.

Instead, whenever possible, choose love and forgiveness.

Some ideas to help:

1. Instead of getting into that silly argument with your spouse, recognize it for what it is and let it go. Remember all the kind things he did for this past weekend for Mother’s Day… choose love.

2. Things from the past, release.

3. Affirm:

I Am safe

I Am love

In Peace,

Debra

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I think for many of us who are people pleasers or introverted, it can be very difficult to simply ask for what we want.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

1. Your significant other informs you on a regular basis that he/she can’t read your mind.

2. You are underemployed or rightfully employed but just not earning the level of salary you think you deserve because you haven’t asked for it.

3. You put others’ needs before your own.

At the lovely age that I find myself now (45) I have come to this conclusion:

It is essential to be kind but we don’t have to be “nice” all the time. Our needs and desires count too. This is a hard message for people pleasers, I know..(I am one).

We can ask for what we want!

A few ideas to try to flex your assertiveness muscle just a bit:

1. When ordering at a restaurant, simply order what looks good to you. Don’t ask your dinner companions what they are getting, just order what you want (with confidence)!

2. Negotiate a pay raise with your employer. Remind them of all the benefits they enjoy by having you on their team.

3. Ask your spouse for what you want (in the bedroom, a date night, help with the house or kids, etc).

4. Be in charge of your kids. Set clear expectations with your kids (or students if you are a teacher) and expect them to meet them. Who is the adult anyway?

5. Give yourself permission to say “no”. Nice pleasing people have a tendency to say yes to things too quickly and then find themselves over committed to things they neither have the time, energy, or interest to follow up with. Life is just too short!

I will stop for now…

Have a lovely evening friends.

Debra

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Good morning! A little prayer to get this day started:

Dear God,

Thank you for another day. Thank you for my health. I want to do good today, God. Please help me to do and be my best.

Thank you. Amen

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Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music. ~William Stafford

17 gifts we can give our children:

1. Our time

2. Our unconditional love.

3. “tough love” at times. Children need limits and boundaries established.

4. Unstructured time to play

5. Age-appropriate jobs to learn responsibility

6. Meaningful praise

7. High expectations set for them

8. A safe environment to learn in and live in

9. Healthy food

10. Exercise

11. An appreciation for the outdoors

12. a financial education

13. being good role models by taking care of ourselves and nurturing our marriages

14. reminding ourselves that they are kids

15. helping them to think for themselves

16. teaching them how to fish rather than always giving them the fish

17. giving them room to fall but being close by to help them back up.

Whether we are a parent, grandparent or other family member, a teacher, coach, minister, neighbor, or citizen of a community:

we all have an impact on our impressionable children.

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. ~Stacia Tauscher

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Many people struggle to fall asleep, often complaining that they can’t turn their brain off. Anxiety and stress are major causes of insomnia. This is why it is so essential to create a relaxing bedtime routine to help you fall asleep quickly.
Let Go Of Your Worries

When lying in bed, many people end up thinking about things rather than falling asleep. It can be difficult to ignore these worries, which is why it is essential to acknowledge them. Try to keep a journal solely for writing down any concerns and worries. This allows you to problem solve during the day, rather than fretting over things at night.
Take Time to Wind Down

Making the transition to sleep time can be difficult. Using the same activities to wind down before bed each night helps to signal your body that it is time for sleep. Try to start this routine about 30 to 60 minutes before you plan to go to bed. These activities should not include light. This is because one of the ways the body differentiates between night and day is by the amount of light. Activities like watching TV and using the computer will actually wake your brain up, rather than relaxing you. Good bedtime activities include reading a book, taking a warm bath, and listening to classical music.
Try Relaxation Exercises

If you still have trouble relaxing after trying the previous suggestions, relaxation exercises may be a good option. These can be especially helpful for individuals with anxiety. One of the best options is deep breathing. Try to take deep breathes that involve your abdomen as slowly as possible. You can visualize a peaceful place while doing this if you desire. Progressive muscle relaxation is another option for easing tension. For this exercise, contract and release each of your muscles, working from one end of the body to the other.

If you are looking for more options to help better your quality of life, you might wish to consider accredited online colleges.

Sources

HelpGuide.org (2012)

Psych Central (2012)

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