Happy Mother’s Day!
Real Mothers don’t eat quiche;
They don’t have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn’t come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don’t want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, ‘Because I love you best..’
Real Mothers know that a child’s growth
is not measured by height or years or grades…
It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother…
The Images of a Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE – My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE – My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE – My Mother doesn’t really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE – Naturally, Mother doesn’t know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE – Mother? She’s hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE – That old woman? She’s way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE – Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE – Before we decide, let’s get Mum’s opinion.
45 YEAR S OF AGE – Wonder what Mum would have thought about it
65 YEARS OF AGE – Wish I could talk it over with Mum.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows
and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
I love this poem - gives me a great excuse for my dirty oven too!
Pass it on to other great Mums out there today and boost them too..
Thanks to parenting expert Sue Atkins for this lovely poem
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Food Glorious Food
I was bringing my son home from football practice the other day and gave him his “treat of the day” (an established house rule of one sweet thing a day) in the car – a toffee. I asked him if he would like some music on, or prefer it quiet. He said “quiet please because then I can concentrate on my sweet”. He innately knows how to really enjoy food and appreciate his experience of taste. I wonder if we all started that way. This coincided with some training I received on helping people with weight loss (see current offerings if you are interested in this) so, in this newsletter, I offer some simple suggestions on how to enjoy your food more whilst maintaining a healthy weight.
If you have any suggestions or success stories, please share them
Quick Quote
"A good meal ought to begin with hunger" ~ A French Proverb
Simple suggestions to enjoy food and maintain a healthy weight
"A good meal ought to begin with hunger" ~ A French Proverb
Simple suggestions to enjoy food and maintain a healthy weight
- Wear a blind fold, or close your eyes when you are eating – yes, you read that right! By taking out our sense of sight, it heightens our sense of taste and helps us focus on the taste and enjoy our food more. You don't have to wear a blindfold all the time, just try it once or twice. Get someone to feed you for fun!
- Eat slower (and sitting down) – as above, it helps us focus on what we are eating so we can enjoy it more. Have you ever eaten on the run and realised that you have not enjoyed it or even realised you have eaten. It just happened. By sitting down, creating time (ideally 20 minutes per main meal), and consciously eating slower (put your cutlery down between mouthfuls) we can enjoy it more. In fact, a study as shown that eating too quickly can contribute directly to over-eating: study on eating too fast
- Eat smaller portions – wearing a blind fold or closing your eyes when eating has been shown to help us eat the right amount for our body as we can perceive when we are full easier. Better still, cook less than you need and fill up on fruit afterwards. If you do cook too much and “don't want to waste it” then accept that putting it on your “waist” is not helping either. Put it in the fridge for tomorrow or compost it and recycle the nutrients.
- Eat breakfast every day. Add some dried fruit, some chopped fresh fruit and a glass of juice and you've already eaten 2 of your 5 a day – bonus! (If you don't have time for breakfast, get up 10 minutes earlier - it will give you energy). Eating breakfast has also been shown to help with over-eating later in the day: eating breakfast-fact vs myth
- Exercise and fresh air– I always think food tastes much better when you've had some exercise, especially if you have been outside. It also means you are less likely to put on weight of course! Try and exercise at least 3 times a week doing something you enjoy.
- Carry round healthy snacks for you, and your kids if you have them, so that you are less tempted to buy junk when you are out and about. Convenient snacks to leave in your bag are dried fruits, seeds, nuts (not roasted or salted), oatcakes. Please tell me your favourites.
- Don't deprive yourself – allow yourself one treat a day (a couple of squares of good quality chocolate or the occasional bag of baked crisps is ok, as is the odd glass of wine). I had one lady who lost lots of weight just using this one principle!
- Be drink aware – A couple of glasses of wine is about the same as a mars bar. Add up the calories in the drinks you consume in a week, including all alcoholic and soft drinks. It can be surprising. This may be helpful: drink aware tools
If you have any suggestions or success stories, please share them
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
The Daffodil Principle
I read this story by Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards a while ago, but it has stayed with me so I decided to share it with you. A very powerful but simple principle...
"Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead.
"I will come next Tuesday, " I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."
"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"I was hoping you'd take me over to the garage to pick up my car."
"How far will we have to drive?"
"Just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
After several minutes, I had to ask, "Where are we going? This isn't the way to the garage!"
"We're going to my garage the long way," Carolyn smiled, "by way of the daffodils."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around."
"It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign that said, "Daffodil Garden."
We got out of the car and each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns-great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.
"But who has done this?" I asked Carolyn.
"It's just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home."
