Smile Power

We're leaving the orchestra concert. My husband is saying "Have a nice evening" to every one he sees: the coat-check guy, the usher, the valet. Our son is with us and he whispers something to me as we're walking, "Mom, did you notice every time Dad says, 'have a nice evening' to somebody, they stop frowning and start smiling?" Not much gets past kids; they're observant little creatures, for sure!

I started thinking about that and my son was right. The coat check guy was looking a bit down, shoulders slouched, and when my husband told him to have a nice evening, well he perked right up, stood a little taller and told us to have the same, with a smile. Why? Are people so deep in thought these days that they tune out to the world? Is it that the world has tuned us all out and we just zone out in boredom? Is everyone so into themselves that a few kind words from a stranger is out of the ordinary? I don't have answers to these questions but I do know one thing: the power of a smile is HUGE!

When you send a smile someones way, it means you're acknowledging their existence. You've taken the time to send them a message that says, "You matter." It costs nothing but a few facial muscles and the personal gains are higher than Apple's stock.

So, the next time you're in line at the grocery store, or you pass a stranger down the cereal aisle, take a moment to make eye contact and just smile. Showing those pearly whites not only benefit the receiver, but also the giver. SMILE:-)

Gratitude Journal Monday

Rough storms are ahead. You know it when you set your feet on the floor this morning to start the week. It's going to be a busy one and thinking of all the little details for each and every day begin to overwhelm the mind and you just want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over your head. Oh, to stay there and cocoon all week; just until it's over.

That's the way we feel, but not the way we live. Our actions (forced some days, yes) get us through the minutes, hours, days, of responsibility to tending, working, caring, sharing, and fixing. Some weeks it all just piles up, but we get through it. And, we get through it by taking one day at a time. Depending on how overwhelming life becomes, sometimes it's one minute at a time. But through it all, we have gratitude to hold ourselves together. Gratitude helps us to see the bigger picture. Gratitude makes us wiser, it makes us whole, and calms us down. I better get to mine before my To-Do list gets any longer.

196. I am grateful to be gifted another week in which to make a difference in the lives of others.
197. I am grateful my "dance card" is so full this week; it beats the alternative.
198. I am grateful He gives me the grace I need to make each day I live a fruitful one.
199. I am grateful I have a hubby I can call "Super Hubby" on my blog.
200. I am grateful for the infinite wisdom my young son shares with me on our long walks around the neighborhood; oh!, to be that wise at 9.

If you'd like some refuge from your storm, begin your own Gratitude Journal. Here's why I started, the how's and the what's, just click here. Go gently, friend, and have a manageable week.

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Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 41.

Goodbye sweet snack with my sweet boy as we made ourselves comfortable at Panera's.
Goodbye Harry Potter movie marathon - finally saw the last movie and now I get it.
Goodbye writing a bully-awareness post I want shared with the world. Will you help spread the word? Thank you to all who already have!
Goodbye opening day at the ballpark- the boys are back in town and they broke the record for most innings played on opening day (16 innings - bummer we didn't win).
Goodbye sweet-smelling Easter Lily whose fragrance fills the room and delights my senses - thank you Super Hubby.

Hello waiting patiently one more week for Easter baskets and egg hunts as the Orthodox Easter falls on April 15.
Hello wrapping up the taxes and not mentioning it again for another year - amen.
Hello diving in and conquering the task of creating my son's birthday party invitations to be delivered on Monday - no exceptions.
Hello to taking a dust rag to some of my wood surfaces and sending dust bunnies away for awhile; Easter or not, dust bunnies are not as welcomed as the chocolate kind.
Hello to taking a bike ride or two and getting some fresh air and exercise.

This week's lessons learned is a tough one for me to distinguish. With all the week's happenings, it's hard to pluck out just one. Some weeks I'm able to easily see the lesson learned, staring me down like a mammoth boulder of philosophical wisdom. Other weeks, the lessons come to me as small pebbles, necessary though, in filling the cracks to the road of life. Self discovery for me was key this week, like when I traded a $150 hair highlighting session I've been doing for years for a $9 bottle of color, and I'm pleased with the results. Or, like when I was in such a funk all weekend-long and Super Hubby comes home with a sweet-smelling Easter Lily on Monday and it instantly brightens my perspective - do I really change emotions that easily? Or perhaps it was the discovery that ignoring a funny noise coming from your car guarantees the check engine light to come on and ensues instant panic while driving on the highway - yikes! Yes, I told you, no earth-shattering revelations this week, but necessary in building a life and defining the person I was made to be.

Happy blessed holiday to all. I'll catch up to you on Easter next Sunday!

Squash Bullying Early

Thanks to The Bully Project for sponsoring my writing. Visit their website to join the movement and learn more.

Today's post addresses a serious topic and I wanted to share with you the ways I have addressed this issue with children as young as 8 years old. I have a belief. I believe serious subjects are never discussed once, then left on a shelf. I believe serious topics have stages of entrance into our minds, and that those ideas should start to be discussed when our children are young. Whether it's talking about the birds and the bees, drugs, smoking, or even bullying, with our kids, it's an ongoing discussion that elevates in detail at each turn. If we talk with our kids about the effects of bullying, what bullying is, and ways to react when confronted with situations, perhaps we can stop bullying in its path. And the sooner our kids are armed with defenses, the more likely we are to nip this issue in the bud.

