December Practice...

Healing Old Wounds: When your relationship with others is on the rocks your physical, emotional, and physical health are harmed. It is time to heal old wounds and amend imbalances. Make a list of anyone and everyone you have a beef with, for any reason- whether you hurt them or they hurt you. Then take a step back and acknowledge your part in it all, you can only be responsible for yourself. Ask for forgiveness, and be willing to forgive, even yourself.

December Project...

Come All Ye Faithful:

Spiritual beliefs don’t just show up, they must be called. Faith takes nurture and growth. If going to church isn’t what you like, shape your own form of worship, ritual or tradition to exercise your faith. Make it what you want it to be, it may not be what is right for everyone else. Use all your senses, with food, music, some candles or incense, and decorations of your choice. Celebrate your spirit, and invite any friends, family, or even pets to join in.

Motto...

“In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.” LEO TOLSTOY (1828-1910)

December Affirmation...

I listen to my body and take care of its needs. I cultivate a spiritual connection to honor the source of my blessings.

November for Kids...

Thanksgiving is a wonderful family time. It's great when children can be part of the preparations, and even better if their crafts can be part of the Thanksgiving table decorations.
Turkeys for Thanksgiving - Let the kids make these turkeys to decorate for Thanksgiving, or use them to hold place cards on your holiday table. For instructions and tons of other ideas visit… http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_11.shtml

Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving this is a great craft for kids, and a wonderful opportunity to interact with your children, as well as let them explore their creativity.

November Practice...Smart Planning

Are you a plan maker? If you struggle with this it’s very important to realize that the key to making plans is to not become attached to the outcome. If you hold huge expectations, and it doesn’t happen, you are likely to feel as though it wasn’t the plan that failed; rather the planner is a failure. This in turn causes double disappointment. When making your plans keep in mind…”This is the best I can do in the present circumstances, with the information at hand. Let the universe take care of the results.” I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

November Project...Your Life As Art

We are so lucky to have the opportunities present today. We scrapbook, make our own home DVD’s, showcasing your life has never been so easy. If this is something you may consider doing make sure that you want to collect memories for you to create these things with. There is tons of room to be creative, like sewing a story quilt from raw material of the past, writing a poem using photos to illustrate it, or set your life to music with a slide show on the computer.

November Ambitions...becoming Earth Friendly

Earth Friendly Idea: This month’s earth friendly idea comes straight from a great site that I highly recommend you to subscribe to: http://www.idealbite.com/
“What drug habit do we all need to break?”
The Bite...The habit of chucking unused medication. When we flush meds down drains or send them to landfills, they can make their way into rivers and even drinking water. Safer disposal is just what the doc ordered.
The Benefits
· Not turning fish into addicts. The U.S. Geological Service found that more than 80% of sampled rivers tested positive for meds like antibiotics, birth control hormones, and antidepressants.
· Less drugged-out drinking water. Trace amounts of pharmaceuticals end up in our taps (and bottled water, since 40% of bottled is just repackaged tap water) because most treatment plants aren't designed to filter them out.
· Helping people who can't afford meds. More than 20 states have programs that'll take unused drugs and redistribute them.
Personally SpeakingWe take unused meds to our local pharmacies whenever we have to pick up a prescription (sadly, it doesn't mean we get a discount).
Wanna Try?
· Starfish Project - takes donations of certain meds by mail and distributes them to people in need.
· Earth 911 - enter your zip and the word medication to find nearby drop sites for unused pills.
· SMARxT Disposal - disposal options for those who don't have a nearby drop-spot.
· Green Pharmacy Program - join its campaign to push for proper disposal facilities in your area.
· Drug Repository Programs - check with your local Department of Health or Board of Pharmacy.
· Pharmacies - some pharmacies (such as many Rite Aids) offer safe drug disposal programs; check with yours.

November Ambitions...Service of Others

Service of Others: Many countries around the world have harvest celebrations this time every year, to give thanks for the crops. Be sure and take a few moments yourself to be thankful for the hard work, planning, and love that has borne the many foods and blessings brought into your life in the past year. Give honor to this abundance by donating time or money to help others in need. Two specific ideas, volunteer at a local food bank, or donate extra items within you home if your own cupboards are sparse.

November Ambitions...at Home

Home: Have you checked out the site http://www.flylady.net/ and start out with the "Beginner Babysteps" link on the left column? Sign up for the e-mails, if if there is nothing else that you get done at home today….SHINE YOUR SINK.

November Ambitions...Couple

Couple: “KEEP YOUR MATE AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST…When one mate feels valued by the other it becomes natural to return the attention.” This ambition comes from Married For Better Not Worse, by Gary and Joy Lundberg. By putting your mate at the top of your priority list you will come to find that in turn you have more to give of yourself in the other important areas of your life. Consciously address your priorities often on a personal level and as a couple to keep your relationship in balance with your partner. Staying happy takes thought and effort, but when you feel valued and feel like you are your partner’s number one priority this allows for amazing things to happen. It will release the imaginary ropes we’ve constricted our energy and emotions with. Evaluate where it is your partner is in your life, and then do something to let them know they are at the top of our priority list. Feeling so valued will help you get through any rough patch in your relationship.

November Ambitions...Family

Family: “What happens in the family affects the community.” I want to introduce you to site that offers the TOP 5 TIPS FOR BUILDING FAMILY BONDS. This can be found at the site http://www.legacyproject.org/guides/familybonds.html . “Maybe world peace is a little out of your reach this year, but family peace isn't. There are five simple but powerful things you can do to reduce stress and conflict, and bring your family closer.Family relationships, especially relationships between generations -- parents and teens, grandparents and parents -- can be difficult to navigate, but the rewards are worth the effort. Most people think they need to do big things, but it's the small things you do on a regular basis that count most.”
Visit the site to find out more, there are great resources and info for families here. For the month of November focus on step one: LISTEN FIRST.

November Ambitions...Family

November Ambitions...Personal

Personal: Meditate on a mandala- a spiral sun in the center of a lotus flower. Begin by focusing on the lotus to awaken your spirit. Next turn your focus to the center sun and feel all of the powerful energy spiraling into your being. Allow this meditation to give you inner strength and warmth, especially as the days grow colder and darker.
So what is a mandala? Click here to find out… http://www.mandalaproject.org/What/Index.html
More about mandalas’s at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala

Affirmation for November...

I honor the past for its lessons and joys. I relish the future for its possibilities. Together they enrich the present moment.

November Motto...

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”...Please note I am trying to find who this quote is from.

Key to our past and link to our Future…

Whatever came before us, and whatever it is that may follow helps give us meaning in our lives, and in the present. We will always be chasing after time or being chased by time, why not join it? Instead of trying to live in the past or trying to burying bad experiences, make it a point everyday to appreciate and learn from what those times have taught you. When you close your eyes each night, instead of screening what lies ahead of you, indulge in speculation and spontaneity-it’s vital for the existence of your future.