Carolyn pointed to a well kept A-frame house that looked small and modest in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking" was the headline.
The first answer was a simple one."50,000 bulbs," it read.
The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
There it was, The Daffodil Principle. For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun ~ one bulb at a time ~ to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world. This unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of ineffable (indescribable) magnificence, beauty, and inspiration.
The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time ~ often just one baby-step at a time ~ and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world.
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years. Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.
Apparently this story is true and the garden is below Running Springs, California, in the San Bernadino Mountains.
I would love to know what you daffodil garden looks like...
"Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead.
"I will come next Tuesday, " I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."
"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"I was hoping you'd take me over to the garage to pick up my car."
"How far will we have to drive?"
"Just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
After several minutes, I had to ask, "Where are we going? This isn't the way to the garage!"
"We're going to my garage the long way," Carolyn smiled, "by way of the daffodils."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around."
"It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign that said, "Daffodil Garden."
We got out of the car and each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns-great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.
"But who has done this?" I asked Carolyn.
"It's just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home."
Carolyn pointed to a well kept A-frame house that looked small and modest in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking" was the headline.
The first answer was a simple one."50,000 bulbs," it read.
The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
There it was, The Daffodil Principle. For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun ~ one bulb at a time ~ to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world. This unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of ineffable (indescribable) magnificence, beauty, and inspiration.
The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time ~ often just one baby-step at a time ~ and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world.
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years. Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.
Apparently this story is true and the garden is below Running Springs, California, in the San Bernadino Mountains.
I would love to know what you daffodil garden looks like...
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Create your 3 magic words for 2012
Happy New Year!
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Create your three magic words
To create your vision:
Let me know what your three words are!
I have noticed that decreasing numbers of people bother with New Year's resolutions. Those that do, tend to have resolutions based around changing a habit, and there is a big gap between wanting to change a habit and actually doing it. I have two suggestions. Firstly, use NLP to change habits (see later section on current offerings). Secondly create three magic words for your year ahead. Your magic words should be areas of focus, which together form your holistic vision. If you are finding it hard to get focussed after the holidays, this can really help.
Quick Quote
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Create your three magic words
To create your vision:
- Choose three magic words which will help you focus and create a vision for your 2012. Imagine how you would like to be and make sure they are things which you have not already achieved. My personal words are growth, presence (being in the moment and not worring about the future or thinking about the past) and fun. For my business, my words are courage, persistence and synergy.
- Create a vision board or an audio depending on whether you prefer to see or hear your motivational words. Include your three words and anything else which inspires you. Find or draw pictures which reflect the words you have chosen or create metaphors for your words. Look/listen to it every day. You could even make a screen saver with your three words on.
- Imagine you are embodying your three words. With a clear 3-4 metres in front of you, close your eyes and imagine how you feel and what you see and hear in your current situation. Take 2 steps forward and, saying your three magic words, imagine that you are moving towards them. Finally, take a further 2 steps and imagine yourself achieving your three words. Allow yourself to be immersed. Repeat this exercise when you need a boost.
- Share your words by commenting below. There is nothing like sharing your vision to provide some accountability!
- Let me know how you are doing. I love to hear when you make progress, and of course, I am always happy to help if you are stuck.
Let me know what your three words are!
Friday, 16 December 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Create time through effective delegation
My 8 year old is keen to help less fortunate children in Africa (charities at the bottom) and I suggested he hold a cake and bracelet stall at his school. My aim was for him to own the event and do the leg work with my role to gently guide and to offer suggestions where appropriate. What a challenge! How tempting I found it to jump in and write the emails for him (much quicker), to design the posters for him (much more effective) and to do the baking for him (much more efficient). My delegation skills were tested to the limit and I don't mind admitting that I found it hard. But, through empowering him, he has gained skills, confidence and is proud of his achievement. It was an investment. I would like to share the lessons I learnt, some tips on delegating and I would encourage you to delegate as much as possible to people at home and at work. The more the load is shared, the more we can all enjoy the festive period.
Quick Quote
“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." ~ General George Smith Patton, Jr
What can your kids and colleagues do that are on your "to do list"? Start with your home life and then re-do it for work if it's relevant to you:
* Create a list of all the tasks you have to do (this is a useful thing to do anyway)
* Write down all the people you could delegate to. This list should include everyone over the age of 2 in your house (even 2/3 year olds can clean skirting boards with wet-wipes!)
* Allocate some of the tasks to each of the people. Tip - If you were taken ill and couldn't get out of your bed until Christmas, who would you delegate what to? You can direct from your bed but you can't do any of the tasks yourself. It may sound scary, but give the thought process a go.
