Gratitude Journal

One thing I have read over and over is that in order to have more happiness in your life you need to be grateful for what you already have.  Things might seem bad or maybe they are bad, but you still can find good things in your life.  Do you have food, a warm bed, a roof over your head, family, friends, clothes?  These might be small things but there are people in the world who don't have a warm bed to sleep in at night.  Get the idea?

You can focus on the positive in your life by starting a gratitude journal that you write in every night.  List 5 things that day you were grateful for.

If you don't have time to write them down then just list them in your head before you go to sleep, while you are folding laundry, doing the dishes, or standing in the shower.  In fact, wouldn't it be so much better if we thought of 5 things we are grateful for 5 different times a day??  This would be a great way to bring more positive action into your life!

Warm thoughts~
Wendy

Doterra's Oregano Essential Oil

Just watched a Dr. Oz episode and he was raving about oil of oregano being nature's antibiotic.  From a person who would have 6 sinus infections a year, Doterra's oregano essential oil has helped me stay off antibiotics for 9 months!  I feel a sinus infection coming on and immediately start using my oils.

Here's what I do…
1. In a veggie capsule, 4 drops each of oregano, On Guard, and frankincense 3-4 times daily for 3-4 days
2.  Diffuse eucalyptus and Breathe
3.  One drop each of lavender, lemon, melaleuca, and peppermint on my feet 3-4 times daily
4. Rub on my sinuses eucalyptus and Digestzen
5.  Rub Breathe on my feet
6. Drink lots of water with lemon
7. Rest

This seems like a lot but is so much cheaper and better than going to the doctor constantly.  I also don't feel very sick at all.  Usually 1 day I try to sleep as much as I can but I haven't been so sick that I couldn't go to work.

In Good Health~
Wendy

What's Your Goal?

I hope you had time to think about what you want to choose as your goal since my last post.  If you need more time to think, no problem.  Once you have decided you can visit past blogs to help you start and form a plan.

Now, if you are like me, I want to change everything at once.  I have a hard time with patience and look for instant gratification.  We are going to change this thinking.  Start with something manageable.  As a teacher who has worked on writing many goals over the last 13 years, I have learned you only only pick 1 or 2 items to focus on.  Once you have that goal covered you can move onto another.

Here are the important first steps.
1. Ponder, pray, talk with your spouse, friends, parents, anyone in your support system.  Ask them what they think about the goal you have chosen.  Do they think you have a goal that is manageable?  Are they willing to support you when you lose focus?  My mom and husband are huge support systems for me.  They know my personality and what is happening in my life.  If I told them I was going to train for a triathlon they would firmly, but politely say, "Wendy, not going to happen.  Pick something more manageable like just starting to exercise 2-3 times a week and then you could go from there."  And they would be right.
2. Actually pick your goal or goals.  Remember, only pick 1 or 2.  Fun fact-in order for something to become a habit you have to do it everyday for 21 days.
3. Set a plan. As this point, depending on your goal, you will have to work on the plan yourself.  You can comment or email me and I can help you with your plan. Obviously, each plan depends on the goal.
4. Start working your plan.

Here's my example…
Goal #1 - Exercise 30 minutes 3 times a week

• Exercise Saturday & Sunday(have more time) & Monday(have the most energy) or Wednesday(no kid at home)
• Use walking/exercise programs from Comcast On Demand(free & in my home)
• Walk Away the Pounds exercise CD
• Walk dogs(will only happen when it's warm)
• Walk around the school building before I go home
• Just Dance on the Wii with Victoria(kills 2 birds with 1 stone)

So, here's the start for my goal.  Good luck with yours!

Happy planning~

Wendy

Think About A Goal

Okay, we have decided we want to change our lives, reduce stress and start enjoying life.  But how?  And many of you say, "I can't change anything."  If it is really important to you then you will find a way.  Trust me, when you hit rock bottom or are really tired of not being happy you will find the power to change.  So let's go ahead and think about what we would like to change by thinking about some goals.

What would you like to change?

