For the Bullied and Beautiful

http://www.ted.com/talks/shane_koyczan_to_this_day_for_the_bullied_and_beautiful.html

For those of you who have already viewed this video, view it again. Remind yourself of what Shane is talking about. For those of you who may watch this for the 1st time, do not ever forget it! Let it change you. Let it motivate you to being the best you can be. Realize who you are. You are not defined by others. You are unique and important. Do good for the world!

Happy Memorial Day

The tough part is close-up. Seeing what a bullet can do to your friend.

- Lt. Larry Gwin (Vietnam)

 The dead soldier's silence sings our national anthem.

-Aaron Kilbourn

With the tears a Land hath shed.
Their graves should ever be green.

-Thomas Bailey Aldrich

And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.
-Joseph Drake





Refreshing Summer Drink

Watermelon Coconut Breeze

Ingredients:
3 cups cubed chilled watermelon
1 cup coconut water
squeeze of fresh lime
ice (what ever you desire)
sprig of mint

Throw it all in a blender. Blend till smooth. Enjoy!

A child's inner voice...

Be a proper example for your children.  They are the future.  Do we want the future to be in peril? 

Teach your kids what really counts...

Bullying seems as though it is getting worse.  We should know better than to demean someone's character and uniqueness.  I heard a sad story yesterday...
A mom went shopping with her 9 year old son.  He was really excited to pick out his own clothes from Old Navy.  He ended up picking out a blue shirt with a Furby on it.  If you aren't certain what a Furby is, the picture is below.  The boy was so happy to have picked out his own clothing.  He felt like he was a boy, becoming a man!  Unfortunately, kids can be cruel, and in this case they were.  The boy wore his new shirt to school the next day and was called horrible names.  The kids taunted him and said he was wearing a "girly" shirt.  I won't list all the names he was called.  He came home in tears telling his mom the story and she was heart-broken and angry (as I would be).  Needless to say, the young boy does not want to wear that shirt again for fear of bullying.  How is this ok?  How is it allowed?  If I were the parents of the children that called him names, they would be in big trouble.  We have to teach our children that there are consequences to their bad behavior.  It seems common sense but why are so many parent's failing to do this?  sigh.

10 Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem

Everyone wants to feel great and have a good self-esteem.  However, it does not always come so easily for some.  I was one of those people that struggled with who I was from time to time.  The world seems to center itself around looking pretty/handsome, being young forever, being in fantastic shape, etc.  If a person doesn't fit some of these criteria, they can at times feel down in the dumps about who they are as a person.  It is really unfortunate.  I believe we all offer the world a bit of difference and flavor. 

Here are ten ways to boost your self-esteem and start feeling wonderful about YOU today:

1.  Don't define yourself by what people say about you.  Talk to yourself about all the things you like about who you are.

2.  Remember that you get what you are putting out in the world.  If you are putting out negativity then you will get that back.  Focus on putting out those positive vibes.  You will reap the benefits.

3.  If something bad happens, don't linger in sadness or anger.  Learn from it, and if you can't...move on.

4.  Do something for yourself that makes you feel happy. (Buy a book, get ice-cream, purchase a fancy coffee, etc)  You don't want to spend a lot of money. That's not the idea here.  Something simple that will make you smile is what you are after.  If helping someone else makes you happy, then do that!

5.  Spend time with people that lift you up rather then tear you down.  Distance yourself from those negative Nelly's who bicker all the time.

6.  Set a tiny goal for yourself and work to achieve it.  It will build your confidence.  Then once you conquer the small stuff, make some bigger goals.

7.  Laugh.  It is such a healthy thing to do for so many reasons. 

8.  Celebrate the things you achieve.  Don't make them sound less then what they are.  Don't sell yourself short.  Feel proud and happy about it.

9.  Occupy your mind when you feel the bad feeling emerging.  Excercise, meditate, do breathing excercises, read a book, listen to some fun music (nothing depressing), etc.  Don't allow yourself to have any time for gloomy thoughts. This takes training.  If you have felt a certain way for so long it can become habitual.  Make a healthier habit for yourself.

10.  Enjoy YOU.  If you don't like yourself it will be really hard to notice anyone else liking you.  It's not that maybe some people aren't enjoying you, but you will be too distracted with feeling low, to notice.  It turns people off to hang out with an 'Eeyore' type.  Like yourself and notice the people around you that like you too! Maybe you can talk to some of your closest friends and get them to tell you why they enjoy your company so much.  It will be good to hear that.  Take it in!