Friday, November 29, 2013

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING – RECOVERY: THE DAY AFTER


As much as we try – we are indeed only human!

What does this translate to on the day after Thanksgiving?

If you are like most of us you’re probably carrying a wee bit of extra weight…

We do tend to idealize the image of the Thanksgiving dinner – forgetting perhaps that those we love have not suddenly been kissed by fairy princesses – they are still human with all the nicks, cuts and flaws that come with our kind.

Putting us all together around a table loaded with tempting food can easily lead to stress, overeating, competition – a perfect formula for…nausea!

It’s okay!  Remember dogs fart too…



  



DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun
ideas...



3 STEPS TO HOLIDAY RECOVERY


Forgive  
 
First yourself – okay, you ate a lot – so what?  Let it go!  If you hold onto it by scolding yourself you know you’ll do worse tomorrow! 

Shock yourself by being kind – no regrets!  And along the way – if you weren’t perfect with friends and family forgive that too!

         

Laugh

The most potent mental health remedy is our ability to laugh at it all!  To expedite this piece of the strategy think about any moments from yesterday that might have been in the annoying category... 

Now, use your imagination to create humor out of any crumbs of melodrama still lurking!  

Exaggerate those moments to the point of laughter!


Forget

Any slights, faux pas, nastiness – imagine you can bundle it all up, babushka style, every last snippet, and dump it all into the nearest trash heap.








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Thursday, November 28, 2013

THANK YOU!



A true autumn day – it’s overcast and the leaves on the trees have turned crimson and yellow gold, a gentle drizzle falling from the mystical grey colored sky…




The kind of day, shrouded in magic and myth that often foretells the coming of Thanksgiving.


Each year we are reminded to count our blessings, even if they sometimes seem elusive…

History aside, how amazing, really that we have a day dedicated to remind us…


What do ya think?





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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS


A thought for Hanukkah “The Festival of Light” which begins tonight…




“Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space.  It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe.”

“It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished.”
                                                                   – Michael Strassfeld


This is a time of the triumph of light over darkness. 

How do you bring light into the world?




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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

HOLIDAY HELPER…


Is this really ‘The most wonderful time of the Year’? 

CHECK IT OUT: 



EXPECTATIONS: 
Harmony and Understanding
Love and Peace
Good will to men
Perfect presents
Perfect food
Perfect conversations…


REALITY:
Stress
Competition
Insults
Over eating
Exhaustion
Depression…



WHOOPS...

What do ya say?   

Can you see that crash coming, or what? 

To avoid the collision: GET REAL!




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Coming in December - Check out Holiday Helper – a ‘Mini-Medi' audio clip to help you through this holiday season at www.oldladiesdance.com


Sunday, November 24, 2013

SUNDAY SMILES – SWEET POTATO PIE


There are moments and places that make you feel good – if you let them in…

Today 3 strangers accidently ‘coincided’ in the library.  

Some books fell – we laughed – ok giggled – and the librarian rolled her eyes and scolded us grown ups who were setting a baaad example for the kids… 

We were caught!  And somehow a wonderful conversation – shared guilt perhaps - evolved.

The topic - after all Thanksgiving is in the air - was sweet potato pudding!



3 women – 3 wonderful mouth watering recipes...

And now we share them with you!



While you bake check out my favorite sweet potato pie song – written by James Taylor and sung here by Ray Charles…

Oh Lord, I feel fine today
Walking on cloud nine today…”  hear more


THE RECIPES

1)    Sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, marshmallows…
Combine first 5 ingredients, place in baking pan.  Cover with Marshmallows.  
Bake at 350 degrees F for about ½ hour or until toothpick comes out clean


2)    Sweet potatoes, cornflakes, walnuts, pecans, butter
Whip potatoes, put into baking pan.
Melt butter and mix in cornflakes, walnuts and pecans.
Fill pan with half way with potatoes and half with cornflake mixture.
Bake at 350 same as above


3)    This is the ‘Paleo’ version
Sweet potatoes
4 eggs
Cinnamon and nutmeg
Blend all and pour into greased pan
Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 F


These ladies started out by baking raw sweet potatoes but hey, canned anyone?   

And don’t ask me for exact amounts please! 

That librarian was giving us the evil eye…


HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!




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Friday, November 22, 2013

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING – WANT TO CHANGE YOUR GAME


Here’s a great example of ‘trying harder’:

You’re at someone’s house.  
Their dog jumps up on you. 
The owner yells, “Down!” 
The dog stays right there.
The owner yells LOUDER!
The dog smiles…
You cringe…

This one is easy to see, right?  

