tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20410002961912676212024-02-20T02:33:09.422-07:00Transformation: Creating an Exceptional Life by Gale O'BrienLearn how setting an intention to live allowed me to emerge with a new attitude toward food, fitness, relationships, time management, work and spirituality. Enjoy thought-provoking articles, life giving resources, essential oil tips, and delicious recipes for keeping you healthy and happy!Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-85256546227666794532018-11-18T21:59:00.008-07:002020-09-15T12:27:18.890-06:005 Habits of Successful People<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif">I'm pleased to share an article with you this month by one of my mentors, Jack Canfield. A few years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Jack in person at his home in Santa Barbara for a two day author conference. He gave me a copy of </span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif"><a href="https://amzn.to/2RLR80o" style="color: #6dc6dd; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="color: mediumblue;">The Success Principles: How To Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be</span></a></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif"> which has become a mainstay on my nightstand. Have you ever wondered what makes some people successful while others flounder? Find out below what are the daily habits of successful people.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">The most successful people in the world did not arrive there by accident. Truly successful people, whether they are millionaires or have just found their true life purpose and get to enjoy living it every day, are in that position for a specific reason: <em>their habits</em>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">You can work, and work, and work at becoming successful until you are completely burned out. But if you don’t develop the specific daily habits of successful people, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get there. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I’m going to share 5 of these successful habits, and I hope you’ll consider integrating them into your life.</span></span></div>
<h1 style="background-color: white; color: #165083; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1) Successful People Believe in Themselves</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">If you’re going to be successful in creating the life of your dreams, you have to <a href="http://jackcanfield.com/blog/how-to-believe-in-yourself/" style="color: #45a9df; text-decoration-line: none;">believe that you are capable</a> of making it happen. Believing in yourself is a choice.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5625; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Of the hundreds of super successful people I have interviewed throughout my career, almost every one of them told me, “I was not the most gifted or talented person in my field, but I chose to believe anything was possible. I studied, practiced, and worked harder than the others, and that’s how I got to where I am.” </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Successful people assume in favor of themselves and act as if achieving their goals is completely possible.<span></span></span></span></div><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #165083; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2) They Set Goals</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">Experts on the science of success have revealed that the brain is a goal-setting organism. And successful people know that if they give a goal to their subconscious mind, it will work night and day to achieve it. They set high goals that are both realistic and measurable, and they make an effort to work towards those goals every day.</span><br />
</span></div><h3 style="background-color: white; color: #165083; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">3) They Go the Extra Mile</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">Successful people know that if they want to really excel in business, school, and life, they have to go the extra mile. They give the people around them — their customers, team, family — more than is expected and, in return, they’re handsomely rewarded with loyalty, referrals, opportunity, and money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">They don’t focus on the “What’s In It For Me” policy. They don’t put stock in whether something is fair or whether they’ll be compensated or recognized for more effort. Instead, they focus on exceeding expectation, paying extra attention to detail, and providing quality work above all else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4) They Take Action</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">Successful people know that the world doesn’t pay you for what you know; it pays you for what you do. They make a point to create a vision, set goals, break them down into small steps, visualize and affirm their success, believe in themselves, and then get out there and go for it. They are keenly aware of the fact that nothing happens until they take action.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">When you take action, you trigger all kinds of things that will inevitably carry you to success. You begin to learn things from your experiences that cannot be learned from listening to others or from reading books. And you begin to attract others who will support and encourage you.</span></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #165083; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">5) They Practice Appreciation</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">Successful people know that when they show appreciation to the people in their lives — such as their employees, loved ones, or colleagues — they not only make those people feel better, but they themselves feel better and more successful. This is one of the biggest factors in <a href="http://jackcanfield.com/blog/how-to-be-successful-when-success-is-slow/" rel="noopener" style="color: #45a9df; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">how people become successful</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;">The fact is, people are more likely to help you achieve your goals if they believe that you appreciate their efforts. There is no downside to this. Appreciation costs nothing, and no one has ever complained about being over-appreciated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Keeping these 5 habits in mind, I want to leave you with a bit of homework to complete. Write down 2 of the habits that I listed above that you feel you can — and should — incorporate into your day-to-day life. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">To hold yourself accountable, leave a comment below with the habits you plan on adopting. I’ll follow up with you to make sure you’re staying on track!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand <em><strong>Chicken Soup for the Soul</strong></em><em><strong><strong>®</strong></strong></em>and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: <a href="http://www.freesuccessstrategies.com/" style="color: #45a9df;">www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com</a></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-46897423851808088842018-10-12T21:15:00.001-06:002020-09-15T12:18:17.044-06:00The Value of Friendships<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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According to the Mayo clinic, friendships enrich our lives and improve our health. They increase our sense of belonging and purpose. Friendships can boost our happiness and reduce our stress. They not only improve our self-confidence and self-worth, they also help us cope with traumas.</span></div>
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<img class="CToWUd a6T" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj2OuGdR0i0rMpsLV-RgNsB4lGy1ynXgRfVpFnqrX_PS7VDi4D_uCcBhw6D83UiDDQ-Nscgu3uintlG1J-a6z5wiO1sWT9uXkUH9TxHR-oXULY7ZFlNPNDcwZL1NoKpVOlij4KaZNlsu0AlbBQfoE0j9jxZ8meflkYAsd2LlWS1V7ge-CZSRI-xGfzmlGYMqNh0aF4o5iHDY2UZcg-yXKPDKwBDJ0bniQ=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: 112px; margin: 0px 8px 5px 0px; outline: none; width: 150px;" tabindex="0" width="320" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">A couple of weeks ago, I flew to the Southwest for two reunions with friends - one with the surviving women from my breast cancer support group and the other with my “Sunday Sistas” from the East Mountains. We had a fabulously fun weekend of wine tasting, good food, spa time, and lots of laughs. </span></div>
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<img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEifcCOYFXEE2iWdylkrPZuj02KAiP9ZllElu42Jj16pimGfwMbweHHy8SFRJ2IPRaEmlZsUm9tpVsZvrPG4djUkELiObabZwocH8e763kbAO1wyj1WgSsEHwsyTILjIUrJHkAATnSMUNVJxhPtZuWMTUcYKf3eO1X7b206PCELWeFh6qocY_NhGaXYbSCzQ9jsCxltZrXP9vC_lfeXTy8zYiskSKuNz5A=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 8px 5px 0px; outline: none; width: 150px;" tabindex="0" width="240" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I found these two groups of friends when I was going through some of the worst times of my life ~ my divorce and my cancer diagnosis. These women are true friends who stand by you through good times and hard times.</span></div>
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Real friends are hard to come by. I've lived all over this country from Georgia to Hawaii to Maryland to New Mexico to California. I've met many people through college, military life, single parenthood, corporate life, church, education, and everyday life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;"><img class="CToWUd a6T" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjmLxBps-hWmtxTlF-r6cOMoCt7aoHtl2aji8CwAMZwvcMgifTUNEm6Og-ZmdbqN7aVnlRi8NQburSOpClb7HSVSgGsS68zMmc8ZWNaR6_pg6Igc0z7u1Ehev0smRkvwdRWEmx9XFfmkCLThQxUPClMbLU5q-gS_Htki3FSJo5uPmPeNwxtfrlysqhaR763-3jwAMZzWhl9I5UrQVeWRA3AF5zPj9sQQw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: 112px; margin: 0px 8px 5px 0px; outline: none; width: 150px;" tabindex="0" width="150" /></span>I've made a lot of friends and I've lost some, too. Through it all, I’ve learned the value that friendships bring to my life. Friends keep you balanced when the rest of your world feels like it's spinning out of control. What I know now more than anything else, is to cherish my friendships!</span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-78542127281414972702018-09-09T21:41:00.001-06:002020-09-15T12:19:09.974-06:00What Would You Do For A Good Night Sleep?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">The benefits of using essential oils are far-reaching including aging gracefully, sleep management, skin and body care, natural household cleaners, and total wellness. Many people have asked me how I use essential oils in my own life so I've dedicated this month's newsletter to natural solutions for a healthy life. Below is my daily and weekly regimen:<br /><br /><strong><u>Morning</u></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Shower with <strong>DoTERRA Salon Essentials</strong> hair care and <strong>DoTERRA Spa</strong> products.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Use <strong>DoTERRA Coconut Oil</strong> as moisturizer for the whole body.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Brush my teeth with <strong>OnGuard</strong> <strong>Toothpaste</strong>.</span></span></span></li>
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<span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;"><u><strong>Breakfast</strong></u></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Drink (2) cups of water with (1) drop <strong>OnGuard p</strong>rotective blend to stay clear of any germs and (1) drop <strong>Lemon</strong> essential oil to alkalize my body.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Take the <strong>Lifelong Vitality Pack</strong> supplements - (1) capsule each of Alpha CRS+, xEO Mega, and Micro Plex VMz, along with (1) capsule <strong>Bone Nutrient Lifetime Complex</strong>.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Eat a healthy, well balanced breakfast.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Apply <strong>Spa Lip Balm</strong> to lips.</span></span></span></li>
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<span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;"><u><strong>Mid-Morning</strong></u></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Drink (2) cups of water with (2) drops <strong>Orange</strong> essential oil.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Eat fresh fruit.</span></span></span></li>
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<span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;"><u><strong>Lunch</strong></u></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Drink (2) cups of water with (2) drops <strong>Tangerine</strong>essential oil.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Eat a healthy, well balanced lunch.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Take one <strong>Peppermint beadlet</strong> to freshen my breath.</span></span></span></li>