Bullying doesn't belong to the middle schoolers. It doesn't matter the age, young or adult. As long as there is jealousy, envy, desire for power, and people feeling bad about themselves, there will, forever, be bullying. It's an equal opportunity demon that affects each of us at least once in our lifetime. Learning about the why's and what's of bullying is a spark to igniting prevention and, at the very least, provides our kids tools to put out the flames when a flare-up occurs.

Books open doors to children and give them a voice to express their own feelings through literary characters. This is especially important for boys, when discussing feelings is probably not at the top of their skill level. To help feed this idea, I began an after-school book club at my son's old school when he was in 2nd grade. It was such a success, I continued it through his 3rd grade year. I stumbled on a book that I thought we should read and the outcomes of those book club discussions helped build a supplemental workshop I called Free to Be Me regarding the topic of bullying. The book, Shredderman Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen, is such a great book to have elementary school-aged children read. And through discussion, much is revealed when these young minds open up to their own bullying experiences.

Synopsis: When the class nerd becomes a SuperHero against the class bully, things get complicated. This book conveys the slippery path of morality and goodness when fighting for the rights of nerds while taking away the rights of bullies. Interesting question when faced against the context of brain over brawn. If the bullied turns around and bullies the bully through cyberspace, is it right? Both sides need to be examined.

When the kids and I met to discuss this book, the conversations took a most disturbing turn. Their shared experiences with bullying were surprising to say the least (did I mention these were 3rd graders?) and it prompted my initiative to create an anti-bullying workshop for the kids.

Source

Education is the best prevention against any threat. Reading the book is a great opener to discussing bullying themes. The workshop then takes it further by talking about safe places, people we can trust, and the important role and responsibility a bystander has to a bully's victim. It's also important to discuss the definition of bullying, bullying myths, and the differences between telling and tattling. Role playing was also conducted and ending being an important factor. Finally, combat against bullying is one's own self-confidence. The workshop takes the kids through a thought-provoking journey of discovering what they like about themselves, why they are unique, special, and necessary to this world. Teach our children to be the mountain that cannot be torn down with words.


I'd be more than happy to share my book discussion questions, workshop agenda and activities with anyone interested in conducting a similar discussion with children. Just e-mail me and I'll send you all I have created. Find my e-mail info to the left under Profile.

Here's a trailer to the recent, controversial movie regarding bullying today. I hope you support its message and purpose. I implore you to take a stand and protect our future for it rests in the hearts of our children.




I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. Find showings in your area for The Bully Project and buy tickets here.

What I Made Wednesday {Spring Home Decor}

Happy Spring! I wanted to open my house up to you, friends, and share some of my home's spring decor with you. Whether you celebrate Easter, Passover, or simply the start of spring, this time of renewal and rebirth is worth embracing.

Are you ready?

Beatnik Brain Exercise

April is poetry month. I was involved at my son's school helping the kids with their diamante poems. I tried a few myself and it was really fun to do, didn't take very long, and was a great brain exercise. In the spirit of April's poetic side, I hope you try one of the following diamante patterns on your own. If you like what you end up with, please share in the comments section!

Diamante means diamond in Italian. This poetic form takes on a diamond shape when completed. Iris Tiedt created this visually interesting style of poetry. There are 2 patterns from which to choose. The first pattern develops one topic only. The second pattern starts with one theme, then changes to an opposite theme in the middle of the poem. The beginning word and ending word are exact opposites.

Like I said, fun to do so pick a pattern and try one out for size. 

Pattern 1
Line 1 Choose a topic (noun)
Line 2 Choose 2 words that describe Line 1 (adjectives)
Line 3 Use 3 action words (verbs or words ending in -ing)
Line 4 Think of a 4-word phrase capturing some feeling about the main topic
Line 5 Use 3 action words, again
Line 6 Choose 2 words that describe, again
Line 7 Use a synonym for the noun in Line 1

Here's what I came up with...

Marriage

Strong, happy

Loving, caring, sharing

We     journey     through     together

Supported, respected, committed

Joyful, impenetrable

Partnership

Pattern 2
Line 1 Choose a topic as the title and its antonym for the final line (noun) 
Line 2 Choose 2 words that describe Line 1 (adjectives) 
Line 3 Use 3 action words  for the title word (verbs or words ending in -ing)
Line 4 Use 2 words to describe the title noun - then hyphen and choose 2 words to describe the final ending noun. The theme changes in this line!
Line 5 Use 3 action words describing the ending noun
Line 6 Choose 2 words that describe the ending noun
Line 7 Use the antonym you choose to the topic in Line 1

Here's what I came up with for Pattern 2...

Lost

Scary, confused

Floundering, wandering, searching

Uncertain outcomes - positive results

Knowing, trusting, believing

Comfortable, peaceful

Found

I can't wait to see what you come up with! Go for it - exercise your brain. I'll be snapping my fingers in applause. Like, cool, man!

Gratitude Journal Monday

My cup runneth over with blessings big and small. Some days I don't have the time to stop and think of the gratefulness I have for such answered prayers, but Monday's, I make the time. It's that little speck of time I give the week to stop and dedicate some gratitude, trying not to take anything for granted. My Gratitude Journal is the way I start off my week. And it can help make all the difference. How do you start off your week?






191. I am grateful for the dirty dishes in my sink - it means I have food to eat.
192. I am grateful for the piled up laundry ready to be washed - it means I have clothes to wear.
193. I am grateful for the house I should clean - it means I have a nice roof over my head.
194. I am grateful for the birthday party I am planning - it means I have a son who appreciates the effort.
195. I am grateful for being loved and cared for by so many - it means I have a family.


If you'd like to find out more about starting your own Gratitude Journal, simply click here.

Have a wonderful week, friends!