Are You Getting your Eyes Ready?
When five-year-old Caroline came for her weekly visit the Sunday before Halloween, she was especially excited because she loves to see all our neighbors’ yards decorated – and the spookier the better. As we...
Have you ever started to transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer – only to discover that you forgot to check the pockets and pieces of shredded Kleenex are now attached to everything? When that happens to me,...
In my last post I challenged you to make a list of your strengths – not to brag but to honestly acknowledge your innate gifts and talents. If you’ve never given your strengths much thought, it might be because...
I made a new friend at a parade over Mardi Gras weekend. She told me her name and that she was 5 years old. Totally mesmerized and delighted by the groups of girls dancing and twirling their batons to...
I was surprised at the large number of responses I received from my January 6 post. Remember… I asked you to make a list of what you want MORE of in your life in this new year.
Many of you...
How many articles have you seen since January 1 - newspapers, magazines, the internet, Facebook, Instagram and your phone (to name just a few) - about improving your life in 2023? Diet, exercise, finances, relationships, projects … every “expert” has an opinion....
We're almost there! Here are my last few ideas to help you create stress-free holidays.
Gift 8: Think carefully before you get “carried away” with holiday enthusiasm. Many years ago a dear friend invited me to a “cookie exchange.” In theory...
Gift 5: Spending time with people you love is a wonderful gift, and special holidays can be lonely without them. If you’re spending the holidays away from home and family this year, you don’t have to do it alone....
If you enjoyed “Happier Holidays, Part 1” have you thought of any other gifts you can give yourself as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays approach? Customs and traditions can be amazing Gifts in the life of any family. Little...
At a recent luncheon with several of my blog readers, the talk turned to the upcoming holidays. They laughed when I shared the title of a recent magazine article I’d read: How to Survive Thanksgiving and Christmas. Survive?? Really??...
A friend just sent me a photo from our ziplining trip in Alaska a few years ago. Dealing with change can be like ziplining if you’ve had days that leave you thinking, “This is not what I signed up...
Even though I lead women’s retreats all over the US, I live in Louisiana. Like so many of you in our area, every year I prepare, plan, worry (and pray) to be spared from those destructive storms we call...
“Back to school” happenings this week remind me of an important yearly ritual when our three kids were in school. Two weeks before classes began, we would drive to school and read the homeroom class lists taped to the...
We recently had the thrill of attending Hamilton at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans. Since this wasn’t a typical play I prepared by reading all the lyrics, along with an article titled “Hamilton for dummies.” Very helpful!...
Taking Care of YOU means making good choices in every area of your life. And that includes surrounding yourself with positive people who support and encourage you, tell you the truth (even when you might not want to hear...
As of June 1, we in the South are asking: “How can it be Hurricane Season already?” Of course hurricanes are now traveling to states they’ve never been before. Depending on where you live, you may worry about tornadoes,...
A few days ago I was stopped at a red light, next to a car full of teenaged girls being chauffeured by a mom. Thinking back to when our teens needed a ride from mom or dad (or any...
I’ve often thought about the propaganda I was exposed to when I was taught, at the tender age of six, that some people really did have perfect families and perfect lives. And it had to be true because it...
Think back to a special day in your life when you were a child. It could have been your birthday, a family vacation, or neighborhood adventures with your best friend. This perfect day held such promise that you couldn’t...
Last week I promised to give you tools to help manage your anger. It may be your own, or you “caught it” from an angry person. It could be recent, or it could be anger you’ve been holding onto...
Anger is a normal human emotion, and we all get angry once in a while. There are certainly justifiable reasons for anger that give us the energy to make positive changes, fight against injustice, right a wrong, confront a...
This title reminded me of one of my mother’s favorite pieces of advice. Although I’ve spoken in many healthcare facilities across the US, I recently had the privilege of presenting a unique program for a hospital’s annual luncheon. The...
Searching for my usual blend of encouragement and practical ideas for this week’s blog, I found it on a recent visit to Colonial Williamsburg. It didn’t come from our wise Founding Forefathers but from a speaker at a three-day...
As I wrote last week in Part 1 (below) getting our communication wires crossed can lead to misunderstandings, anger, frustration, resentment, low morale, less productive days at work and at home, and physical ailments related to increased stress levels....
Throughout my childhood my parents constantly preached about safety issues. First we got the basics: don’t run with scissors, don’t throw pencils, don’t pet stray dogs and don’t talk to strangers. Sound familiar? When we became teenagers the list...
If you’re a regular blog reader, you've heard me speak or read my books, you know that I don’t tell other people’s stories. I only share my own life experiences and what I’ve learned from them. Since today is...
When it comes to getting what you want, what’s the difference between persuasion and manipulation? We all negotiate every day - a lot more than we realize. Some people think that negotiating means getting your way, even if it...
“How do I handle the angry person in my life?” That’s a common question during my women’s programs. As adults we know how to express anger, seek satisfaction and get results in a positive way. But angry people don’t...
Our troubles began one morning with the pitter-patter of little feet in our attic. This worried me because, as far as we knew, no one was living in our attic at the time. We soon discovered that a crafty...
“Did you really give your sister a kidney, or did you make up that story to add punch to your keynotes?” Whenever I get that question my answer has two parts. “Yes, I did give my sister a kidney...
Have you spent time this week with any “little grey raincloud people”? I’ve given them that title because they have a knack for putting a damper on positive moments. It’s like they can see that you’re having a good...
Flowers are bursting into bloom all over Baton Rouge this week, reminding me of the song our three children sang at their various kindergarten graduation programs. It’s titled “Friends are like Flowers in the Garden of Life.” (If you’re...
Trying to live in today’s rapidly changing world reminds me of the first time I went snorkeling on vacation years ago. Both experiences can be stressful and downright scary. My mother always told me that if I put my...
These days it seems like Baton Rouge is one never-ending “road under construction” zone. Crews are working to widen lanes on the interstate, so drivers are taking the side streets and “back roads” – leading to more congestion. You...
Have you ever had a day that didn’t go as planned? You created this perfect scenario in your mind, but the reality that unfolded didn’t even come close. My (very short) career as a first-grade teacher many years ago...
Looking through an old album this week, I enjoyed photos of our annual summer trips to Virginia for my dad’s family reunion. The drive from Louisiana was long and hot. Excited to see our cousins again, my siblings and...
Viewing TV weather coverage for the past few weeks, I’ve thought about the everyday conveniences I often take for granted - a warm home, a car heater that works, and travel that’s safe and painless. Lately we’ve watched video...
Remember when you first learned how to ride your bike without the training wheels? You were feeling so “grown up” and proud of yourself! Unfortunately, you didn’t realize you were losing your balance until the handlebars really began to...
Last week I challenged you to “clean out your junk drawer thinking” and identify the negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviors we all carry around … those that can keep us from being our best, make us doubt ourselves and...
If you’ve taken time to reflect on last week’s issue I hope you’ve decided on that “Just One Thing” you can do to take better care of yourself this year. While it may mean adding something new, it can...
When I made the commitment to send these weekly e-notes on Fridays, I didn’t think about Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve being on Fridays this year! So this will be brief, as you may have things to do,...
Welcome to the first issue of Taking Care of YOU! If you know me personally, you’ve heard me speak at a conference or retreat, or you’ve read one of my books, you know I’m a firm believer in always...