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<span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;"><u><strong>Mid-Afternoon</strong></u></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Drink (2) cups of water with (2) drops <strong>Lime</strong> essential oil.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Eat fresh fruit.</span></span></span></li>
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<span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;"><u><strong>Dinner</strong></u></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Drink (2) cup of water with <strong>Lemon</strong> essential oil.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Eat a healthy, well balanced dinner.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Take the <strong>Lifelong Vitality Pack</strong> supplements - (1) capsule each of Alpha CRS+, xEO Mega, and Micro Plex VMz, along with (1) capsule <strong>Bone Nutrient Lifetime Complex</strong>.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;"><u><strong>Bedtime</strong></u></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Brush my teeth with <strong>OnGuard</strong> <strong>Toothpaste</strong>.</span></span></span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span face=""roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: right;">Clean my house with <strong>OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate</strong>.</span></span></span></li>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-53498211986611362482018-09-09T21:18:00.002-06:002020-09-15T12:19:46.589-06:00What Has to Happen for You to Live an Authentic Life?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif" style="color: black;">Have you recently experienced a major life change such as the end of a long-term relationship, a major health crisis or even coming to terms with the fact that you’re now an empty nester?</span><span style="color: black;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">And while you have every right to feel sad, lonely and abandoned – perhaps, even stuck and feel like your life is falling apart - you don’t have to stay in that emotional space.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif"><strong>I’ve been there many times in my life, and I’m here to tell you that you can absolutely experience happiness again.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><img data-file-id="2797625" height="133" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/366b903275c78c9df6b0f50f3/images/a0188f39-2563-4c2d-b458-6db418e793a2.jpeg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: 133px; margin: 0px 8px 3px 0px; outline: none; width: 200px;" width="200" />You can reignite the spark within you and live a fully engaged life. No matter how hopeless if feels, you can manage your health issues, and you can embrace a new relationship or career that is one hundred percent in alignment with the authentic you.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;">I empower women just like you who may be in the throes of a major life transition to connect to their strengths and not only define, but begin to live their new life story.<br /><br />It's not only possible . . . it's your destiny. Let's empower you to create a new exceptional life filled with joy and happiness! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: navy;"><strong>Click <a href="https://calendly.com/galeo/30-minutes-with-gale" target="_blank">here</a> to register for a Complimentary Discovery Breakthrough Session with Coach Gale.</strong></span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-91792538396231395812017-03-13T19:00:00.003-06:002020-09-15T12:30:07.220-06:00Life's A Trip . . . I'm Thrilled To Be A Guide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>By Michelle Woodward, guest blogger</b><br /><br />Life is a trip. There are over 7 billion of us humans having multidimensional experiences on this alive, blue-green ball spinning through space among over 100 billion galaxies in this Universe. Whaaaaat? How do we do life successfully, with self-expression, creativity and love and live the life we feel called to? Well THAT is exactly what I have been curious about the majority of my life! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">My way into this life experience was through an affair my birth mother had. The complex circumstances around her life and the relationship were not good. The pregnancy I was coming in on was almost terminated until an Angel came to my birth mother in a dream and told her I had to be born. </span></span></div><div class="p1"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">She was so moved by the dream; the next day she took action to arrange for an adoption. I was adopted at 3 months of age. My young family life was impacted by trauma and drama due to alcoholism, addiction, abuse, religious hypocrisy, patriarchy, misogyny, cancer, lack of education, poverty and more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">At age three I knew more than anyone that age should apparently know. The neighborhood adults named me CIA. I was encouraged to “keep my mouth shut” after a while. I knew I was different and couldn’t make sense of the life choices, attitudes, habits, addictions others were experiencing. I had an insatiable appetite to uncover the secrets and explanations so I could live the way I envisioned separate from the doctrine, limitations and impact of their ways. <br /><br />No sugar-coating it, the first 20+ years of my life were hard. I was highly sensitive, psychic, intuitive, and empathetic in a pretty violent world that I didn’t understand. I knew I had to find a way to heal the wounds, change the patterns and develop conscious relationships that actually worked. I set out on a quest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It’s ALL Energy! I’ve been actively exploring human potential, metaphysics, mysticism and energetic medicine for over 25 years now. I saw similar threads throughout cultures, religions and esoteric wisdom traditions. Then I continued onto cultural anthropology, cosmology, Angels, neuroscience, quantum physics, non-physical phenomena and more. The more I would learn and encounter the more excited I would become at the awareness that at the root of it ALL is ENERGY! I could work with this basic element! </span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">During my 20’s I tried various conventional therapy methods to overcome this annoying discomfort I had in my stomach and the destructive patterns I would repeat in my life based on a belief that I was unworthy and unlovable. I suspected it stemmed from my adoption but not matter how long I participated in therapy it never scratched the itch. NOT EVEN close. The integrative MD that helped me become symptom free from fibromyalgia (oh yeah I had autoimmune disease too) referred me to a colleague who has since become my mentor. This was my introduction to Energy Medicine and Emotional Release. Instantly she identified the issue - not only on a conscious level but the unconscious informed the conscious – It was AWESOME! She guided me to clear trapped emotions and after the session I felt lighter, the world was brighter and more Technicolor. I had a resurgence of energy that had been missing in my life and spirit. I had to know more and understand this and share this with the world and help those that I could along the way! <br /><br />I experience working on the energetic level as a roundabout way that bypasses our conscious resistance. The intuition feels the spot, the coach in me names it and the energy practitioner in me helps guide you through the process so that we walk away from our connection feeling clear, empowered and supported with practical tools and next steps.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">One of my favorite parts of coaching is when we look at who you are and why you are here on an energetic level – many of us have bought into a less than true story of who we are and forgotten why we are here. It’s my honor to help you remember YOU are AWESOME and A MIRACLE!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUv-_aH1jbgGwjFM66JiBtKlpLkC1CN8ErhfxnT8WpwLIN7uHa45OwJWklwZkK_arDFZfubp-03aSJatA6dnokt__BjhD9lYjG2Bki6GlxsobnXO3-ns1fqnVTvjGetbkULB2cdiWGSdI/s1600/event.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUv-_aH1jbgGwjFM66JiBtKlpLkC1CN8ErhfxnT8WpwLIN7uHa45OwJWklwZkK_arDFZfubp-03aSJatA6dnokt__BjhD9lYjG2Bki6GlxsobnXO3-ns1fqnVTvjGetbkULB2cdiWGSdI/s1600/event.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I’m Thrilled to Be a Guide! In roundabout ways the Universe got me to The Coaches Training Institute so I would offer my newfound wisdom and gifts professionally. I have been a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) for over 13 years now and I LOVE IT! I am also a Reiki Master and I love energetic tools for transformation. I am a lifelong learner and use my life as a laboratory so I can share my ‘best of tips’ to help accelerate your evolution.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">One of my psychic gifts is that I am claircognizant which means I just know stuff. I have access like google. A few of my friends that know me well call me Mishoogle instead of Michelle. Even Gallop’s strength finder test identifies me as Connectedness, Strategic, Futuristic, Positivity, and Input (aka collect info). I collect information so that I can use it/share it in a meaningful way for a specific result/intention/transformation that uplifts humanity, making the world a better, kinder place expanding love and hope wherever I go. My clients benefit from this. <br /><br />The intentional and conscious living I offer is a fresh paradigm that returns your power and responsibility for your life. From this empowered place you can begin to reimagine what’s possible for your life as you begin to experience yourself as an energetic being, a soul having a physical experience on a planet Earth. When you know more about the field in which we are playing / evolving / doing this thing called life, you have more tools to craft the live you were born to live. Quickly meaning and priorities shift. Beliefs are examined and updated. The inner calling of your soul is suddenly audibly louder. You realize you are not alone on this journey through the synchronicity that appears. You are reminded the universe is a benevolent multidimensional place. Once the basis of energy is understood you engage in the ART OF TRANSFORMATION which has endless possibilities!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Come adventure into the world of subtle energy with me! I offer private coaching and energy intuitive work in-person (Kirkland, WA), Skype and phone. Visit <a href="http://www.everydayalchemy.me/">www.everydayalchemy.me</a> for workshops, classes and events or contact Michelle Woodward at 425.230.7799 or wow@everydayalchemy.me</span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-41731956697617628672017-02-15T00:36:00.002-07:002020-09-15T12:20:47.751-06:00Can You Tap, Tap, Tap Your Troubles Away?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">By John Freedom, guest blogger</span></b><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbYIbhEviSsnG1wBvVFBkIIynrGbzQ1ICg22H29nv8HiQFLTQL0icyVZXP0q1cYkQ4niBwKY7u7vPglbvx8UFwMTj5iHiBQGByH1IhDI0uFwJNgCvtNel3FkgRKOHK4Nncu6ClkfMaes/s1600/Heal+Yourself+-+Final+Cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbYIbhEviSsnG1wBvVFBkIIynrGbzQ1ICg22H29nv8HiQFLTQL0icyVZXP0q1cYkQ4niBwKY7u7vPglbvx8UFwMTj5iHiBQGByH1IhDI0uFwJNgCvtNel3FkgRKOHK4Nncu6ClkfMaes/s200/Heal+Yourself+-+Final+Cover.jpg" width="130" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">EFT Tapping is gaining in popularity in self-help, personal growth and alternative health. You may have seen it on Oprah or Dr. Oz or The View on television or YouTube. Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, is a revolutionary new method for rapidly resolving emotional distress and trauma, simply by tapping acupoints. It has become an internet phenomenon, as thousands of people around the world are tapping to relieve aches and pains, fears and phobias, anxiety and depression, and traumas and PTSD. Tapping is also being used to lose weight, eliminate food and drug cravings, enhance peak performance and build greater confidence and self-esteem. EFT has been called ‘the people’s therapy,’ because it is a simple, self-healing technique that anyone can do. It’s also always available --- literally at our finger tips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In my opinion, EFT is one of the breakthroughs in psychology and personal growth of our time. One of the leaders in this field, Dr. Dawson Church, has said that “EFT is probably one of the most important developments in personal growth, since the Buddha taught meditation.” It can be helpful to recognize that all issues ---- even legal, financial and medical ---- are emotional issues. By gently tapping acupoints while focusing on the fear, stress or ‘resistance,’ the issue gently releases and shifts ----- often with profound results.</span><br />
