Meditating With The Seasons

 

Meditating throughout the changes of the season can have such profound relief and a different notion of remaining calm during tough situations. For example, if you feel overwhelmed, speechless, and without knowing what to do with your decisions; You can meditate more during the spring season. The spring season is a time full of possibilities, opening yourself to love, and feeling the peacefulness in nature. This season is considered a time for new initial stages in life to welcome new opportunities, and new friendships, and take care of yourself among the chaos. It is an exciting time to feel more creative without worrying about your job, your friendships, or your relationships.

It is recommended to work in your garden by planting new seeds with the hope of seeing new fresh plants and flowers to uplift your mood. Practicing mindfulness in the garden can be effective in your mood. Take care of your garden as the seasons change and with optimism that everything will be satisfactory. Dry plants, dry leaves, and removing weeds and knowing that it is a transitional stage in gardening just like the negativity that is temporary in your life. Every time you are in the garden, you can feel a sense of peace for a brief time as you maintain your plants.

The spring season renews your hopefulness for overcoming tough situations and trials that life brings to you. Therefore, you can also do contemplative meditation especially if you do not know what to do or how to approach certain matters that you are facing in life. Sitting down, laying down, or simply being in a comfortable position to tackle your deep feelings that you may often ignore. Do cluster diagrams in silence, write in your journal, doodle, or write down the thoughts that come to your mind. Do a self-reflection of what needs to be improved, changed, or what is out of your control to calm your mind.

Breathing techniques while contemplating and observing how your body feels and what thoughts arise while you reflect. You can do this by using one word to help you relax. Say the word silently in your mind such as “Gladness” while you inhale and exhale “Sadness.” Do this for about ten minutes to lower your blood pressure and relax your nervous system. Change your positive affirmations or mantras as the season changes or what you want to focus on to help you feel serene.

Wear comfortable clothes and layer your clothes depending on the weather. Practice ways to relax and do things that you enjoy doing to help you stay calm. Everyone has a unique way to remain calm during tough times and not every technique works for everyone. Practice mindfulness, yoga, movement meditation, or any other form of meditation to find your composure. Connect your mind with your heart while controlling your emotions each time before you speak. 

Meditate indoors or outdoors to improve your mood and to feel good about yourself. Although it is difficult to meditate during the winter and summer seasons; Meditating indoors can still be useful for your sleep, mental, and emotional state. Often the changes in the weather make it hard to concentrate and calm your nerves. Aromatherapy through a reed diffuser, humidifier, or incense gives you instant tranquility. The autumn and winter season is an enjoyable time to rethink, focus, and let go of the negativity from your past. 

Learn to meditate and adapt your mind to be more conscious about being kind to yourself and to others. Every season brings a fresh start to something new, something that needs to be learned, something to be experienced, and to get to know yourself better. You are continually growing, improving, and changing yourself; And meditation can help you breathe in and slowdown in this confusion you may have. Be encouraged to try various forms of meditation and mindfulness as the seasons change. Do not get bored while meditating and eventually you will notice a new perspective on yourself. 

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Diabetes Alert Day

Every fourth Tuesday of March is Diabetes Alert Day. The American Diabetes Association dedicates this day to Diabetes Alert Day to bring awareness of the risk factors that contribute to getting diabetes. Also, knowing your risk factors may prevent diabetes or prevent diabetes complications. Some people do not know that they have diabetes until they get tested. Other times the symptoms present themselves such as feeling dizzy, sweating, cold chills, headaches, and lack of energy. 

However, going to the restroom too much, having too much thirst, and gaining weight are also symptoms of diabetes. Yet, Type 2 Diabetes may be prevented if you know your family history and your risk factors. Diabetes can change your lifestyle but it does not change your happiness. The risk factors are sitting too long, not enough exercise, eating too many carbs, and too much stress. Also, not drinking enough water and too many sugary drinks. 

But the toughest risk factor is controlling your stress and balancing your hormones especially during pregnancy or with the menstrual cycle. Learn how to control your stress by finding ways to calm down. Additionally managing your food cravings because anything you eat and drink converts to sugar. Take diabetes classes if they are offered through your medical insurance. Change your lifestyle by adding exercise, more water, and healthier foods with fewer carbs.

Do your yearly medical check-up and dental appointments. Diabetes affects the gums of your mouth and your teeth. Change the portion size of your meals and lose weight if needed. Controlling your weight helps prevent diabetes. Seek professional help if you can not manage your emotional eating.

Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented.  On the contrary, Type 1 Diabetes can not be prevented but it can be managed. Diabetes Type 1 is when the body attacks the immune system. This type of diabetes is controlled with insulin.  Yet, diabetes can also be controlled with medication. 