• Here are some examples-eat better, save money, pay off a bill, exercise more, find time for yourself, read to your kids, learn couponing, learn relaxation techniques, schedule date nights, reduce job stress, create a budget, organize you house, pray more, learn a new skill, start a hobby… you get the idea.
• This is just a list of some examples.  You have to decide what you want to change or what is best for you.  Take some time to really ponder what you want to change or what would be possible for you right now.  Start small if you need to or jump right in.  You have to do what is manageable for you.  Talk to someone in your support group about some of your ideas and discuss it with them.  For instance, if you are really stressed about your credit card debt, talk to you spouse about it.  See if the two of you are ready to work together to tackle this goal.  If this one is too much then start by organizing a closet or setting up 15 min each day to pick up the house.  
• Throughout this blogging journey I will be posting different ideas, books or websites to help you along the way.
• Your assignment… start thinking about something you really want to change.  In a day or so I will post how to pick the goal and set a plan to accomplish your goal.

Please feel free to comment on my posts, email me, share my blog with someone you think this might help, sign up to get my blog sent directly to your email so you don't miss anything.

***My goal is to help others and as many people as I can through this blog.

Take time to ponder~

Wendy

Saving Mr. Banks

I went to the movies this afternoon and saw Saving Mr. Banks.  A very inspiring movie for those of us   who think change is impossible.  So I will leave you with a very appropriate quote for our new journey. 

Peace~

Wendy

"Change requires courage"

The title is an important quote from the book Fried, Why You Burn Our and How to Revive by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.  I read this book last year and highlighted it like crazy.  You come to a point and you feel like everything has just been dumped on you for years and years and suddenly you realize you haven't taken the time to brush yourself off.  So do you live like you have been or make a change? Only you can change you.  You can't change anyone but yourself.  I know that many of you probably feel stuck in one or more aspects of your life.  I did and still do, but you are not.  Change takes courage.  Find the courage to make the changes necessary in order to bring more joy into your life.

But where do you find the courage??  It will be different for all of us but here are some options.

• Ask yourself, "What needs to change?"  Figure that out first!
• Join a club or group and meet new people
• Pray
• Read books about happiness
• Meditation
• Therapy
• Talk with your spouse, family or friends-people who will encourage you
• Breathe often during the day
• Exercise
• Yoga
• Surround yourself with positive quotes
• Email me 

Personally, I find the courage knowing that God has a plan for me and her will take care of me.  My husband is a great one for keeping things in perspective and he his my rock.  

Warm thoughts~

Wendy

It's Never Too Late for Change

Hello All,

I have been thinking about starting this blog for quite some time and because of the snow days I am able to finally get it started.  So here I am with my first post and might I say I am very excited!

For so long I have been living my life in robot mode, just going through the motions.  Finally I figured out that this was not how I wanted to live.  Life was passing me by and I wanted to change.  As I am soon to turn 40 I realize the importance of making my life count.  Not saying that 40 is old by any means, but a milestone none the less.

This quest for change started with something my mother shared with me.  One day we were talking about her father, who had passed when I was 3, and we were discussing her childhood and things she remembered.  Mom told me that she remember her father being sick all the time.  Now before I go any further, let me say that my mom had a wonderful childhood and she enjoyed it quite much.  But what stuck with me was what Victoria, my daughter, would grow up to remember about her childhood.

When I really started thinking about this it scared me.  What would she think?  Remember?  And then it hit me.  She is going to remember a mother who is stressed out all the time, sick every other month, constantly working and just going through the motions trying to survive day to day.  I was too tired to play games with her, color or play Barbies and frankly I really didn't want too.  There were too many things I had to get done; school work, meetings, doctors appointments, errands, laundry, cleaning, pets, dinner.  You know the drill.  Being a mom with a full time job is exhausting.

Here's the thing... all of the other working moms were doing what it seemed that I couldn't.  So I decided to make a change.  Time with my family wasn't about spending money or buying things anymore and I paid off all of our debt.  While doing this I started reading and listening to as many books or websites that I could to find my happiness in this life and get my priorities in order.  Then after having surgery in December of 2012, and 3 sinus infections from January to April, I was tired of being sick all the time.  Luckily doTERRA Essential Oils came into my life and helped create positive change in my life.

The reason for this blog will be to share positive ways to make changes in your life.  This could be anything from financial changes, eating better, exploring your faith, preventing illness, organizing spaces, hobbies, building or nurturing relationships, and learning how to be happy.  Last but not least, let's learn how to create wonderful memories for our children and ourselves.

I hope you enjoy this journey~
Wendy