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</span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I have been successfully treating people since I learned EFT in 1998. One student had bitten her nails every day for years ---- until she tapped with me in one of my classes for about 20 minutes. Another had a persistent stutter following a stroke 11 years earlier. Others had chronic back pain, shoulder pain, eczema, sciatica, panic attacks, etc. In one class three women had allergies ---- to cat dander, to flowers and to strawberries. All of these cleared up ---- permanently ----- after a few minutes of tapping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Dawson Church and colleagues conducted a research study treating 59 military vets with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). They treated the vets with tapping ---- over the telephone ------ using coaches (rather than licensed therapists). The group had an 86% success rate; these results held at a six month follow up. (You may know that PTSD is a HUGE issue for the servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan; some experts consider PTSD to be ‘incurable.’) Recent research studies are documenting EFT’s effectiveness for anxiety, depression, pain, food cravings, trauma and PTSD.</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Please note that EFT is not a panacea; as with any method or technique, results will vary. But it is a broad-spectrum technique, that is effective for a wide range of problems and issues. There are numerous books, articles, videos and websites teaching EFT. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.emofree.com/">www.emofree.com</a>, or <a href="http://www.eftuniverse.com/">www.eftuniverse.com</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddlzkqx-G8gAvHre2NSkBR3b_9lGuQBVMnRFjQGZqyQo2J0HKa-gYzWdjOHA5YyhjKyOPOukKKVft4pOehLiZYFyqijzJOFzUx1BpWPfIf_XcqjSz4iJqSLQsQToXg3wgMDU4h8VnCXY/s1600/Deutschland+Trip+August+2008.small.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddlzkqx-G8gAvHre2NSkBR3b_9lGuQBVMnRFjQGZqyQo2J0HKa-gYzWdjOHA5YyhjKyOPOukKKVft4pOehLiZYFyqijzJOFzUx1BpWPfIf_XcqjSz4iJqSLQsQToXg3wgMDU4h8VnCXY/s200/Deutschland+Trip+August+2008.small.jpg" width="170" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>John Freedom</b>, CEHP, is a counselor, educator and trainer in private practice in Santa Rosa, California. The author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yourself-Emotional-Freedom-Technique-Teach/dp/1444177184">Heal Yourself with Emotional Freedom Technique</a>, he serves as research coordinator for ACEP, the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology; and project coordinator for FREA, Finding Recovery and Empowerment from Abuse. He holds certifications in EFT, NLP, EMDR and auricular acupuncture, and specializes in helping clients experience greater success, happiness and high-level wellness in all areas of their lives. A former radio talk-show host and magazine editor, he leads seminars and trainings throughout the US and in Europe. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.johnfreedom.com/">www.JohnFreedom.com</a> and <a href="http://www.energypsych.org/">www.energypsych.org</a>.</span><br />
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-6103685001221080512017-01-29T17:14:00.001-07:002020-09-15T12:23:10.950-06:00Out with the Old, In with the New<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXGGo-1U98vpkYjBQ4fBvxtzBkj5hXgkT8KjFD37-QaSYWMWq_SZre0hPBATWlBWAwwXLhsMi_78yHlmIKkEJJIL_0d5p60JEN4Tzz0LOUi5iiXBiopHzi1GLcds1FZwOjsSkcpjJGvQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-01-14+at+6.22.58+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXGGo-1U98vpkYjBQ4fBvxtzBkj5hXgkT8KjFD37-QaSYWMWq_SZre0hPBATWlBWAwwXLhsMi_78yHlmIKkEJJIL_0d5p60JEN4Tzz0LOUi5iiXBiopHzi1GLcds1FZwOjsSkcpjJGvQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-01-14+at+6.22.58+PM.png" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">I friend recently asked me what I was working on. I told her I was clearing out the old and making room for the new. She responding, “Really, you’re doing your spring cleaning in January?” I told her yes, I was turning my business upside down, shaking out all the clutter and revamping everything. Why? It’s important to keep your business fresh and inviting at all times in order to attract new clients and to keep your current clients engaged in what you have to offer. It’s a process, but it can be invigorating if you plan it out over two weeks instead of doing it in one weekend. It goes beyond simply cleaning out your filing cabinet and reorganizing your rolodex. Here are my suggestions for keeping your business relevant:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><b>MAKE YOUR BUSINESS INCLUSIVE</b>. What is your target market? Is it the top 1% of income earners or can any person have access to your business? If you’re seeking only wealthy people, then your client base will stay small and limited. Make it inclusive of all people, regardless of social economic status, race, gender, or marital status and your business will grow. Take a hard look at your website and ask yourself, “Am I opening my doors to everyone? How is this reflected in the images and content on my site?”</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><b>KEEP CUSTOMERS COMING BACK</b>. I’m on the web about four or five hours a day. When I’m not working, I’m visiting other sites for information and resources. Some sites lack oxygen. They are not user-friendly or engaging. They make me want to leave, like right away. Here are some ways to keep people coming back to your site over and over again. Add new content and photos every week. Add a search bar. Add a ticker tape of relevant business news. Add your social media feed where visitors can read updates, posts, an articles about you and business. Add a contest or a sale to your home page. Keep your site moving and breathing. Make your site addicting. Give us a reason to check it one last time before we go to bed!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><b>POST TO SOCIAL MEDIA EVERY DAY</b>. Think TOMA = Top of Mind Awareness. To keep your name and your business at the top of everyone’s mind you must carve out 15 minutes EVERY day to post articles, photos, videos, inspirational quotes on each platform (Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn). If you can’t think of anything to post, then Retweet, Repost or Share other peoples/companies relevant posts. Be human and be engaging. Just post, post, post, post, post! Here’s a great article from Forbes to get you started:</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnrampton/2014/09/29/25-ways-to-grow-your-social-media-presence/#368276ab7512" target="_blank">25 Ways to Grow Your Social Media Presence</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><b>MAKE YOUR BUSINESS FAMOUS</b>. If you really want your business to be huge, then you must flip the switch in your head and decide to become famous. Become a non-stop marketing machine; no matter what, on good days and bad days you are working overtime to promote your name everywhere! You must never give up on “why” you start your business in the first place.</span></span></div>
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<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Press releases</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Television and radio interviews</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Motivational speaking</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Guest blog posts</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Online newsletters</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Email marketing</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Networking events</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Trade shows</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Facebook ads</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Business cards</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Affliate badges</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Google ads</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">National newspaper ads</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Car magnets</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">YouTube videos</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Write an eBook</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Create an App for your business</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Add your logo, book, or product in your email signature</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Add your logo on your return address labels, note pads, portfolio binders, pens, luggage tags</span></li>
<li><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Put your logo EVERYWHERE</span></li>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-17299581701681953632016-12-19T07:31:00.001-07:002020-09-15T12:21:06.838-06:00Holiday Triggers: Finding Gratitude in Both Good Times and Difficult Times<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="p1"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The holidays bring back so many wonderful memories from childhood such as decorating the Christmas tree as a family while sipping hot cocoa, piling into the Country Squire station wagon and driving around the neighborhoods to look at the holiday lights, and the unbelievable anticipation of what Santa might put under the tree come Christmas morning!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNdKHQJSA5rizD9S7vWSPL0ohVYFjVscj_CSTULD81luqsKupmnZriqEvGA3Xd63FIudl2tZfiGWSfDPpmb2xVzi8P1FB_S59-Jfx9Fcltv8OyuAbCbNmUZMqalXf2ekN2GXWeKnzgrY/s1600/Nov.2016.Gale.Wes.Brad.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNdKHQJSA5rizD9S7vWSPL0ohVYFjVscj_CSTULD81luqsKupmnZriqEvGA3Xd63FIudl2tZfiGWSfDPpmb2xVzi8P1FB_S59-Jfx9Fcltv8OyuAbCbNmUZMqalXf2ekN2GXWeKnzgrY/s320/Nov.2016.Gale.Wes.Brad.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_2973" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_2972" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_2971" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Even the sound of Mariah Carey’s holiday album playing or the scent of eggnog and gingerbread houses can take me all the way back to those sweet memories. A holiday-triggered reminder can also be bittersweet for some people especially if it brings up memories of a major life event such as the loss of a family member or job or a serious health crisis.</span></span></span></span><br />
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</span><a name='more'></a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_2977" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_2976" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_2975" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">I’ve had two such Christmas’ in which the unexpected happened and the joy of the holiday season suddenly turned upside down and I found myself on the verge of a major crisis. My firstborn son who arrived in January of 1990 was all smiles and beautiful blue eyes. He enlightened our lives in ways we never knew were possible. Then just eleven months later during a routine visit to the pediatrician’s office he was diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus. It was the third week in December when everyone else was busying themselves with shopping and holiday parties. A week later my newborn baby was being wheeled into the operating room for brain surgery on Christmas Eve! With the insertion of a shunt to drain the fluid off his brain, he survived and flourished, graduating from college and becoming a breaking news editor for a major newspaper.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Just five years later, my second son who had been quite colicky and sickly during his first years but nevertheless beloved suddenly became ill at preschool one December morning. I responded to the call and immediately went to the school to pick him up. Luckily, I was able to get him into the pediatrician office the same day but the appointment took a turn for the worse. After many tests and phone calls to specialists, the doctor delivered the news. My three-year-old son had Type-1 insulin-dependent diabetes and would need to be admitted to the hospital during Christmas week. He too survived and went on to graduate from college and become a gifted construction management project engineer.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_3015" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; line-height: 18.75px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_3014" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_3013" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1482157501074_3012" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Reminiscing reminds me that I’ve struggled through difficult times before and managed to thrive. Even though memories of sad times get triggered each year when I haul out the box of tree ornaments, I know that I also have good memories of Christmas so therefore I have the capacity to be happy again this holiday season. It’s with gratitude that I look forward to a fun-filled memorable visit with my healthy sons this Christmas!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">From My Home to Yours,</span></span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Happy Holidays!