If you have Gestational Diabetes ask your doctor for controlling your diabetes while pregnant.  Gestational Diabetes can occur if you have a baby that weighs nine pounds or more. As well as your age and if you were overweight before getting pregnant. But you can have a healthy baby if you have Gestational Diabetes and your doctor monitors it with preventive care. Nevertheless, take care of yourself and the health of your baby. 

Diabetes Alert Day is a day to be informed about your health and risk factors for diabetes. If you do get diabetes, you can still live a happy and positive life. Diabetes does not prevent you from working and doing your favorite hobbies. It is necessary to change your lifestyle so you can control your diabetes. Here are website links about Diabetes Alert Day. 

Understand Your Risk for Diabetes: 

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/diabetes/understand-your-risk-for-diabetes 

Diabetes Alert Day-National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:

Diabetes Alert Day - NIDDK (nih.gov)

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National Scribble Day

Every March 27^th is National Scribble Day. This day is not just for children but also for adults. Scribbling is excellent for the brain. Wavy lines, circles, straight lines, and other geometric shapes on paper make the brain process better learning skills. Making scribbles make the brain focus on reading, drawing, and other subjects that are learned as a young child or as an adult. Additionally making scribbles help with handwriting in cursive and for your lettering style.

You can have more creativity while you use your sight to create something from a scribble. Scribbling is good for your mental health because it helps you calm down if you are feeling anxious before taking a test at school or in college. Also, it helps you calm down during your lunch break before going back to work. It may not wake you up if you are feeling sleepy, but scribbling does help you to have creativity. As well as self-expression of how you are feeling now or what your brain is trying to process. 

Doing scribbles help in making decisions as well as calming your thoughts before making an important decision. Scribbling is often used for therapy when a child or an adult has a hard time explaining how they feel. It can be done individually or as a group. Also, scribbling helps to create art and to visually see what your art will look like once it is finished. Scribble for five minutes a day and see how it makes you feel.  

Scribbling can be done out of boredom and to reduce anxious thoughts. Yet, scribbling keeps you busy when you are alone with your thoughts.  Some teachers do not like it when you scribble in class, especially during a lecture.  However,  if you are in an art class, scribbling might be what you need before working on your drawings. Before your class lecture begins, you can scribble in your notebook for relaxing your nerves.

Scribbling can be done by practicing mindfulness. Find a comfortable room to scribble at home. Open a page in your journal to scribble with different colored pens. Listen to guided meditation stories and scribble how you are feeling. Scribbling might help you relax before going to sleep. 

Furthermore scribbling at work is not permitted unless you are testing the office pens. But you can scribble during your lunch break if you are having a stressful time. It is recommended to scribble with a pen and paper so you can not use the eraser. Try scribbling in your notebook or journal for more concentration, and imagination, and for reducing your stress. Here are resources for National Scribble Day. 

Scribble Swap-Art Directive for Group Therapy-Creativity in Therapy:

Scribble Swap: Art Directive for Group Therapy - Creativity in Therapy

Scribbles Have Meaning-Better Kid Care-Penn State Extension:

Scribbles have meaning — Better Kid Care — Penn State Extension (psu.edu)

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True Love

True love begins with acceptance of who your partner is and who he will become later in the future. As both partners gradually change and get to know each other on a deeper meaningful level; they must understand, respect, care, support, and have a strong closeness even when they are apart. Affection is helpful for the emotional and physical aspects of the relationship. Yet true love begins with an emotional mindset that makes intimacy better and a greater commitment between both partners. It is not an obsessive, compulsive, jealous, or insecure relationship due to insecurities by one partner.

On the contrary, true love is a bond that is created before both partners have a child. Passion and physical intimacy are secondary emotional characteristics. Before physical intimacy, a couple needs to have a balance between work and their relationship. True love is not a casual relationship. Instead, true love in a relationship makes both partners faithful to each other while resisting the desire to be with someone else.

True love is not an open relationship either. Although some people have improved their serious relationships in an open relationship; it is not for everyone from an emotional, physical, and mental perspective. Both partners need to have emotional and physical boundaries along with excellent communication without involving other people in their relationship. Honesty, a good attitude, and wanting to show affection are part of a healthy relationship between both partners. True love is not a toxic relationship where one blames the other, criticizes their partner, disrespects, and speaks about other women or one specific type of woman.