* Ask people which tasks they would like to do (getting them to choose rather than dictating is likely to get more buy-in)
* Make sure they are clear what the task entails. They need to know what a successful outcome looks like? How will they know they have finished? When do they need to do it by? Giving people flexibility on timing allows them to fit it around how they feel and what they have going on (although you may need to be stricter with the under 5's!)
* Empower them by teaching them anything which will help them - skills, knowledge, tips.
* Check progress regularly - give feedback (some positive before the constructive feedback) and help solve problems but DON'T take over!
* Celebrate their achievements and show appreciation.
This point is on its own because it is key:
* Let people do things their own individual way. There is no right way to do things. Do not, under any circumstances re-do a job which someone has done because it is not perfect - you know what I mean! There are many ways to stack a dish-washer and I guarantee that your 5 year old won't stack it the most efficient way. Say thank you, close the door and put it on! And there is no perfect way to decorate a Christmas tree either. Celebrate everyone's creativity and go with the flow.
What do you find hard to delegate? Do you have any tips on delegating? Please share your ideas (and let me know if you have problems commenting below.
If you find any of the above steps hard, give me a ring on 07764 235394 and I will help you.
"Give up control even if it means the employees have to make some mistakes. - Frank Flores."
Quick Quote
“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." ~ General George Smith Patton, Jr
What can your kids and colleagues do that are on your "to do list"? Start with your home life and then re-do it for work if it's relevant to you:
* Create a list of all the tasks you have to do (this is a useful thing to do anyway)
* Write down all the people you could delegate to. This list should include everyone over the age of 2 in your house (even 2/3 year olds can clean skirting boards with wet-wipes!)
* Allocate some of the tasks to each of the people. Tip - If you were taken ill and couldn't get out of your bed until Christmas, who would you delegate what to? You can direct from your bed but you can't do any of the tasks yourself. It may sound scary, but give the thought process a go.
* Ask people which tasks they would like to do (getting them to choose rather than dictating is likely to get more buy-in)
* Make sure they are clear what the task entails. They need to know what a successful outcome looks like? How will they know they have finished? When do they need to do it by? Giving people flexibility on timing allows them to fit it around how they feel and what they have going on (although you may need to be stricter with the under 5's!)
* Empower them by teaching them anything which will help them - skills, knowledge, tips.
* Check progress regularly - give feedback (some positive before the constructive feedback) and help solve problems but DON'T take over!
* Celebrate their achievements and show appreciation.
This point is on its own because it is key:
* Let people do things their own individual way. There is no right way to do things. Do not, under any circumstances re-do a job which someone has done because it is not perfect - you know what I mean! There are many ways to stack a dish-washer and I guarantee that your 5 year old won't stack it the most efficient way. Say thank you, close the door and put it on! And there is no perfect way to decorate a Christmas tree either. Celebrate everyone's creativity and go with the flow.
What do you find hard to delegate? Do you have any tips on delegating? Please share your ideas (and let me know if you have problems commenting below.
If you find any of the above steps hard, give me a ring on 07764 235394 and I will help you.
"Give up control even if it means the employees have to make some mistakes. - Frank Flores."
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
A poignant poem by an old man
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
Crabby Old Man...
What do you see nurses? . . ... . . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . .. . . . Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .... . . . . With faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . .. . And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice .. .. . .... . The things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . . . Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . .. . .. . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . .... . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . .. . You're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am. . . . .... . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . .. . As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .. . . .. With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . .. ... .. Who love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. With wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . ... A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . .. My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . That I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . .... . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other .. . . . . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons . . ... . . Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . To see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children .. . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . Shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . .... . . . Young of their own.
And I think of the years .. . . .. . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . ..... And nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . ... . Life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . . . ... Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . .. . . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . ... . Open and see.
Not a crabby old man . ... . . Look closer . .. . See ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.
We may all, one day, be there, too!
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
Crabby Old Man...
What do you see nurses? . . ... . . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . .. . . . Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .... . . . . With faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . .. . And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice .. .. . .... . The things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . . . Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . .. . .. . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . .... . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . .. . You're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am. . . . .... . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . .. . As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .. . . .. With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . .. ... .. Who love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. With wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . ... A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . .. My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . That I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . .... . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other .. . . . . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons . . ... . . Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . To see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children .. . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . Shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . .... . . . Young of their own.
And I think of the years .. . . .. . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . ..... And nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . ... . Life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . . . ... Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . .. . . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . ... . Open and see.
Not a crabby old man . ... . . Look closer . .. . See ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.
We may all, one day, be there, too!
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