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-58599589472392840652016-11-13T15:54:00.001-07:002020-09-15T12:23:44.678-06:00Cherish Good Friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxms4jERsqe4xScGLBnSkA-j9xmXBwVENjLmR4QI0QTNFfQBxnVuf_BiF4z1Y-cHMHA4AdMAvQiFwIp1uAIGGKqk6YJep4usWJdvTqwPioMWcHzcKyuKM_oZa0mw_4KDqaTxeaCEPmkI/s1600/14566322_10210814317144168_76648374153594139_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxms4jERsqe4xScGLBnSkA-j9xmXBwVENjLmR4QI0QTNFfQBxnVuf_BiF4z1Y-cHMHA4AdMAvQiFwIp1uAIGGKqk6YJep4usWJdvTqwPioMWcHzcKyuKM_oZa0mw_4KDqaTxeaCEPmkI/s320/14566322_10210814317144168_76648374153594139_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A couple of weeks ago my "Sunday Sistas" came to visit me in Napa Valley. We had a fabulously fun weekend of wine tasting, good food, beach time, and lots of laughs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhmjjqQX8APDR47NMP9u8gl2wLk4gkOwlUXsU6fTxnPYCgB6poilKBENgzmOJJTBczFiiS_z5MRMg8ARfYpTXHhiXIiM07r5erRufDvWarWJGAMCqMeX8o_32O7tLw4lCkJ-7a7B5gGE/s1600/14680877_10210815887663430_6321173128067153417_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhmjjqQX8APDR47NMP9u8gl2wLk4gkOwlUXsU6fTxnPYCgB6poilKBENgzmOJJTBczFiiS_z5MRMg8ARfYpTXHhiXIiM07r5erRufDvWarWJGAMCqMeX8o_32O7tLw4lCkJ-7a7B5gGE/s320/14680877_10210815887663430_6321173128067153417_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">What started out as a group of church ladies blossomed into my best friends forever. We have been together through three divorces, two weddings, cancer, job losses, road trips, and one of them even turned into a biker chick! No matter what, we've stayed together through great times and hard times.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqyZhsvSZ3nB3WaAfIXFWv50WKfWGn5w9lp0pz4iiE9KesilRa9Cgq4FkT9I2io5IH18NLEqwqrJD7HjdnbK6ZrpYh-IBzKOokvMjaC5pNDrh6k6qGvYaR1yYxoyzFhoJVgRRlSktuK8/s1600/FFC.Rustic.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqyZhsvSZ3nB3WaAfIXFWv50WKfWGn5w9lp0pz4iiE9KesilRa9Cgq4FkT9I2io5IH18NLEqwqrJD7HjdnbK6ZrpYh-IBzKOokvMjaC5pNDrh6k6qGvYaR1yYxoyzFhoJVgRRlSktuK8/s320/FFC.Rustic.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Good friends are hard to come by. I've lived all over this country from Georgia to Hawaii to Maryland to New Mexico to California. I've met many people through college, military life, single parenthood, corporate life, politics and education. </span><br />
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</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0l4ZR3KrqkiCfROqyVOo4IR5frI72F0-Z-Vel2tzJxXgIrQwLUmORJ24OCCTqFXjvkyMJH2FUBVhN59ZXzAW5Y0N5cZfPhJGvmD3x6IkOZaJImIsYi3-KhNCr93dyFcluTCn2puLJqY/s1600/14680875_10210834311164006_8445023195305070287_o.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0l4ZR3KrqkiCfROqyVOo4IR5frI72F0-Z-Vel2tzJxXgIrQwLUmORJ24OCCTqFXjvkyMJH2FUBVhN59ZXzAW5Y0N5cZfPhJGvmD3x6IkOZaJImIsYi3-KhNCr93dyFcluTCn2puLJqY/s320/14680875_10210834311164006_8445023195305070287_o.jpg" width="283" /></span></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I've experienced diversity, prejudice, kindness, and love. I've made a lot of friends and I've lost some, too. Through it all, I've learned how to be a best friend by listening to them, showing up for them, hugging them and staying in touch with them. What I know now more than anything else, is to cherish my friendships!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><i>(photos by Marita Noon)</i></span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-82115350063168810712016-07-24T18:07:00.008-06:002020-09-15T12:34:48.562-06:00My Trip to New England<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcjRVYGGZCIPhfiHVeOrnl3xZnFk2DdB1jJRqkkhikLCcYDr6NO98u2jM7fk1X4V59fOWgJCErincqlKr3fyGRQHyNuPKXOrGOWgrl2DaxL3oB1slhbWkNnRgXKtn2SNNJOA7x3Rrehc/w200-h162/unnamed-4.jpg" width="200" /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-we03WHyusGdyJQQUC14fszNNTjMyGB5gZwC5PF-2hRdUo6RLailzwTNhwbOtYzJ9k9zekJkBA-_dhRXSq_RQq1zflXin2vuNo475mPiJd3K1KTcpesZ29EVh2SuNX6-krnRXksa12VI/s1600/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGK-UNI_KjSz10ms43D7AQyMeME-7LzKaICg8b2j-8dOr-Nfla6y6kAVlzYQWHwuYgh2VDpWj7jq3qEsDCo9xZffXPa8REpFA1aJO_PjgIFEkDNdmQwXmes0PSyi0xF0li4a6wEFhb50/s1600/unnamed-3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGK-UNI_KjSz10ms43D7AQyMeME-7LzKaICg8b2j-8dOr-Nfla6y6kAVlzYQWHwuYgh2VDpWj7jq3qEsDCo9xZffXPa8REpFA1aJO_PjgIFEkDNdmQwXmes0PSyi0xF0li4a6wEFhb50/w176-h200/unnamed-3.jpg" width="176" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-we03WHyusGdyJQQUC14fszNNTjMyGB5gZwC5PF-2hRdUo6RLailzwTNhwbOtYzJ9k9zekJkBA-_dhRXSq_RQq1zflXin2vuNo475mPiJd3K1KTcpesZ29EVh2SuNX6-krnRXksa12VI/s1600/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-we03WHyusGdyJQQUC14fszNNTjMyGB5gZwC5PF-2hRdUo6RLailzwTNhwbOtYzJ9k9zekJkBA-_dhRXSq_RQq1zflXin2vuNo475mPiJd3K1KTcpesZ29EVh2SuNX6-krnRXksa12VI/s1600/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Last month, I turned fifty-five. That's right, the big 55! It was a milestone birthday, but one that I will cherish forever. My son gave me a trip to New England to celebrate my birthday weekend. By heading north, we experienced a restful vacation without all the noise and city traffic from New York City.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">He planned a delightful itinerary complete with a visit to a cheese and maple farm in Vermont, an Irish Festival in Connecticut and the Magic Wings butterfly conservatory in Massachusetts. Sometimes we can only imagine how special a place could be until we see it in person. The memory of this time with my son will stay with me forever. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span>It reminded me of a question I often ask: Are you just existing from day to day or are you really exploring the passion for living a fully engaged life?</span></span></span></div></div>
Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-50464084059783206292016-05-06T00:08:00.002-06:002020-09-15T12:24:28.042-06:00Natural Alternatives for a Safer, Cleaner Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3lN3PQqwsx2aTqzODIJBZn3NiJmAYNqLGZ00Drr4INW-xTLeQIZ5lsQ-C7H5C0gEuqsXuaDl4-K5EEOqe2OfyuzeTLE3sp85lbIVimmVT-MAWEArdb2J-IAZzcg9-DKgKpoVTqT0s1M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-05-02+at+6.42.59+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3lN3PQqwsx2aTqzODIJBZn3NiJmAYNqLGZ00Drr4INW-xTLeQIZ5lsQ-C7H5C0gEuqsXuaDl4-K5EEOqe2OfyuzeTLE3sp85lbIVimmVT-MAWEArdb2J-IAZzcg9-DKgKpoVTqT0s1M/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-05-02+at+6.42.59+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, get rid of your commercial household cleaners. They are toxic. Like many of you, I've been the primary person doing the cleaning in my household. For decades, I breathed toxic chemicals from commercial cleaners until I was diagnosis with cancer in 2012. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Then I learned how easy and inexpensive it is to make my own homemade cleaners using essential oils, water, white vinegar, baking soda, and olive oil. Now I enjoy a fresh, clean house without the smell and residue of fragrances, phenols, formaldehyde, petroleum and other toxic chemicals.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Key essential oils for fighting germs and keeping your home clean:</span></b></span></div>
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<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Lemon - polishes chrome and dissolves sticky residue</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Rosemary - refreshes musty smelling laundry and washing machines</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Eucalyptus - add to washing machine to rid bedding of dust mites</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Thyme - mist on counter tops, toilets and door knobs to keep germs away.</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Oregano - add to toilet bowl water and germ-ridden laundry loads</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Peppermint - mist to deters spiders and ants</span></li>
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<span class="s1"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Use essential oils that are sourced from expert growers committed to meeting the highest quality standards. <a href="https://www.mydoterra.com/galeobrien/#/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #073763;">doTERRA's oils</span></b></a> are 100% pure and contain zero fillers, pesticides, chemicals, or artificial ingredients. In addition, they are certified to have the correct chemical composition to achieve desired results.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><b>*Tip: </b>Be sure to store your homemade cleaners in glass bottles. <a href="https://www.aromatools.com/8_oz_Blue_Glass_Bottle_with_Black_Trigger_Spray_p/9176k.htm" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0c343d;">Aromotools.com</span></a><b style="color: #073763;"> </b>offers a good selection at affordable prices.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEXJdxRpCelmgHHpRVkuUilF9cNVb7W3KdfBYmTn8G-dgxeTLpwlS1ArN_EDHjEPazbr23HX-5IfjyGtjVldLJij1RTkSH1K4iV9kiEr77Yc-bmXzhRe61uSNmEYrXIHlv4FrNViTt8g/s1600/imgres.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEXJdxRpCelmgHHpRVkuUilF9cNVb7W3KdfBYmTn8G-dgxeTLpwlS1ArN_EDHjEPazbr23HX-5IfjyGtjVldLJij1RTkSH1K4iV9kiEr77Yc-bmXzhRe61uSNmEYrXIHlv4FrNViTt8g/s200/imgres.jpg" width="200" /></span></span></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">My favorite resource for household cleaning recipes is <span style="color: #0c343d;"><a href="https://www.aromatools.com/Essential_Cleaning_Tips_p/9013.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0c343d;">Essential Cleaning Tips</span></b></a> </span>by Christine Maslanka. She includes easy-to-follow recipes for air freshener, furniture polish, window cleaner, countertop disinfectant, floor and carpet cleaners, and more.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10872633" target="_blank"><span style="color: #073763;">Respiratory Toxicity from Dryer She</span><span style="color: #0c343d;">ets</span></a></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">DIY wool dryer balls are a natural alternative to fabric softener and toxic dryer sheets. Click on the link above to find out why so many people are making the switch for health reasons. Then follow this <a href="https://doterra.com/US/en/blog/diy-article-blog-spotlight-dryer-balls" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>step-by-step tutorial</b> </span></a>to make your own 100% natural wood dryer balls that can last for many years.</span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-27437582702385056402016-01-30T14:25:00.001-07:002020-09-15T12:24:42.516-06:00Valentines Shortbread Cookies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kcK3AVK4jKfOP85tewJpL1ikx7RUOjbudI2NZ3KrzLc-DIwmU4tCVhWxM-XDirMwWMQDBxvhg6ucykS0x5MqwegfHNg1_1CxqcWWYedRcMjBlRm7UAUwKsDxEk1DzdMgTjkI38zW4qs/s1600/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kcK3AVK4jKfOP85tewJpL1ikx7RUOjbudI2NZ3KrzLc-DIwmU4tCVhWxM-XDirMwWMQDBxvhg6ucykS0x5MqwegfHNg1_1CxqcWWYedRcMjBlRm7UAUwKsDxEk1DzdMgTjkI38zW4qs/s200/unnamed.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Instead of giving your sweetheart the traditional box of chocolates and a card on Valentine<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.48px;"><span class="s2">’</span><span class="s1">s Day, try something more creative. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.48px;"><span class="s1">Here's a delicious sugar-free way to use your essential oils to make an aroma-filled treat your honey will always remember. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.48px;"><span class="s1"><span><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Ingredients:</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">1 cup and 2 Tablespoons butter, room temperature</span></span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">1/2 cup baking stevia (Truvia brand)</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">2 cups flour</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">1 cup semolina (found in baking isle of grocery store)</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">2 drops pure peppermint essential oil</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><b>Directions:</b></span></div>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWA8Iy-ZTs9e2-zgdcUsIo2ZqE8_9wJU7z-RK0UBeZIEPg1RgXOwndU4ktBZUt5rfCeBoTMDOtew5YRVOnltYCdFY-9VoH_ibqbPS8lax8Etf1Hj6sVOahPuUwDB_SnTZPz_PvHyh3JU/s1600/unnamed-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"></span></a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Beat butter and stevia together until creamy. Sift flour and semolina together, then add to the butter mixture. Mix well. Then add peppermint essential oil. Mix once more.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWA8Iy-ZTs9e2-zgdcUsIo2ZqE8_9wJU7z-RK0UBeZIEPg1RgXOwndU4ktBZUt5rfCeBoTMDOtew5YRVOnltYCdFY-9VoH_ibqbPS8lax8Etf1Hj6sVOahPuUwDB_SnTZPz_PvHyh3JU/s1600/unnamed-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWA8Iy-ZTs9e2-zgdcUsIo2ZqE8_9wJU7z-RK0UBeZIEPg1RgXOwndU4ktBZUt5rfCeBoTMDOtew5YRVOnltYCdFY-9VoH_ibqbPS8lax8Etf1Hj6sVOahPuUwDB_SnTZPz_PvHyh3JU/s1600/unnamed-1.jpg" /></span></a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><span><br /></span>