It is not when one partner forces their partner to have physical intimacy with aggressive behavior. Furthermore, true love awakens indescribable feelings that are too painful to feel when one partner passes away. These intense feelings, care, encouragement, and interest in their partner make a partner love unconditionally. It makes it easier to forgive them, listen to them attentively, and be open to showing affection in public. Without embarrassment but with appreciation, gratitude, and the fullest trust in their partner to continue growing together as a couple.

Many couples divorce after one year of marriage because of unfaithfulness, lack of commitment, misunderstandings, financial reasons, or incompatibilities in the relationship. Most couples do not understand their partner’s attachment style and disagree with their partner’s decisions in raising their children. There is no compromise. A lack of communication, too much isolation, and not knowing how to manage their problems within their relationship make many people get a divorce. Yet, true love is a prolonged process as both partners evolve and struggle with themselves to make their relationship in eternal bliss.

Moreover, true love encompasses both partners working together with patience and being aware of each other's feelings. Letting go of expectations and permitting oneself to love without losing trust in oneself. A partner should not make their partner expect them to be there constantly for them in a possessive manner. However, a partner must show compassion and be willing to defend their partner without question. True love is not denying oneself love. 

It is not closing yourself to being loved by someone. Do not lock yourself emotionally due to insecurities, feeling like a failure, and feeling unworthy of receiving someone's love. Everyone deserves to be in a loving, caring, and stimulating relationship. True love is not avoiding your partner because of fear. Also, true love is not ghosting and reappearing again in the relationship with long silent treatments. 

Although, silent treatments might help a partner to connect with their emotions and thoughts, and in their decision-making; Lengthy periods without speaking to your partner are damaging to the relationship. True love is a greater connection between both partners that develops gradually. It occurs naturally without any shame, guilt, or discomfort. Nevertheless, true love is devoting yourself to your partner regardless of their intellect, faults, and lack of aptitude. True love is not perfect but it is a path that couples strive to achieve for a deep level of happiness. 

Beyond expectations, a couple must learn to understand one another with trust and not destroy their partner’s self-worth. Self-love, self-trust, and self-respect are characteristics that one must strengthen to be in a serious relationship with someone. True love is being realistic and genuine which makes the relationship last a lifetime. It leaves both partners fulfilled with warmth and feeling love to the highest emotional level. Here are more resources about true love. 

Is There Really True Love-Psychology Today: 

Is There Really True Love? | Psychology Today

27 Real Signs of True Love in a Relationship-Love Strategies:

27 Real Signs of True Love in a Relationship (lovestrategies.com)

What is True Love-A Deeper Insight:

What is True Love? A Deeper Insight (sadhguru.org)

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How to use Leftovers for Your Meals?

Using leftovers for creating your meals saves you money and saves you time in the kitchen. Make sure you use your leftovers with careful attention and with the type of meal in mind. Begin by gathering your leftovers such as bread, vegetables, chicken, salads, pasta, or other food items. Plan your lunch or your dinner by making quick and easy meals with your leftovers. Use strong and durable food storage containers. 

Do not store your food in empty tin cans. If you open food from tin cans and only use half of its contents; Store the rest of the food contents in a storage container with fresh water. For example, if you open a can of corn, save half of the corn in a storage container with water to keep it fresh for the next day. Use leftover cauliflower rice for your soups or for stuffing bell peppers. Also, use leftover bell peppers and cabbage salads to make your chicken sandwiches. 

Make a cucumber and tomato salad with leftover cilantro with raw onions. Then use your leftover cucumber salad as a side dish for your sardines. Additionally, learn to use lemon juice, pepper, garlic, oregano, rosemary, and other herbs with spices to preserve your leftovers. You can use leftover beans in your soups, burritos, tortilla wraps, or a bean salad. Serve beans with salsa and with your chicken to make a simple chicken meal. 

Be creative with your leftovers. Use leftover spinach for your soups, salads, and dips, and for stuffing your sandwiches. If you have leftover salad dressing, use them as a dipping sauce for your lettuce wraps and raw vegetables. Check the expiration dates of your salad dressings and canned food. Label your containers to know what is inside.

Reusing glass jars with their lids makes it easier to see your vegetables, pasta, and other ingredients. Leftover take-out food can also be used to create a different lunch or dinner meal. Always organize your leftovers with labels and keep them in front of the refrigerator. Some vegetable scraps and coffee grounds can be used as compost for your garden. Do not feel restricted when using your leftovers as appetizers.

Leftovers can make an interesting appetizer for unexpected guests. Crackers, pretzels, nuts, cheese, and dry fruit can be used to make food platters. But you can use spinach dip and raw vegetables as a quick appetizer for your guests. Plus, you can use leftover radishes, celery sticks, carrots, and pretzels for dipping in salad dressings or herbal dips. Marinara sauces make good dips too especially for leftover bread. 

