Women's Life empowerment: Was your Mother's Day Bitter sweet?

We are celebrating Mother's Day and of course I celebrate my mother and thought of my Grandmother. I was craving a juicy hug from my Grandma who is no longer here. So... I went to the mirror looked in my eyes and hugged myself. Your loved one lives in you! If you're missing a loved one and are finding it hard to celebrate this weekend. Express their love this week and they live on through your expression. You may drop a tear or few as I did but your environment is refreshed & life goes on.

No it's not easy and we will miss our loved ones greatly, however, I'm sure they wouldn't want you to spend your time mourning or reaching back in the past. If we must
look back for a moment let it be a time of giving thanks for their lives and the richness they left us.

Maybe you're one whose mother is here but she was not much of a mother. Don't spend your days filled with unforgiveness.

Unforgiveness is poison an individual takes expecting the other person to die
Author unknown

I'm not saying that you wish that the other person would die, however, you may feel that holding on to unforgiveness somehow punishes the other individual. On the contrary it robs you of life, puts a strain on your health, sabotages your relationships and more. Embrace a lifestyle of forgiveness and live!

I know what I'm talking about. Again, this is also not an easy thing to do, however,
you can start the journey. Ask Father God to help you, trust that He will , stay close and listen for His wisdom.

Well I would really like to hear how this post has helped you and if you'd like to share a memory of your loved one this Mother's day and even beyond feel free.

Happy Mother's Day!

Women's Empowerment: Hone for the Holidays How to Transform Your Family Dynamics

I thought this was an interesting article and shared some great information
that we could all use. Enjoy!

Hone for the Holidays How to Transform Your Family Dynamics

By Steve Truitt

When Adam Sandler was still on Saturday Night Live back in the 90s, he did a fantastic bit during the Weekend Update News in which he had his father record the appearance on the VCR because he wouldn’t be able to make it home that year for Thanksgiving. He brought out a huge plate of food and began to eat and mimic listening to the people around the table as if he were there. It started off tame, but pretty soon it got contentious: “No Ma, I didn’t say that… Ma, she’s lying! Dad stay out of this… no I won’t shut up, Dad, you’ve been keeping me down too long! The tide’s turning old man!” At this point he burst into tears and screamed “I’M GAY!”

It was hysterical for a late night comedy show, but, sadly, all too common in families around the country.

So how is it that the season of celebration, joy, giving and family has become the time of the year that is most stressful? The answer is in Sandler’s Thanksgiving piece: He knew what was coming and he was waiting for it.

As family members, we know each other better than anyone else – foibles, flaws, failures and more. And the hope that maybe this year things will be different turns to anger, distance and resentment when that one button gets pushed and nothing has changed at all. Even in the closest of families – the least dysfunctional – expectations of unity, peace and holiday spirit can be instantly dashed at the moment a family member’s annoying habit poisons our perfect holiday scenario.

Here are the three things you can do this holiday season to hone your family relationship skills and make your holiday gatherings a more positive experience:

1. Limit your exposure: If you know that a certain amount of time spent with a family member gets your blood boiling, then simply plan to spend less time with them. Get in, get out and get on with your life.
2. Practice forgiveness: If you’re carrying any unresolved resentment into a particular situation, you’re planning to have a fight. You’re not going to fix or change this person – especially not during the holiday. So let it go, forgive their past offenses – and suspend your own judgment of them – and see if you can remember what you love about them. Focus on their good attributes. Let’s face it – who among us is perfect?
3. Visualize a great time: Before you spend time with your friends or relatives, take five minutes and visualize yourself driving or flying home from the visit feeling good about it and happy that you spent time with them. Take that peaceful energy into the situation and you will look for ways to create it while you’re there.


We can’t choose our families, but we can choose to accept them for who they are, and allow ourselves to be who we are at the same time. Your holiday is not recorded on videotape – at least not in its entirety! It’s yours to create -- any way you choose. This year choose to be the change you want to see in the family. Be forgiveness, be joy… BE MERRY!

Happy Holidays!

Steve Truitt is a life coach and the founder of Parent Parachute. His radio show is "The Bottom Line," which can be heard every Wednesday on Healthy Life Radio. He is the author of Stop Waiting For Permission! His website is www.stevetruittcoaching.com.

Happy Thanksgiving! Be Thankful

Be Thankful

Thanks for not having
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Thanks for lacking knowledge
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Thanks for difficult times
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Thanks for limitations
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Thanks for challenges
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Thanks for mistakes made
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Thanks for exhaustion
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made the effort.

Thanks for setbacks
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Thanks for troubles
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~


________________________________________
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you. I Thess. 5:18
The word doesn't tell us to thank Him that the problem, challenge or pain happened
but in everything Give Him thanks.