<span>Gather the dough together into a ball. Put it inside of plastic baggie (gallon size). Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes. </span></span></div>
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<span>Later, take the dough out of the refrigerator and let set for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Then cover your baking stone with parchment paper. Find your heart-shaped cookie cutters. Roll your dough out using a floured rolling pin. Using your cookie cutters, punch out heart-shaped cookies from your dough. Space the raw cookies out on your baking stone, four across and three down. </span></span></div>
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<span>Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the stone from the oven and let cookies cool for 1 minute. Then using a spatula remove them carefully and transfer to a cooling rack. Cool for 20 minutes, then store them in an air tight container. Enjoy!</span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-70209826884428493882016-01-30T14:12:00.000-07:002017-12-12T20:13:07.904-07:00What Big Pharma Isn't Telling You About Opioids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Jamie DeNovo, guest blogger</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pain, Pain, Go Away. It Seems As Though You’re Here To Stay…</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Depending on which statistics you believe, the foregoing sentiment is echoed by 50 to 100 million U.S. adults who suffer with chronic pain. I’m I live with chronic back pain, my with husband shoulder and knee pain, and my adult son with severe chronic back and knee pain.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are alive in North America, chances are you or someone you love also copes with severe pain every day. Life doesn’t stop. Work, school, home and family responsibilities, social life and even recreation are essential to maintain any kind of quality of life. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unsurprisingly then, in a world of fast fixes, never enough time and expensive alternative treatment, pain killer addiction has become epidemic in North America and is taking a growing toll on society in every aspect from family life to school and career to crime escalation. June 2015 Time magazine called it "the worst addiction crisis America has ever seen.” Drugs such as codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine and oxycodone top the list for addictive pain killers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1">While working with foremost behavioral neuroscientist, Dr. Kolb to develop processes for building mental I.M.Possible Muscle, I became aware of how vulnerable the everyday person is to having a make a bad situation worse via prescription. Many doctors have become unintentional creators of addicts, themselves being unaware of the limitations and dangers of prescription pain killers because, as opined by CNN’s Bob Beckel, “.</span><span class="s2"><i>.they simply don't have the education to know better.”</i></span><span class="s1"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While this article is not intended to tell anyone what medical choices to make, it does offer insights into how we often blindly entrust our lives to the tender mercies of the pharmaceutical industry.</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to clinical researcher, psychotherapist Eric L.Garland, <i>“Decades of neuropsycho pharmacological research on opioids, chronic pain and addiction point to the sobering notion that, for vulnerable individuals, long-term opioid pharmacotherapy may create as many problems as it solves…</i> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consequently, new interventions are needed to effectively address key cognitive–affective mediators of the risk chain from chronic pain to opioid misuse and addiction.” </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ways Pain Killers Can Wreak Havoc With Your Brain</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Garland’s white paper goes on to demonstrate how long term opioid use wreaks havoc with brain functions, escalating with increased use. Research reveals that long term and overuse of pain pills can: </span></span></div>
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<li class="li3"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">Lead to misuse to self-medicate negative emotions</span></span></li>
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<li class="li3"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">Wreak havoc with normal brain functioning </span></span></li>
<li class="li3"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">Create hypervigilance for and sustained attention to pain, increasing its aversive quality</span></span></li>
<li class="li3"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">Undermine your system’s ability to enjoy natural rewards like food, sex or social connection. </span></span></li>
<li class="li3"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">Catalyze sympathetic nervous system activation, arousing heightened stress responses and of course, muscle tension. </span></span></li>
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I.M.Possible Muscle Brain Training: MORE Skills for Less Drugs</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good news, and what most doctors won’t learn from pharmaceutical manufacturers, is that behavioral science researchers are coming up with alternative multimodal interventions for healthier, long term results. The foremost of these is a cognitive training program called MORE. Initial results suggest that MORE is a promising, non-opioid option for treating chronic pain and decreasing the risk of opioid misuse. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>J<span style="font-size: x-small;">amie DeNovo, </span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;">is an author, visionary entrepreneur, speaker and passionate agent for positive change. Under the tutelage of one of the world’s foremost and influential neuroscientists, Dr. Bryan Kolb, Jamie created the I.M.Possible muscle paradigm for brain change, and established her place as pioneer in the field of personal and collective mental barrier breakthrough. Jamie is originator of concepts such as <i>I.M.Possible</i>,<i> I.M.Possible Muscle, The One Sock Process</i> and <i>Optimal Victory</i>. </span></span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-66590685713213846772016-01-17T20:08:00.002-07:002020-09-15T12:24:57.654-06:00Feng Shui Cures for the Winter Blues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><b>By Carol M. Olmstead, guest blogger</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;">Do you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also know as the winter blues? Or maybe you're experiencing a case of cabin fever? This kind of winter lethargy zaps your energy so all you want to do is crawl back into bed or eat chocolate all day. Even people living in sunny climates can experience the negative effects of the shorter winter days. Fortunately, Feng Shui can come to the rescue. Try these five tips to beat the winter blues: </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><b>1. Let There Be Light.</b> Keep your lights on, even during the daytime, and consider replacing your current bulbs with full-spectrum versions that simulate natural daylight. You can also vary your light source to help raise your spirits, combining overhead, task, and floor lighting. Try turning off the overhead fluorescents in your office and bring in desk and floor lamps as alternatives. If you still have any of those CFL fluorescent ("corkscrew) light bulbs around, replace them because their harsh energy is damaging to your health in general and their glare is especially negative if you suffer from SAD.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><b>2. Light a Fire.</b> Surround yourself with the light, yang energy of Fire Element colors like reds and oranges to warm up your surroundings and lift your spirits. Avoid surrounding yourself with blues, grays, or blacks that represent dark, yin energy. If you have a fireplace use it as often as possible, and if you don't have one, burn candles to counteract the darker days and long winter nights. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><b>3. Soar to New Heights.</b> Add a few new tall objects to your décor to symbolize upward growth, including tall plants, floor lamps, or high bookcases. Add accessories in fabrics with vertical stripes and upward botanical patterns that will pull up your spirits, and avoid horizontal patterns that represent <i>status quo</i> rather than growth. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><b>4. Clear Clutter.</b> Clearing clutter is always a good Feng Shui recommendation, but it's especially important when you suffer from SAD or winter blues because a clutter-free environment represents moving smoothly forward toward a clear future. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia;"><b>5. Heat Up Your Menu.</b> Cook up some hearty stews and use spicy seasonings liberally to activate the Fire Element in your food. Serve your meals on red or orange plates and bowls to add even more Fire to your menu. Avoid eating cold foods during the winter month, and start to bring them back gradually as the days get longer. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Carol M. Olmstead</b>, FSIA, is a Feng Shui Practitioner, critically-acclaimed author, and dynamic speaker. She specializes in helping you attract wealth, harmony, love, and much more. Through her company, Feng Shui For Real Life, Carol provides residential consulting and office and business consulting and conducts Feng Shui workshops and trainings nationwide. For more information visit <a href="http://www.fengshuiforreallife.com/"><span style="color: #444444;">www.FengShuiForRealLife.com</span></a>.</span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-71344570404030725372016-01-06T20:07:00.000-07:002017-12-12T20:26:37.144-07:00Chaos or Calm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>By Susan B. Mead, guest blogger</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5VHK02GQuy6uiMrIbgiw0zobKeHHPD79bSXXV_IyZO-ykHf3uSaK7r5xXaWZW0zD1mqnbioX6MpqxCQoJQJviKODCsJXDOjSuqLlsKsFbgTKhGFn_HBvk5ZcdyD4mV4EhJogcRqY0LI/s1600/Chaos+or+Calm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5VHK02GQuy6uiMrIbgiw0zobKeHHPD79bSXXV_IyZO-ykHf3uSaK7r5xXaWZW0zD1mqnbioX6MpqxCQoJQJviKODCsJXDOjSuqLlsKsFbgTKhGFn_HBvk5ZcdyD4mV4EhJogcRqY0LI/s200/Chaos+or+Calm.jpg" width="200" /></span></span></a><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was I thinking?! How did I get so over committed? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you ever been there and done that? You’ve committed to so much, you can’t fit it all in? I can only imagine… </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So many of us are stretched so thin during the holiday season. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So how do we find calm when we are over committed?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Refocus on what matters and let the lower priority things go, with an apology, if needed. Here’s what I say. Try it yourself! </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“I’m so sorry, I simply can’t give it the proper attention it deserves right now.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please think of me next time.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During this season, I must remember what’s the reason I celebrate. Is it Santa or Christ’s birth? </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I remember Jesus IS the gift and the ultimate gift-giver, calm comes my way. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To find calm in the chaos, I refocus, say the name of Jesus Christ, and let His peace permeate my heart and mind. Chaos or Christ – what will you – and I – choose?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Put your to do list aside for a few moments to simply be. If it’s too long, let it go. Why? Stuff gets dusty, broken, discarded or replaced, yet people matter. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God’s word tells us to be still and know He is God. He’s a good, good God who loves us, each one of us, eternally.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So call a friend. Hug your spouse, if you have one, or your daughter, son, niece, nephew, mom, dad, favorite aunt or uncle, gramma or granddad. Or call your very best friend in the world. Reach out to someone who matters to you. Tell them you love them. And BE.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That’s how I find calm in the chaos of life. Let stuff go and love people. And I thank God for each one of them in my life. Try it! </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’m praising Him for you right now. May your day be blessed, calm, lovely and a true gift from God. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah to each of my Jewish friends.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you celebrate a different religion, I respect that. Thanks for your respect and for letting me say Merry Christmas. Hugs, Susan</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Susan B. Mead</b>, author, survivor, and an individual who has dealt with multiple losses, is an empathetic, powerful, sought-after speaker with <i>real answers.</i> Susan is a Senior Ordained Chaplain, Certified by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, for individuals and groups suffering trauma. Susan’s best-selling book <b><i>Dance with Jesus: From Grief to Grace,</i></b> is available nationwide.</span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-11104693897198484392015-11-29T18:43:00.001-07:002015-11-29T18:43:31.729-07:00Negative Consistency<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By Becky MacGregor, guest blogger</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s1"><b>Consistency </b>– <b><i>It’s the one thing you can count on to make a change. </i></b></span><span class="s2"><b><i>For better or for worse</i></b></span><span class="s1"><b><i>. If you do anything consistently you will get a result.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I usually harp on consistency as it relates to the positive: </span></span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">If you consistently go to an exercise class you will get stronger, see body changes and get results</span></span></li>