Vision your meals before creating a meal with leftovers. Have a leftover meal day twice a week with your family, friends, and other guests. Stick with your family's taste preferences to make a basic leftover meal. You will never be bored with making your meals with leftovers. Leftovers last three to four days in the refrigerator.

Always smell your leftovers before serving them. Check to see if the leftovers have their natural food color. Wash your storage containers and get rid of strong food odors from the containers with vinegar. Label the containers correctly and store leftovers with their broth or sauce. Here are more website links about using leftovers for creating your meals. 

Food Tips for Leftovers-How to Reuse Leftovers and Avoid Food Waste-Work Week Lunch:

Food Tips for Leftovers: How To Reuse Leftovers And Avoid Food Waste (workweeklunch.com)

12 Ways to Use Leftovers in Your Weekly Meal Plan-Slender Kitchen:

12 Ways to Use Leftovers in Your Weekly Meal Plan - Slender Kitchen

What to Do with Leftovers-Good Cheap Eats Budget Strategies:

What to Do with Leftovers? - Good Cheap Eats Budget Strategies

81 Recipes that Make Great Leftovers-Bon Appetit:

81 Recipes That Make Great Leftovers | Bon Appétit (bonappetit.com)

Rainforest Alliance Organization-Five Easy Steps to Reduce Food Waste:

https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/everyday-actions/talking-trash-five-easy-steps-to-reduce-food-waste/?creative=632707079278&keyword=what%20to%20do%20with%20leftover%20food&matchtype=b&network=g&device=m&gclid=Cj0KCQjwt_qgBhDFARIsABcDjOcyytEnb36b9NP9wgwqYFjLTmVzBcijl_y_ZtoZJY5fA3MPJ-XJdPgaAps1EALw_wcB

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National Kidney Month

Keeping your kidneys healthy is something you would not think about during the day. Kidneys are about the size of a fist and are shaped like beans. Yet, kidneys have three important functions so the body can stay healthy. First, the kidneys eliminate extra water, fluids, and waste from the body. It filters everything through the urine. 

Additionally, it filters the blood and produces red blood cells that give oxygen to the body. Second, it produces a hormone and vitamin D. It helps to balance the minerals the body needs such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium. The kidneys are in the back of the abdomen. Furthermore, the kidneys are one of the important organs to think about before drinking too much alcohol. 

Too much alcohol and drugs damage the kidneys which makes them function improperly. It increases the risk of kidney stones. Kidney stones produce pain in the back, sides, abdomen, and groin. Nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine, fever, chills, and other symptoms are developed because of kidney stones. Dehydration from alcohol increases the risk. 

Therefore, it is necessary to be conscious of how many alcoholic drinks are consumed. Third, the kidneys eliminate drugs from the body. Every year in March is National Kidney Month with a different theme. This year's theme is " Have More Healthy Moments: Get Tested and Follow Your Kidney Health." A urine test evaluates the amount of protein, and checks for diabetes, and kidney issues. 

Some medications affect the kidneys. Consult with your primary doctor if you are concerned about your kidneys and the medications that you take for pain. Anti-inflammatory medications may damage the kidneys over time. Kidney disease has no symptoms at the beginning of the disease. Moreover, the kidneys help control your blood pressure. 

Eat healthier to keep your kidneys healthy. Drink eight glasses of water or discuss with your doctor about hydrating your body. Foods that help the kidneys are leafy green vegetables, seafood, bell peppers, and a low-sodium diet. Always speak with your doctor for more tips and advice on keeping your kidneys healthy. Below are website links about kidneys, alcohol, and other information. 

Courtesy Image from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

How Alcohol Affects Your Kidney Health-Cleveland Clinic:

How Alcohol Affects Your Kidney Health – Cleveland Clinic

Alcohol and Your Kidneys-National Kidney Foundation:

Alcohol and Your Kidneys | National Kidney Foundation

National Kidney Month 2023-NIDDK (NIH GOV):

National Kidney Month 2023 - NIDDK (nih.gov)

The National Kidney Foundation:

Welcome - The National Kidney Foundation

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Self-Trust

Insecurities, low self-esteem, low self-worth, and self-hatred make it complicated for having trust in oneself. This type of negative thinking makes you feel not good enough. Feeling insufficient is something that should be erased from one’s mind. Not forgiving oneself is harder to eliminate especially if you are always being cruel to yourself. Self-trust is essential for one’s confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth. 

Believe in your intuition to make decisions. Not believing in your instincts, make you avoid your feelings. Also, not trusting in yourself and relying on others for opinions make you feel more indecisive. It makes it problematic for your sleep, mental health, and physical health. Trust in yourself makes you feel less guilty in making decisions. 

