So what happens if someone doesn't want to return to childhood? Well, at least not when it comes to their own childhood. I'm always quick to point out that it's never too late to have a great childhood. That being said, one of the great tragedies in life is when someone's childhood is ruined, particularly by abuse or... really bad parenting. I'm not one for pointing fingers or blaming others -- that's childish -- but for those of you out there who need some tips on getting past a less than stellar upbringing, maybe this book by Nina Brown will help. I cracked up at the title: Children of the …
Maintain Perspective
Benefits of Boredom
With Labor Day now behind us, for all intents and purposes, summer is over. When I look back to the summers of my youth, I fondly remember my mom ignoring my brothers and me as we complained of having nothing to do. Ok, ignoring may be a strong word, but I distinctly remember this being her favorite catchphrase: "If you're so bored, I'm sure I can find something for you to do." Usually her ideas never involved a weekend jaunt to Disney World. A recent article in USA Weekend by Ann Pleshette Murphy proposes that boredom is actually a good thing for kids. …
Twenty-Four Hours
The other day I was listening to a song which really spoke to me. It's called "Life Means So Much" by Chris Rice. This verse and the chorus, in particular, really stuck out... Every day is a bank account And time is our currency So nobody's rich, nobody's poor We get 24 hours each …
Can Almonds Bring You Joy?
I have a confession to make. I can be an emotional eater. Ya know, when you have had a rough day or something is bothering you, and you seek out foods that will make it all better. Some of my favorites are brownies, ice cream (put them together and it’s even better), macaroni and cheese, and 3 Musketeers, just to name a few. Jason and I just experienced this a week or so ago with a common experience that stressed us out. …
Does the Pope Have Adultitis?
I can't imagine a guy with the potential for more day-to-day stress, pressure, and overall responsibility than the pope. (With the possible exception of the President of the United States and the committee who decides what colors will be fashionable this season.) Yet somehow, Pope Benedict XVI (that's the sixteenth for all you non Super Bowl fans) manages to stay relatively Adultitis-free. Just last week, the pope gave a speech advising everybody to, um, chill out. Too much work and busyness is no good for the soul, he said. And it can make you stupid, too. I am paraphrasing a bit, but …
Just Scream
Do you ever just want to scream? When I was little, on those “tough” days my mom used to joke with us (I think she was serious, though.) that she wanted to scream. I remember thinking, “Then do it!” For some reason screaming is not seen as age-appropriate for adults. If you’ve been close to a playground filled with kids recently, you will soon remember how kids have no problem screaming. At the beginning of the summer, I took full advantage of the opportunity to scream at a local theme park, while enjoying the big drops on some rollercoasters. It felt great! I guess I’m not the only one who …
Keep Asking Why
How is it that kids are so young, with such little life experience, and yet they often blow us away when it comes to wisdom? I found a great list of advice from children on the Goal-Free Living blog (who originally got the list from Eolake Stobblehouse). Here are my top 10 favorites: Making your bed is a waste of time. Don’t ask your three-year-old brother to hold a tomato. Don’t drink anything when you’re upside down. …
In Search For Peace
She’s 39 and a mom of three. Life is busy. Work is challenging. The kids are always on the go. Her husband helps out with household family stuff as much as he can, about as much as she can these days. At the end of the day she is exhausted. She looks forward to the kids going to bed so she can have some peace. Peace doesn’t come easily, though. When she finally sits down on the couch her mind is filled with a list of “to do’s” and demands. She wants to relax. She deserves to relax. It starts with a glass of wine a few nights a week. It’s a small little joy. She soon finds herself drinking a …
Green Eggs and Crack Cocaine
One of the most interesting facts that I heard while in Orlando at the National Speakers Association convention was that the majority of millionaires in the United States are first generation immigrants. Then, this past weekend, I got into a discussion about how bad the drug problem is in the area where I grew up. I went to high school in a pretty small, sheltered town where alcohol was aplenty and pot wasn't hard to find. These days, heroin, cocaine, and crystal meth are regular acquaintances of a growing number of average, everyday high school students. It's a trend that I know is not …
I Wish to Meet…
What a great connection. They have both been around for about 25 years. While SportsCenter has managed to change the way people view sports, Make-A-Wish has also been busy bringing hope, strength, and joy to children living with life-threatening medical conditions. You may wonder what one has to do with the other. Well, ESPN is featuring a summer series called 'My Wish,' working collaboratively with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as they chronicle unique sports-related wishes of 10 children. They are sharing the stories of one child each day from July 9th to July 23rd. If you don’t have ESPN or …