<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">If you consistently drink more water, cut hidden sugar and processed foods, and eat more vegetables and fruit - You will crave sugar less and feel better – You may even lose weight! </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s1"><b><i>Consistency is any reliable, steady, constant, unswerving action or </i></b></span><span class="s2"><b><i>NON</i></b></span><span class="s1"><b><i> action…</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can also consistently not go to class- not exercise-not choose to move more.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can consistently choose to eat poorly by not cutting portion size, buying sugar laden breakfast cereal, fake ‘energy’ bars, candy, or Doritos…</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>You can steadily, constantly choose negative behaviors</b>. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Over time those regular actions you choose will get a result</b> – The question is, what kind of result do you want? Fitness, health, an active life? Or, sickness, injury and an inactive life?</span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-717227668893917652015-11-12T21:25:00.000-07:002016-01-17T20:13:20.546-07:00How to Fix that Internal Skip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Qumram Taj, guest blogger</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the days before CD's and MP3's we had vinyl records. Considering that the technology that makes a record work is a stylus running along a tiny groove etched into a vinyl disk, the truly excellent sound it produces is amazing. In fact, thanks in large part to audiophiles the world over, this technology has not disappeared and it shows no sign of fading anytime soon.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The old-style record with concentric grooves moving the needle arm and stylus imperceptibly forward with each new turn made me think of the many cycles in everyone's lifetime. If you walk a circle you will arrive right back where you started. By contrast a life cycle may follow a regular pattern but you arrive at a slightly more advanced place each time the pattern is run. The whole idea behind this natural progression is that you find yourself moving toward your goals, gradually realizing your hopes and dreams along the way. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Vinyl records have one flaw that is the audio equivalent of driving bamboo splinters under the fingernails. You're surfing the musical waves of a favorite tune, lost in the emotions only a beautiful song can inspire, when you hear a single clicking sound and the last few words are repeated over and over and over again! You have no choice but to gently nudge the delicate needle to make the song continue. Settling back into your sweet reverie you return to the pleasure only your beloved records can give. Just then you hear that click…</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not infrequently we hit a point where, like our vinyl record, life seems to “skip.” We may find ourselves repeating actions that keep us from making forward progress. Instead of following a growth cycle we're stuck in a circular one, going right back to where we started over and over again! What can you do to fix that “skip” and return to a progressive growth cycle? </span></span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s2"></span><span class="s1"><i><b>Make incremental improvements</b></i>. Making small, regular adjustments over time wins the day 9 out of 10 times. This is a sure way to solve your “skipping” problem and a time-tested recipe for achievement.</span></span></li>
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<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s2"></span><span class="s1"><i><b>Be your own cheerleader!</b></i> The idea here is not to artificially inflate your ego or tell yourself pretty lies. Instead, allow yourself to make mistakes and be fully human (frailties and flaws included.) Avoid critical self-talk. Pick yourself up when you stumble and be your biggest fan.</span></span></li>
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<li class="li1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s2"></span><span class="s1"><i><b>Compete with yourself</b></i>. Use your own previous accomplishments as the new standard to beat. Outperforming yourself is a terrific way to set achievable goals, build confidence and create a tradition of success.</span></span></li>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The measure of a successful life is not the absence of challenges, it is how we deal with those challenges. CONGRATULATIONS! You have taken all that life has thrown at you and you're still standing! Now treat yourself to a life free of those pesky “skips!” </span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-77535293933510087042015-11-03T21:29:00.000-07:002015-11-12T21:27:27.481-07:00Where's Your Gaze?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By Becky MacGregor, guest blogger</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Most of you may have heard the saying “eyes up rise up”.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Mostly it's for inspiration however it's also a great motto for body position during exercise. I find when your gaze drops during certain exercises so does your posture. Or if you look a certain direction, your body position will skew with that. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mountain bikers know that when they “pick a line” it needs to be the best route possible. While riding the mountain biker needs to keep his/her gaze on that line – not where they don’t want to go – But where they DO want to go. If you look to where you don’t want to go…guess what? You’ll go there. For mountain bikers that can be disastrous (it can be for us as well).</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What you set your eyes and focus on will dictate your route and actions. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you set your eyes (and focus) on failure, you’ll get failure. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you focus on how you can’t have something…It never fails that it’s the one thing you want most. For example, if you tell yourself you can’t have cake, what do you dwell on? Cake. How you can’t have the most delectable thing in the whole entire universe. Cake; chocolate, rich, creamy,</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">with ice-cream. But NOOOOOOO….you can’t have CAKE. So you start obsessing about what you can’t have and how badly you want it. It occupies a good bit of your brain. All you think of is when you can HAVE THAT CAKE.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You might focus on how you <b><i>CAN’T DO</i></b> something. <i>Can’t</i> go to exercise class, <i>can’t</i> get to the gym,<i> can’t</i> take time for a walk, <i>can’t</i> lose the weight. If you think about how busy you are and how you have no time for exercise. Guess What? You will have no time for exercise. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>My encouragement to you is to change your gaze. </i></b>It’s not an equation of<b><i> can versus can’t </i></b>or<b><i> have versus have not…It’s what you gain.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="s1">When you exercise regularly you gain strength, energy, stress relief, positive mood and stamina. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When you eat well you gain health, energy and a stronger immune system.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So set your eyes ahead (along with your attitude) and it'll help your body, mind and heart stay in the right position.</span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-82499004784165300802015-10-15T22:00:00.001-06:002015-11-03T21:31:59.232-07:00Transitioning into Fall with Feng Shui<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By Carol M. Olmstead, guest blogger</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The goal of Feng Shui adjustments is to bring your interior environment into balance with the natural world around you. The best way to do this is to make it an every day habit to tune in to the changing seasons and make adjustments in your home to reflect what is going on around you at different times of the year. Even small seasonal Feng Shui adjustments can yield big results. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That means as the cooler weather approaches and you find yourself spending more time indoors, you can begin some of those projects you put off during the warmer months, like clearing all that “stuff” from your attic or basement. Removing what you don’t need from these areas can have a profound affect, because what’s in your attic weighs down on you and what’s in your basement supports you. Clearing clutter from these areas helps you move forward.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then, as you approach winter and limited daylight, make adjustments that bring more light into your interior environment, including switching to full spectrum light bulbs that simulate natural daylight.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Here are a few more of my favorite Feng Shui tips for fall:</b></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pull up dead summer flowers in the garden rather than leaving them all winter because they represent stale chi.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Display a bowl of fresh red apples in your kitchen to symbolize that your table will never be empty and you can always afford to feed your family.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Clear the cobwebs from your outdoor furniture before you cover it for the winter because they symbolize being so wrapped up and stuck that you can’t move forward.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even if the weather outside is chilly, open your windows occasionally during the fall months to let in some fresh chi.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Remove dead leaves from your gutters and roof because they represent dead chi accumulating on top of your home; trim back any large limbs that overhang your house because they symbolize extra “weight” on your shoulders.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rearrange your furniture to bring new energy into a room, even if you only move the sofa a few inches closer to the window or the lamp to a different side of the table.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s OK to wear a mask for Halloween, but avoid hanging masks on the wall, especially in a bedroom, because they symbolize “hiding” or “covering up” something.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Start a new fall habit - when you change your clocks back to standard time also toss expired packages and old spices from your pantry.</span></li>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Feng Shui cures can wear out over time - colors fade, furniture wears out or goes out of style, your preferences in art change - and that’s why I recommend that after you complete a year of Feng Shui changes, you start again and re-new, re-adjust, and re-align your improvements. You can find a Feng Shui tip-a-day calendar in my book, the <i>Feng Shui Quick Guide For Home and Office: Secrets For Attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love</i>, available on Amazon and iTunes.</span></span><br />