Develop self-trust with self-love and self-compassion. Correct your thoughts by not doing negative self-talk. Stop complaining about what went wrong at work, your relationship, or errors that were made. To trust yourself, you need to let go of perfectionism. Do not punish yourself if your expectations became failures. 

It is best not to have expectations. Do not assume that everything will be flawless. Recover your true self and heal from verbal abuse. Often not trusting yourself is due to emotional abuse from your friends or family members. Trust yourself and be convinced you can be successful. 

A lack of self-trust makes it strenuous to trust others. Moreover, have self-trust to strengthen your self-confidence. Continue to practice your skills and talents. Get to know yourself when you are alone. Being alone helps you to analyze your thoughts and your decisions. 

Although, being alone for many months is not good for your mental state; Loneliness helps you to understand yourself and what needs to be improved. Loneliness for long durations is not recommended. Socialize more to regain your self-esteem, self-confidence, and your self-trust. Be self-efficient and be yourself. Learn to let go of your fears, self-doubt, and negative emotions that stop you from being yourself. 

Overcome your painful recollections. Seek professional help to heal from emotional abuse and traumatic events. Self-trust must come naturally. Trust in yourself for better friendships and a caring relationship. Here are website links about self-trust. 

 

Self-Trust and How to Build It-Psychology Today:

Self-Trust and How to Build It | Psychology Today

How to Trust Yourself More-5 Ways-Psych Central:

How to Trust Yourself More: 5 Ways | Psych Central

How to Trust Yourself-Building True Self-Confidence-Soul Salt:

How to Trust Yourself: Building True Self-Confidence – SoulSalt

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National Caffeine Awareness Month

Consuming too much caffeine may cause anxiety and affects the nervous system. Although not everyone gets the jitters when drinking too much caffeine, it is important to take conscious of how much caffeine you consume. The entire month of March is also observed to be aware of how much caffeine is consumed daily. Caffeine is beneficial for the dopamine that is produced in the brain and for regulating the glucose in the blood. It may prevent Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.

Caffeine is a stimulant that stimulates the nervous system and may help with weight loss; Yet too much caffeine can be addictive, and it dehydrates the body. Some complain of insomnia, headaches, or anxiety disorder due to caffeine consumption. While others get nervous ticks and a feeling of hyperactivity with rapid heart palpitations. Alcohol mixed with caffeine is a bad combination to do because you lose your reasoning. Popular drinks such as cocktails and mudslides are loaded with caffeine, alcohol, and too much sugar.

Be cautious when drinking those popular drinks with alcohol and with caffeine. Limit your consumption if you are the driver since alcohol impairs the brain and your coordination. Energy drinks have too much caffeine and they should not be consumed if you have heart problems or a heart condition. On the other hand, consume tea and coffee in moderation. Drink decaffeinated tea or decaffeinated coffee a few hours before going to sleep.

Keep in mind that tea and coffee are diuretic drinks and dehydrate the body when it is consumed too much. Do not drink soda at night either because it keeps you awake and causes heart palpitations if you have a heart condition. There is no designated age for drinking caffeine but be aware that children’s digestive systems and metabolism are still developing. It is not recommended to drink coffee at an early age especially if they are not twelve years old. Yet it may seem traditional and a custom to do in some cultures to introduce them to coffee, but it is best to wait for them to turn twelve years old to drink a small cup of coffee with the family.

There is nothing wrong with drinking caffeine in the morning or the afternoon to wake you up. It is concerning to consume too much caffeine for staying awake late hours at night due to working on assignments or not wanting to sleep. Managing your time is necessary and controlling your stresses is important. Do not rely on stimulants to keep you awake during the day. Limit your caffeine consumption by drinking one regular coffee cup in the morning. 

Drink decaffeinated coffee for your second cup in the afternoon. You can do the same thing with your tea consumption. The best way is to drink plain coffee without adding sugar. Another way is to drink a cup of coffee with milk or another dairy substitute with no sugar. Drink your afternoon tea or coffee before three o'clock which doctors recommend. 

Alternate caffeinated and decaffeinated drinks for two weeks. Your brain and body adjust themselves to new drinking habits. Consume water after drinking caffeinated drinks so your body can dilute the caffeine. Another way is to drink half a cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon. Discuss with your primary doctor about limiting caffeine from your lifestyle. 

Also, your doctor can give you resources if you are addicted to caffeine. A caffeine addiction creates a slower release of dopamine from the brain. The brain makes dopamine which is a feel-good hormone. It is one hormone that makes you feel happier. This is temporary happiness combined with caffeine. 

