Personal Change

Almost Perfect

admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:45:00 -0500

How can you tell if your a perfectionist? Say you're addressing an envelope in your best handwriting. You've already affixed the stamp and aligned it just so in the top right corner. Your made-to-order address label sits parallel in the top left corner. It's ready to send...but wait. You turn over the envelope and see that you've addressed it upside-down. What do you do?

Out of Bounds

jbloustein — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:25:49 -0600

Just minutes left in the first half and my daughter Stephanie’s soccer team was down 1-0.

The girls, 11-year-olds like Stephanie, weren’t playing well. Their red uniforms seemed to meander all over the field. I stood with parents on the sideline. My hands were clenched. My heart raced.

Suddenly a girl named Heather on our team got the ball. She dribbled downfield. The opposing team surrounded her. I saw another girl in red open in front of the goal. Pass it, Heather, I thought.

It's Up to You

admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:36:18 -0500

Lots of us have been there. Stuck in a job that gets us down. You know the feeling. You dread Mondays. You watch the clock, praying for the workday to be over. This can be a recipe for misery. On average, Americans spend 80 percent of their waking hours at work. That's way too much time to be unhappy. Every job has its challenges. Everyone has bad days at work. But if you find yourself screaming, "I hate this job!" once too often, it's time to change your life a little—or a lot.

Create the Ultimate Change Environment

jbloustein — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:11:10 -0600

The spaces in which you live and work and the things with which you surround yourself can have a dramatic effect on how you accept or create change in your life.

Today, start to create your ultimate change environment. Fill your home and/or workspace with objects or symbols that give you strength and confidence.

Sleep Glorious Sleep

jbloustein — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:28:20 -0600

Lack of sleep is one of the main reasons why people are so tired today. So, it stands to reason that sleeping more is one of the best ways to boost your energy.

Here’s how to get more Zzzs.

1. Do your own energy experiments.
First, determine how much sleep you need to feel your best. You can do this by going to bed a little earlier each night to see how much sleep makes you feel the most rested in the morning.

2. Get a TiVo

A Morning Walk with God

jbloustein — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:24:38 -0600

There is something uniquely spiritual about taking an early morning walk—enjoying the great outdoors as we commune with God about our day.

Walking in the morning, I often sense that it’s just me and God, discussing the day ahead. From Psalm 5:3 we learn: “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

A Stitch in Time

jbloustein — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:40:06 -0600

I sat on my bedroom floor surrounded by skeins of yarn, piles of red, white and blue granny squares.

Pieces of an afghan my husband, Jim, and I started crocheting years ago, forgotten until I unearthed it from my closet in a bout of cleaning.

I picked up a square and ran the soft threads between my fingers. Why hadn’t I finished the afghan? Why did it seem I never finished anything?

Extreme Makeover (Attitude Edition)

jbloustein — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:24:04 -0600

Gordon worked his crowbar between the base molding and the wall in the upstairs bedroom of our beach house.

He gave it a jerk and the baseboard popped loose. He moved on to the next piece of molding. He was like a machine.

It wasn’t yet 8:00 a.m.—the first morning of a four-day job installing oak laminate floor in two bedrooms and a hallway—and already my husband was sweating. And he seemed to be enjoying it.

Stowed in My Suitcase

edward-grinnan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:48:35 -0500

Uma Thurman
Where You Know Her From:
Her acting career includes several films including Dangerous Liaisons and Pulp Fiction, and she currently stars in the comedy Motherhood.

What Creates a Home Away from Home for Her: My kids

The Healing Power of Hope

jbloustein — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:45:04 -0500

Patty*, in her early 60s, was depressed, sure that her weight gain had caused her recent divorce. She began working out and eating better, and eventually the pounds came off. She felt great.

But, after a few months of being at her ideal weight, she began to feel depressed again. Life was blah. Though she kept up her exercise and diet regimen, she stopped being socially active. Then one day, she saw an ad for a research study offering free sessions of hope therapy.