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-13603565034201752562015-10-07T10:02:00.002-06:002015-10-15T22:03:10.848-06:00When You Just Can't Think Positive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By Jamie DeNovo, guest blogger</span></b></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You are in the middle of a crisis. Your world is falling apart and you don’t know how to cope. What advice do you hear over and over? <b>“<i>You’ve just got to think positive!”</i> </b>And then you realize, “<i><b>“Wow, that’s the solution!”</b> </i>And away you go. Or does it always work that way? I posed the above question to diverse friends and associates. Here some of typical responses: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s1"><b>Lynette</b>: <i>When I am very upset and someone tells me to just think positive, it makes me angry. It is minimizing my problem. </i></span><span class="s1"><b>Richard</b>: <i>The phrase is so overused, it’s meaningless</i>. </span><span class="s1"><b>Ryan</b>: <i>Going through a crisis situation, think positive just sounds patronizing and insensitive. It can actually make you more defensive of your negative feelings.</i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we are suffering deeply, ‘Be positive’ advice from others can have the opposite effect. Why is that? Simply put, the word <i><b>positive</b></i> triggers areas associated with brain regions associated with pleasure or reward brain. Our brain resists linking positive feelings with misery and unhappiness, increasingly so when the underlying issues are deep. Our thoughts and emotions can’t just about-face into <i><b>positive</b></i>. It’s not possible. Unsurprisingly, we feel defensive instead of encouraged. So what can we do? </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The real-world truth is, no one wins the battle 100% of the time. Emotional triggers can go off, life can explode and send us reeling. We can, however, minimize the casualties. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Emotions don’t exist in a vacuum. They activate supporting thoughts. So when the <i>emotion</i> comes (sadness, frustration, depression), immediately on its heels, <i><b>thoughts</b></i> come spilling into our heads. Thoughts in turn amplify emotions. They feed off each other and grow. Once we have a certain momentum or intensity established, it can be nearly impossible to switch the direction or stem the flood of emotions. But <i><b>nearly impossible</b></i> is not impossible. In the realm of I.M.Possible there is always a way you can turn the tide. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So when think positive is just too high on the mental ladder for us to reach, what can supply the missing rungs?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Consider the original comfort attempt: <b><i>“Quit being negative. Think positive.”</i> Now try this, replacing the term<i> positive</i> with<i> productive</i>: <i>“You’re feelings are valid. It’s a challenging situation, but negative thoughts will only produce more hurt. How can you move forward from here? What is the most productive thing you can do in the situation right now?”</i> </b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The word <i><b>productive</b></i> activates action and solution brain networks. It doesn’t minimize our pain or diminish our challenge. It does switch on motivational as well as reward circuits.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Productive thinking is geared towards future positive results, a much easier concept to connect with and act on when we are in mental confusion or pain. We now have a means to create an emotional transition. Whatever the cause of our suffering, we do generally recognize that we want to somehow stop things from getting worse. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Productive thinking</b></i> gives us something to do; it gives us hope, which makes us feel better. Our brain is able to change enough to reset our focus and direction.<i> <b>Productive actions</b></i> involve tiny but progressive steps, advancing from chaos to coherence to achievement. We can then move onward <i><b>through</b></i> the crisis to a more positive mental state. </span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-84857938508120068252015-09-22T20:01:00.001-06:002015-10-07T10:09:25.838-06:00Your Valuable Sands of Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>By Joe Buzzello, guest blogger</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s not uncommon in our world to <i>applaud</i> workaholics and hold them up as heroes. You’ve seen this type of highly charged entrepreneur or independent salesperson. They race around, cantankerously announcing that they are exhausted, so busy, swamped, slammed. They’ll tell you there isn’t enough time to get everything done. <b>They</b> think they’re successful,<b> you</b> think they’re successful, and they definitely seem prosperous to the world. But, if you think about it, that really doesn’t make much sense. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can only TRULY be successful if you actually stop to reap the benefits of your hard work.</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Look, I’m probably the last one that should point fingers. I worked 60 – 70 hours a week for close to two decades, never taking a true vacation. A cell phone or beeper was always strapped to my side. When I began to take stock of my life, I realized that I had not taken a vacation longer than 7 days since I’d begun my career in 1979. I’m not sure I was completely present to my wife and daughter during my go-go years. I still struggle with that now, even in semi-retirement.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I have slowed a bit and crossed the line to joined the 50+ Club, I’ve started to look at things a little bit differently.<b> I value my time</b> more and place emphasis on the things that are really important to me. I’m not suggesting you lessen your commitment to your employer or the organization(s) you are part of. I’m simply suggesting that it may be possible for you to strike more <i>balance</i> in your work and personal life. This, in turn, will improve your work performance.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Instead of working harder, I recommend you learn to work smarter.<i> </i></b>Here are some thoughts on the <b>VALUE</b> of your time:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">More Clarity/Better Judgment</span></b></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My experience tells me that when I slow down on the weekend, shut off my brain for a few hours and do something fun, I’m able to develop more clarity about business issues. I find that when I take the time to reboot, I am able to make better decisions and find solutions on Monday morning.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sunday Night LIVE</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started taking some focused planning time on Friday afternoon to look ahead to the next week and get my calendar wired. However, my big calendar checkpoint transpired on Sunday night. I would spend 15 – 20 minutes looking at my calendar, making sure I knew where I was going, what I was going to focus on. <b><i>I</i></b> made sure that I knew what my top 3 priorities were for the week and those items were INKED in my calendar.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Round Yourself Out</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Most hard-charging entrepreneurs understand that passion is a vital element to becoming successful. It’s also important to follow your passions outside of work. Use your weekend to <b>explore your creative side</b>. The activity doesn’t really matter. What’s important is to take a break. These non-work related pursuits will make you happier and a better rounded person. This is another way to re-boot.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe You Should Unplug?</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Technology has made it difficult for us to unplug. One small step you can take is to keep your devices out of your hands and in a drawer on the weekends, at least for longer blocks of time. If you think about it, most of us aren’t saving lives. A patient isn’t going to die if we miss a call or email. Everything will still be there when you get back to work.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Functional Family</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you gain wealth, recognition, stature and power and then you lose your family what have you really gained? You work hard because you want to give yourself and your family the best of everything. Sometimes the biggest sacrifice you’ll have to make is spending limited time with your love ones. Use the weekends to spend time with them. Take time out to get together with friends and socialize. Success means nothing if you’re not able to share it with people that you love.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Hourglass</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a small hourglass on the bookcase in my home office. Once in a while I’ll turn it upside down. I simply watch it as the sands drop through the small hole, at first slowly and then, at the end, the sand seems to drop faster. Then, the hourglass is still. There is no more sand, no more time. The small hourglass is my reminder that time well spent with loved ones, doing the things that put a smile on our face, not just the pursuit of money or recognition is by far the most valuable commodity we have. As the old saying goes you don’t hear a person on their deathbed say, “I wish I could go into my office just one more Saturday and clean up some files.” What they wish they could do is have one more week…heck, maybe just one more day with the people they love, doing the things with them that were fulfilling.</span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-52179253581841153982015-09-22T19:46:00.000-06:002015-09-22T19:56:27.323-06:00The Point of No Return<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">By Becky MacGregor, guest blogger</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I use a phrase in training called “The Point of No Return.” <b><i>It means that at a certain stage in someone’s movement pattern, they reach a point to which the likelihood of injury goes up yet the return for muscle function and improvement goes down. </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>There are physical points of no return….</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Exercising without hydrating or eating properly</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Going too hard too soon before your body has had time to adapt to proper load progression</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Stressing your joints with improper form or too much weight</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Not addressing chronic disease soon enough so that your body can’t reverse the negative effects without a TON of medication</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>There are mental points of no return</b>…</span></div>
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<span class="s1">“I’ve exercised and eaten well this week so I deserve this 3,000 calorie binge”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Eating past the point of satisfaction and going for that stuffed feeling – The idea that you have to clean your plate. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m frustrated, I’m stressed, I’m angry, I’m bored”….Stress and emotional overeating </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Excuses like: “I can’t make it to class so I can’t do anything at all,” “I don’t have the time,” “I’m too busy,” “I’m too tired to exercise.” </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are attitudes and behaviors that put you in the position that when the damage is done, it’s done, and you can’t go back.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>You can’t go back but you can learn from it moving forward</b>…</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can recognize the feeling when you start to push too hard, when you haven’t hydrated enough, when you start to eat more than you should, when you reach for the stress-snack, when you reach for that food you KNOW you tend to binge on— Know what it is – Call it out (call yourself out) and DON’T GO THERE. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don’t buy the foods that are your weakness, throw them away. Stop buying foods you say your kids or family HAVE to have (cookies, chips) yet you tend to binge on. You can recognize when you are giving yourself an exercise excuse and work around it. There are many ways busy people can exercise. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The point is …the point of no return for most people is in their mind first. It controls the action second. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can learn to stop it before it goes too far. From a physical and mental perspective, I’ve seen this point of no return in people in every single example I listed above. I hate seeing people feel shame for overeating or someone get depressed from a preventable injury and now they are “out” for months. I hate seeing people suffer in hospital beds as their body systematically shuts down and there is not an antibiotic or drug in the world that can help them because they just got to the point of no return.