Like any addiction, one must permit and admit that there is a problem. As well as seeking help without feeling shameful, fearful, and without family pressure. Addiction is a barrier that is created in the brain to avoid internal issues. Caffeine addiction can be handled with therapy and focusing on solving the issues. Here are website links about caffeine. 

 

Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda, and More-Mayo Clinic:

Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more - Mayo Clinic

Is Caffeine Good for You? Pros and Cons, Nutrition Information, and More-Web MD:

Is Caffeine Good for You? Pros and Cons, Nutrition Information, and More (webmd.com)

Caffeine-Benefits, Risks, and Effects-Medical News Today:

Caffeine: Benefits, risks, and effects (medicalnewstoday.com)

Dangers of Mixing Alcohol with Caffeine and Energy Drinks-CDC:

Dangers of mixing alcohol with caffeine and energy drinks | CDC

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International Day of Happiness 2023

In 2013, The United Nations declared the International Day of Happiness on March 20th. Every year this day is observed to feel happiness externally and to share happiness with others. But happiness must also be felt internally to feel the blissfulness of life. Happiness may seem temporary for some because of the instant laughter, short joyful event, and positive feedback from a coworker. However, to have permanent happiness in life one must permit themselves to be open to possibilities and opportunities.

Be responsible for your actions with self-discipline and your moral guide taught by your parents. No matter how old you are, you must have an attitude without grudges and without anger about what was done to you. As painful as it was, you cannot allow it to be a shadow in your life experiences and your happiness. Even if you want someone to change for the better, he or she will not change. He or she cannot change without accepting what needs to be improved or eliminated from their lifestyle.

Do not rely on your partner’s happiness because your happiness is different than theirs. But, have respect, appreciation, and gratitude for yourself and others. Socializing helps to develop communication and happiness. According to the author, Roy T. Bennett, “ If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.” Help others through volunteer work, donating, and giving back to the community.

Watch comedy shows or entertaining television shows that make you laugh and smile. Do your favorite hobbies, read poetry, or share your crafts with others. Practice saying positive affirmations and quotes for happiness. Make a happiness jar, journal, or scrapbook with your happy moments with your family and friends. Here is a brief list of positive affirmations for happiness.

1. I am worthy of receiving love and giving love.
2. I am focusing the day on gratitude and happiness.
3. I am a wonderful person with gratefulness and positivity.
4. I believe in myself and I am open to sharing my happiness with others.
5. My heart is open to feeling happy.
6. I am filled with happiness for myself.
7. I am optimistic and ready to start a new day.
8. I radiate respect, appreciation, and happiness.

Write down three or ten items that make you feel happy. Help your children with their homework and teach them to say, “thank you.” Everyday events that may seem like a chore can produce a feeling of happiness. Believe in yourself and dedicate yourself to being happy in the present moment. Here are more resources for International Happiness Day. 

Day of Happiness: 

https://www.dayofhappiness.net/

International Day of Happiness:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/happiness-day

The International Day of Happiness:

https://www.livehappy.com/the-international-day-of-happiness/

Happiness Quotes (17371 Quotes) (GoodReads):

Happiness Quotes (17371 quotes) (goodreads.com)

* Free background, sunshine, and fonts from Photo Collage Editor Maker

* Happiness Quote from GoodReads

National Optimism Month & Printable Quotes

Celebrate National Optimism Month in March with a journal, quotes, a vision board, and positive affirmations. The entire days of March are dedicated to being more optimistic. You can review your day and write three items that were joyful for you. Thus, you can use optimistic quotes in your journal or print out quotes for your binder. Printable quotes can be printed out and framed for your wall, corkboard, or desk frame. 

Optimism is indispensable and it permits you to look forward to good future moments. To be optimistic helps you to be encouraged. It helps to have the motivation to continue which optimism makes it more enjoyable. Optimism makes you have a better attitude when you are in a tough situation. Also, it helps you to have confidence and hope for the best. 

To achieve optimism, one must practice mindfulness and meditation techniques for remaining calm in difficult situations. Mindfulness makes you optimistic because you feel cheerful about what you do. Gratefulness, appreciation, and a zest for life are other feelings that make you feel optimistic. Your self-esteem and self-confidence are balanced with optimism. Keep practicing self-care and self-kindness along with mindfulness to be optimistic. 

Another way to accomplish a positive mindset is to use a motivational application. Optimism can make someone think realistically. But unrealistic optimism makes you expect a good outcome against probability. Yet, it takes time to change your pessimistic mindset into an optimistic mindset. Be cautious with comparative optimism. 