Obviously doing the same thing, no matter how loud, is not working.

This concept of ‘trying harder’ permeates our culture.  We find it in our schools, in our doctor’s offices and at work, just to name a few places.

Unfortunately, this belief often leads to failure, self deprecation and shame.






DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun
ideas...



WANT TO CHANGE YOUR GAME?


1)  Think about a problem situation you are dealing with.

2)  How are dealing with it?

3)  Do a quick analysis:

   Problem        Attempted solution     Results


4)  Now ask yourself a few questions:

        Is this an on-going problem?

        What’s your solve rate?

        Do you think your strategy is effective?

        Are you stubbornly holding on to an old strategy?

        If so, why?


5)  Now the fun part: 

Create a new solution and try it on!








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Thursday, November 21, 2013

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED…


No!  That old ‘try try again’ is not the answer!  It will only drive you nuts!  (Did I really just say that?)  

  

Better go with that healthier adage from sports:  'Always change a losing game!'



How many times have we all heard, or even said ourselves:
“But I’m trying so hard!”

Yup!  You are!
But to create a different outcome you have to do something different!

People often ask how they can heal from old emotional wounds.

If you keep doing the same behavior you keep yourself frozen. Trying something different leads to healing!

WHAT DO YA SAY?  UP FOR A NEW GAME?



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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING – PITY PARTY?



No matter how strong we are there are times when we are all tempted to do the ‘pity party dance’ – life’s ‘woe is me’ tango.

And we are all entitled to feel sorry for ourselves – for a little while!

When it becomes chronic we turn ourselves into victims.  At this point, we are turning anger at whatever has happened in on ourselves!








DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun
ideas...


THE ROAD TO RECOVERY…


Conscious exaggeration is a powerful tool in releasing ourselves from the seduction of playing the victim!


“Oh, woe is me – AAOOO!" 

Howl at the moon, moan and groan but do it at a high decibel level.  Get your inner actor engaged.  

And if you really want to go for it - ask a friend to join your 'pity party'.

You’ll know you’ve released the lock when you start laughing or rolling your eyes at yourself!

Ham it up!   

We'd love to hear how this one goes!    

 





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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

THE BEST LAID PLANS…



Don’t you just love it when you have a perfect plan . . . and fall flat on your face?

Recovery is of course the issue. . .

Laugh, cry, sing, dance, spin in circles – whatever you do, always have a ready exit strategy in your back pocket.


The trick is not getting caught in the quicksand of 


“Woe is me…”


Sure, you can visit that state for awhile, but not long enough to get sucked down . . .

Can you hear that ‘sucking you down’ sound?


SLURP…      SLURP…     SLURP…


You get the idea!   Don’t go there!

What do ya say?  How do you recover?





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Sunday, November 17, 2013

SUNDAY SMILES – TAXIS – AGAIN!


More taxi talk – sorry but in this city in they really are a great source of laughter…

So I got into this taxi and a loud beeping sound – I mean really loud – began to vibrate through the entire car…

“Seat belt?” I asked him.

“No, “he muttered.  “Something in dashboard…”


 
I was about to say, “No problem, as long as it doesn’t explode…”

Once upon a time that would have been funny, right?  These days not so much…

Although in this case it probably wouldn’t have mattered since the driver didn’t understand much English …

He did however, probably wonder what kind of a maniac he had in his cab since it was all I could do to keep my cackling down to a quiet roar as he kept glancing nervously into the rear view mirror…




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Friday, November 15, 2013

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING – BEEN PUT DOWN? REBALANCE THE POWER


What creates condescending behavior? 

What prompts a person to act this way and what is the ‘training’ that has made us accept this behavior when it is directed at us?

We often take condescension from others for granted – as if  people in positions of power have the right to act this way towards us and that it is our duty to accept this behavior.

Perhaps it is time to re-think this – both the action and our re-action…







DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun
ideas...

WANT TO RE-BALANCE THE POWER?

1)     Feel it when it happens!  Let your physical responses cue you to when you’re getting ‘sonned’.
What part of your body reacts?  Your stomach?  Your shoulders?  Become aware of this reaction.

2)    Now let yourself have another reaction!  Imagine rolling or crossing your eyes in response to this ridiculous behavior… Yes it is ridiculous – and totally unnecessary! 

3)    Add words and music to your reaction – You chose the music – the words might go something like:

“Who does this jerk think s/he is?

“Are you kidding me?”   
or even –

“Really, dude?  Not in this lifetime!”


You get the idea – the goal is to have an early warning system that let’s you know that the other person is trying to put you in a one down position.

No matter who they are – it’s not ok!







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