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You don’t want it to be you in any of those examples, your family doesn’t want that for you…I don’t want that to be you…Think ahead, think positive and start taking better care of yourself. </span></span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-64862946975685345592014-10-08T22:30:00.000-06:002015-09-22T19:53:23.354-06:00Alfred's Vegetarian Saute Dish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2R_8RsCwI8uVnENVRwAL7SlARd4WcS8iwpBkKOZUQAflw65QmMblFXK2dZcDaU15H1nTG0R3rOFw5JP7azhpZg6kIl41KJGjVMkZD0G6313vpK-Y8XYzkmK2WxO6_CfMyzX0SNxROKes/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2R_8RsCwI8uVnENVRwAL7SlARd4WcS8iwpBkKOZUQAflw65QmMblFXK2dZcDaU15H1nTG0R3rOFw5JP7azhpZg6kIl41KJGjVMkZD0G6313vpK-Y8XYzkmK2WxO6_CfMyzX0SNxROKes/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Dad gave me this recipe six years ago and it's still a great recipe. Healthy, delicious and packed with eight servings of vegetables. Try this dish over brown rice or quinoa (pronounced <i>KEEN</i><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">-wah</em><em style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">)</em> for a complete meal. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did you know that quinoa is an excellent source of protein and fiber? There are three main types of quinoa - white, red, and black. All three are gluten-free and perfect for people with gluten intolerance. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ingredients</span></u></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tablespoon olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 butternut squash, sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 red bell pepper, sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 zucchini, sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 crookneck squash, sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 carrot, sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 parsnip, sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 onion, diced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tomato, diced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3 garlic cloves, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 teaspoon cumin or curry powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Parsley flakes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Salt and pepper to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a name='more'></a></span></u></h4>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Directions</span></u></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelnOv9JRS2e84n57AU6FTc6BCC3yg8cQ-3NXOjw-lcTXqlv8bemHSvBR_9bkcWr3aQGo1FIxNCB3y7L23sRvw9itOBDz0nS8ZSCeUqKiBCiw8Me0BOTy_SBT1iR2qWgqTwouy5wyrXf0/s1600/Alfred+Saute+Vegetables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelnOv9JRS2e84n57AU6FTc6BCC3yg8cQ-3NXOjw-lcTXqlv8bemHSvBR_9bkcWr3aQGo1FIxNCB3y7L23sRvw9itOBDz0nS8ZSCeUqKiBCiw8Me0BOTy_SBT1iR2qWgqTwouy5wyrXf0/s1600/Alfred+Saute+Vegetables.jpg" width="196" /></span></a></div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wash and prepare all vegetables. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Slowly saute vegetables in large wok with olive oil. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Add parsley flakes, cumin, salt and pepper to wok. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Continue to saute vegetables until just tender. Don't overcook. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remove from heat. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prepare quinoa in a separate sauce pan. Serve with sauteed vegetables.</span></li>
</ol>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-28380300490733821692014-09-02T16:23:00.002-06:002014-10-04T20:18:25.728-06:00Are You Killing People With Your Words?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today’s post is written by guest blogger <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1578729" target="_blank">Janis Pullen</a>, an Executive Mastery Coach. Janis gives us insight into how the words we speak are received by others. Enjoy!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqB59t_5OwD0q3hW_-skFHNZ_dTTc7AvMTivFI_Nbiq42oW2aX4SF1kC-zzIEpDCWOEDtD4DItKls8zZBVevtAmXpEn96wM52RU9UuqTxUuh8CiMi7HHODyv9tzfHHPZgeNnsI8MkiBA/s1600/words_have_power.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqB59t_5OwD0q3hW_-skFHNZ_dTTc7AvMTivFI_Nbiq42oW2aX4SF1kC-zzIEpDCWOEDtD4DItKls8zZBVevtAmXpEn96wM52RU9UuqTxUuh8CiMi7HHODyv9tzfHHPZgeNnsI8MkiBA/s1600/words_have_power.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I attended a talk recently given by D. F. “Duffy” Swan, Chairman of French Funerals in Albuquerque, NM. He began his talk with this remark: “Every time you open your mouth, your mind comes out and parades around.” His talk drove home that in any our conversations we are speaking spirits; we will speak either words of life or words of death, and we may not even know it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Being an ontological coach, this message sparked my interest and delight! Distinguishing the impact of our words on others is a superior, insightful, responsible behavior. So I asked and received permission to share his message with my world. I trust that you will enjoy and practice giving life and not death with your words.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Words of Death:</span></b></span></div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Criticism & Ridicule:</i> These words wound deeply, hurt, and crush the spirit. Criticism and ridicule cause the recipient to withdraw, to pull back, even if said in jest or jokingly. In the movie, “Rudy” his parents laughed at Rudy’s dream of becoming a Notre Dame football player. It took a strong character, internal fortitude, and intense commitment to overcome the family’s derision.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Lying, Spinning, Flattery, Gossip, Shading:</i> These words kill relationships because of the deceit, making things appear as they are not. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Anger:</i> These words can tear down and destroy if they are inappropriately used, abusive, or beyond the realm of reason.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Words of Life:</span></b></span></div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Encouragement:</i> We need encouragement more than anything. Encouragement invites teamwork, inspires courage, builds confidence, and assures belonging. Note: Encouragement must be genuine in order to be words of life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Appreciation:</i> Practice appreciation daily. Say it out loud, or write a hand-written note that you <i>mail</i> to someone. Note: As a coach, I stress the importance of appreciating others AND appreciating yourself.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Rebuke and Correction:</i> These words as essential for growth. We don’t grow and improve without course correction. They may be delivered either strongly and firmly or gently, but Rebuke and Correction must reflect the intent to uplift and support in order to be words of life.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our words tear down (kill the spirit) of others or they build (bring life) to others. We use words as stepping stones toward either end. Will you be a builder? Mr. Swan ended his talk with this poem:</span></span></div>
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<blockquote style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s1"><i>Isn't it strange how princes and kings,</i></span><span class="s1"><i>
and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,</i></span><span class="s1"><i>
and common people, like you and me,</i></span><span class="s1"><i>
are builders for eternity?</i></span><span class="s1"><i><br /></i></span><span class="s1"><i>
Each is given a list of rules;</i></span><span class="s1"><i>
a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.</i></span><span class="s1"><i>
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,</i></span><span class="s1"><i>
A stumbling block, or a Stepping-Stone.</i></span><span class="s1"><br /></span><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">
-- R. L. Sharpe (1870 – 1950)</span></span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zyt8ggt7esua_ElrqF4SnhA8U8On63EIIEhd-8H8ajwvPxkYc3_cA7jXd_SC2EQMpPuJoR8A5josFM8DRLszDAuGP5zkhV2Jc2Lt2tAkVYkOOE76xF62yjMgO4TZ4NUchOlCHABt-Go/s1600/Janis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zyt8ggt7esua_ElrqF4SnhA8U8On63EIIEhd-8H8ajwvPxkYc3_cA7jXd_SC2EQMpPuJoR8A5josFM8DRLszDAuGP5zkhV2Jc2Lt2tAkVYkOOE76xF62yjMgO4TZ4NUchOlCHABt-Go/s1600/Janis.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="s2"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1578729" target="_blank">Janis Pullen</a> is an Executive Mastery Success Coach for Ontological Wealth, Weight, and Leadership (O.W.W.L.). To subscribe to her O.W.W.L. Success Tips or her blog, please </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">visit <a href="http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1578729" target="_blank">www.janispullen.com</a> .</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041000296191267621.post-621794184158108652014-09-02T15:44:00.000-06:002014-10-09T19:07:18.694-06:00Homemade Vegetable Soup with Artisan Bread<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGToq0Ksk676rX0oCs8v1LfOjQD_hy0LczbdfoecbrRFvq8rgMxHruzHcieqoD8w1wmVRZN_mEDub67uhGP5CmeovYJd3drOdyaccR7IXoFbeyFEy9EPBK96sO8PkKcrfkZ0YEd_dTJw/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGToq0Ksk676rX0oCs8v1LfOjQD_hy0LczbdfoecbrRFvq8rgMxHruzHcieqoD8w1wmVRZN_mEDub67uhGP5CmeovYJd3drOdyaccR7IXoFbeyFEy9EPBK96sO8PkKcrfkZ0YEd_dTJw/s1600/photo.JPG" height="200" width="197" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span _mce_style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-align: left;">This is a</span><span _mce_style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-align: left;"> gr</span><span _mce_style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-align: left;">eat soup to make when you have several leftover vegetables in your refrigerator. I usually make it in the morning before I set out to do </span><span _mce_style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-align: left;">my grocery shopping. I gather up all the odd vegetables that are about to go bad, chop them up and throw them in my crock pot. When I come home from a day of meetings and appointments, my dinner is waiting for me!</span></span></div>
<div _mce_style="text-align: left; font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;" align="left" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" styleclass=" style_ArticleTitle">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-size: 8pt;">
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">carrots, chopped</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">celery, chopped</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">sweet bell peppers, sliced and chopped</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">small zucchini, sliced</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">cherry tomatoes, halved</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">leeks, split, washed, sliced</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">onion, peeled and chopped</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">frozen or fresh corn kernels</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">garlic, peeled and minced</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">fresh parsley, minced </span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(6) cups of chicken broth</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(1) bay leaf</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">salt & pepper to taste</span></li>
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<span _mce_style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Optional, for protein:</span></span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-size: 8pt;">
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup of red split lentils, dry</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup of small whole green lentils, dry</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OR (1 1/2) cups of cooked ham, cubed</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Directions</span></b></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; font-size: 8pt;">
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No need to measure. Instead, just gather up whatever leftover vegetables you have, wash and prepare them, and put them in your crock pot.</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Add the broth, bay leaf, salt and pepper on top.</span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bring to a boil then simmer gently on low for 3 to 4 hours. </span></li>
<li _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Narrow', 'Arial MT Condensed Light', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class="p1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stir well and serve with warm Artisan bread. Enjoy!</span></li>
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Gale O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450417850254752651noreply@blogger.com