Comparative optimism makes you compare yourself with others and expect good things only for yourself. This generally occurs during job interviews or a job promotion without realizing everyone's potential for the job. Comparisons are not reasonable for your mind and for your attitude. Anticipation is part of being optimistic even when an event occurs differently. It lets you see possibilities. 

Situational optimism is expecting the best for a specific situation. One must always have the prospect that everything happens in your welfare. Positiveness is powerful for your mindset and your actions. Today, I created three coloring pages with quotes. Below are website links about being optimistic. 

20 Methods to Learn Optimism-Better Help:

20 Methods To Learn Optimism | BetterHelp

How to Think Positive and Have an Optimistic Outlook-8 Tips-Healthline:

How to Think Positive and Have an Optimistic Outlook: 8 Tips (healthline.com)

* Fonts from PiZap

* Optimism Quotes from GoodReads

Global Recycling Day 2023

Global Recycling Day began in 2018 to reuse and recycle items that can be recycled. Every March 18^th is Global Recycling Day which is a day to be conscious of what goes in the trash and what can be reused. For example, glass cannot be recycled, and most spice jars are made of glass. Therefore, you can reuse your empty spice glass jars for your everyday items such as buttons, loose change, toothpicks, sugar, and other items. Additionally, you can reuse those small spice glass jars for keeping your leftover dental floss picks in your bathroom cabinet.

The possibilities of re-using your empty spice glass jars are endless. Also, you can use leftover instant coffee to refill one of your empty spice jars. You can take the leftover coffee to your work and make your coffee when you are on your break. Refill the spice jar with sugar and use it for hosting your tea or coffee parties at home with your family. All you will need is soap and water to wash the empty glass jar.

If you have a hard time removing the residue from the labels, you can use nail polish remover and a cleaning sponge to remove the residue from the label. Then, wash the empty spice jar with soap and water. Let the empty spice jars air dry before refilling them with your items. Another way is to use vinegar and soap to remove the label residue from the old spice jars. After that, you can use your empty spice jars for planting small plants or for decorating your room with small plants.

Other glass items can also be re-used for gardening purposes, sewing, and for other hobbies that require small items. This day is a learning day for younger generations so they can learn the importance of recycling. It is also a reminder for older generations to be considerate of the resources and materials that are used every day for our hobbies, cooking, and our self-care days. As well as being watchful of what goes in landfills and the oceans. The United Nations acknowledges Global Recycling Day.

Recycling and re-using items saves money and can prevent pollution. Make recycling a fun activity for the entire family. Your older children can participate in making craft projects with reusable items. Furthermore, your children can paint glass items, tin cans, and other disposable items for their craft projects. Here are links from other websites for upcycling items and re-using spice jars. 

 

 

How to Repurpose Spice Jars-Turning the Clock Back-Turning Clock Back:

How to Repurpose Spice Jars - Turning the Clock Back (turningclockback.com)

About-Global Recycling Day:

About - Global Recycling Day

What to Do with Old Spice Jars-Find Out Now!-Upgraded Home:

What To Do With Old Spice Jars? (Find Out Now!) – Upgraded Home

30 Easy Recycled Crafts for Kids-Fun Recycled DIY Projects for Kids-Good House Keeping:

30 Easy Recycled Crafts for Kids - Fun Recycled DIY Projects for Kids (goodhousekeeping.com)

How to Remove Labels from Glass Jars-Jar & Can:

How to Remove Labels from Glass Jars - Jar & Can (jarandcan.com)

* Fonts, background, hearts, and Collage from Collage Maker Editor 

Listening Awareness Month

It is Listening Awareness Month! Listening Awareness Month is about learning how to listen better. This essential sense is needed to socialize and understand others. There are many types of listening skills and each one has a purpose. Listening is therapeutic and listening in this objective makes it easier to give support to someone. 

Therapeutic listening occurs when you speak to a friend or a relative about your problems. Although he or she may not have the solutions to your problems; They give you empathy, and consolation, and leave you feeling peaceful. It also happens when you speak to a professional counselor, psychologist, or therapist. Additionally, they give you their full attention and listen actively. Therapeutic listening can also be called empathetic listening. 

Another type of listening is listening on a deeper level. Deep listening is listening attentively to understand someone's point of view. It takes skill, patience, and making your mind a blank canvas. Listening to someone without being distracted. Deep listening can also be called comprehensive listening.

The third type is to listen critically. Critical listening makes you analyze what you are hearing without making assumptions. It is getting the information and evaluating the information that is gathered.  Analytical listening is useful for finding a solution to your problems. Evaluating every detail is like putting a puzzle together. 

The fourth type of listening is to listen in full. Full listening is to get all the information. Focusing on what is being said and storing the information. This process is done every day without thinking about all the information the brain is capable of storing it. Nonetheless, learn to listen in a healthy positive manner. The wrong way to listen is by doing selective listening. 

Selective listening lets you get certain information without grasping the entire concept of what is being said. Although selective listening might be acceptable for a busy job, it is not the best way to handle situations. Often it is necessary to get as many details as possible to solve the issue. However, selective listening can be done to get the main facts, but it is not useful to do it all the time. Missing information makes you question items more. 

Some people see selective listening as harmful and worsening relationships. It lacks a connection with someone. Moreover, it is considered toxic because you only hear what you want to hear. Also, you can make bad conclusions about what is heard. While some people view selective listening as part of informational listening because you gather the information for making your written notes. 

Active listening is what you need to accomplish to have better relationships and friendships. Listen to someone without paying attention to your distractions. Notice a person's tone of voice and body language. Active listening is not being confrontational. Listen with an open mindset.

Let your mind go blank while you hear what the other person is telling you. Set your thoughts aside while being attentive. Listen carefully without tuning out. Remove your headphones and do not look at your cell phone while you listen. Here are more resources about listening. 

 

Active Listening:

https://www.coursera.org/articles/active-listening

Want to Listen Better Turn Down Your Thoughts and Tune in to Others:

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/08/974786825/want-to-listen-better-turn-down-your-thoughts-and-tune-in-to-others

* Free ear and headphone images from Pizap

* Collage, fonts, borders, and background made in Photo Collage Editor Maker 

Sleep Awareness Week 2023

 

It has been twenty-five years now that the National Sleep Foundation has brought knowledge of Sleep Awareness Week®. Due to daylight savings time, it is encouraged to change your sleep routine so you can sleep better. Sleep is crucial for your physical and mental health. The body cannot function well without sleep. Sleep helps the brain to function healthy and it allows you to work better.

Courtesy Image from the National Sleep Foundation

Since 1998 the National Sleep Foundation has made Sleep Awareness Week® an annual occasion to take into account the importance of sleep. You can promote Sleep Awareness Week on social media by using the hashtags, # SleepAwarenessWeek and #BestSleptSelf, and #TheNSF. It is recommended to change your bedroom sheets, pillowcases, and other items according to the changes of the seasons. During the winter season, layer your bed with heavy thick cotton blankets, cotton pillowcases, and mattress covers. While in the spring and summer seasons, you can change your blankets to a lighter fabric that makes you sweat less such as linen, microfiber, bamboo, or a mixed fabric of cotton with polyester.

In addition, you can use silk which is helpful for allergies and does not damage your hair. Sweating is a common issue when it comes to sleeping at night, especially during the summer season, menopause, or hot flashes caused by medications. Use colors that help you sleep such as blue, yellow, orange, pink, beige, green, or a lighter color of gray. The most popular color for a bedroom is blue because it is associated with feelings of calmness and it is a cool color in the color spectrum. Yet, learn how to use one or two colors to make your room inviting for sleep.

Cellular phones are another issue when it comes to sleep. Sometimes cell phones ring in the middle of the night due to spam phone calls, spam text messages, or a friend that can not sleep. It is recommended that cell phones are in silent mode or vibrate mode depending on your preference. Emergency calls are inevitable, but it is a rare occurrence. Text messaging at midnight is not a good habit to do no matter who you are texting at that hour.

Make boundaries with your friends and family members and let them know that you need your sleep. It is great to socialize but have a time frame for text messaging. Sleep deprivation during work hours makes anyone feel miserable. Explain your reasons for not text messaging at night so you can function well the next day. Here are more resources about getting better sleep. 

National Sleep Foundation:

Sleep Awareness Week® 2023 - National Sleep Foundation (thensf.org)

Twelve Simple Tips to Improve Your Sleep-Healthy Sleep-Harvard Education:

Twelve Simple Tips to Improve Your Sleep | Healthy Sleep (harvard.edu)

Sleep Tips: 6 Steps to Better Sleep-Mayo Clinic:

Sleep tips: 6 steps to better sleep - Mayo Clinic

7 Bedroom Colors that Help You Sleep Better-Color Meanings:

7 Bedroom Colors That Help You Sleep Better - Color Meanings (color-meanings.com)

* A Person Sleeping Clip Art Free Vector/4 Vector-Cliparts.co:

A Person Sleeping Clip Art Free Vector / 4Vector - Cliparts.co

*Background, fonts, and borders from PiZap