Is It Earth Day Or Is It Birthday?

Article Presented by:
Sally Goldberg, Ph.D.

Q. In our world of disposable products, what can we do to teach our children not to be so wasteful?

A. As with the solution to any problem, the first step is awareness. Then comes modeling an environmentally friendly way of life.

With the erratic weather patterns and other acts of nature, the earth keeps speaking up with a great big "Stop!" As we all continue to enjoy the advancement of modern conveniences, so we must be aware of the resultant toll it takes on our earth's delicate balance.

The Earth and Its Atmosphere

Scientists tell us about global warming. They trace much of it to the non-biodegradable items that we dispose of each day. Every plastic cup, knife, spoon, fork, and plastic bag that we throw away turns into chemicals that rise up to form a mass around the earth and block our natural wastes from escaping. While openness cools, such blocking is what warms. While we live in 2007 and cannot reverse our wonderful advances (and we do not want to), there are practical steps we can take.

Ruth W. of Phoenix, AZ suggests: "Request paper cups whenever possible, instead of plastic."

Jill D. of Flagstaff, AZ wrote: "Bring your own utensils when you can and go shopping for groceries with your own washable canvas bag."

Elizabeth C. of Boca Raton, FL said: "Ask for paper bags instead of plastic."

Cutting Back and Changing Patterns

There are many choices we can make differently related to environmental protection. Many people print file after file from their computers when it might take only a few seconds to jot down the important information that they may need. Others buy colored disposable paper goods when they could by white instead. Burning white is much less polluting to the atmosphere. This relates to all the purchases of colored napkins, paper towels, and other disposable paper products.

Mindy L. of Cape Cod, MA reminds us: "Battery operated toys just end up breaking. Clay, play dough, bubbles, and blocks provide many more hours of fun for kids."

Anne B. of Tempe, AZ alerts us: "Turning lights off when you are not in the room or are leaving the house saves important energy, not just money."

Wasn't it fun when we played jump rope, hide 'n seek, spud, and dodge ball? What natural activities do you remember doing? How about a craft that you enjoyed, a building set that you liked constructing with, or even dolls and a doll house (bought or homemade) that you designed and re-designed over and over again?

Whole Natural Foods and Body Cleansing

Let us teach our children, even our youngest ones about healthy eating. Whole natural foods are nature's products. Artificial color, flavor, and preservatives are not. Such chemicals are in processed foods, and they clog our cells. Clogging leads to all kinds of bad diseases. Diseases lead to massive use of medicines, many other problems, and continued abuse to our bodies. Every morsel of food you put into your child's body should have the purpose of nourishment. Whole natural foods are nature's intended medicines.

Dava W. of Sedona, AZ tells: "I feed my daughter every morning natural muesli with soymilk, blueberries, and half a banana. It is nature's best way to jumpstart your metabolism."

Joan S. of Scarsdale, NY adds: "The "no white" rule is magical-no white flour, white sugar, white rice, or white potatoes."

What foods do you give your child just for the purpose of nutrition? If the answer is most, you are on the right track. We must "stop" and change our abusive ways. The rewards will continue to grow as we return to a simpler, happier, and healthier way of living.

Earth Day is really a new version of our world's birthday. Let it be our new way to celebrate another year of life. Let us learn to celebrate it with the dignity and respect it deserves. Just as we give nurturing love and protection to our precious children, let us teach them and others new ways to love and protect our precious planet.

Happy Earth Day!


About the Author:
Sally Goldberg, Ph.D., parenting specialist, empowers parents to solve parenting issues. Join her for weekly parenting classes at the Valley of the Sun JCC in Scottsdale, AZ. If you would like to contact Dr. Sally, you can reach her at 480-766-6323 or drsally@drsallyparenting.com Find out more at http://www.drsallyparenting.com

Are You Focusing On What You Truly Want?

Article Presented by:
Bonnie McFarland

Imagine you're happily driving down a country road on a clear, sunny day. Suddenly a semi truck crosses the center line and is heading right at you. Heart pounding and adrenaline rushing, you react. Will you avert disaster? Maybe. Maybe not. In this moment, your life depends on where you focus.

Professional driving instructors tell us that what people usually do in emergency situations is to stay focused on the object they are trying to avoid. In driving, where your eyes and mind are focused is most often where you will steer. Unfortunately, if you were focused on the truck in the situation above you would likely steer right into it. The route to safety is to focus on where you want to go. In this case, you'd look away from the truck to a place that's safer. You would then automatically steer the car in that direction. Safe!

You may be wondering, "What the heck does that have to do with creating more pleasure, passion, and purpose in my life?" My response is "A great deal!" As in the example of the truck, your life depends on where you focus.

Focusing on What You Don't Want Steers You to More of That

Often when we are feeling stuck, dissatisfied, confused, or unhappy we are focused on what we DON'T want. We are looking at the truck we'd like to avoid. We're thinking or saying "I don't want to be in this miserable job another day" or "I don't want to work on this project" or "I don't want to have pizza for dinner tonight." From the big events to the small details in life, we tend to put a lot of our thoughts and attention on precisely what we don't want.

So, what's the problem with that? Well, it's kind of like steering your car into the truck. The more you focus on what you don't want, the more you head in that direction.

Your mind is wired to create whatever you focus on. Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich" and Maxwell Maltz's "Psychocybernetics" are two classic books on this subject. These and other researchers tell us that the mind can't tell the difference between something you're thinking about that you want and something you're thinking about that you do not want. Whatever you think about, your mind goes to work to make that happen.

Getting More of What You Really Do Want

If you'd like to get more of what you want in life (pleasure, passion, purpose), shift your focus away from what you don't want and clearly, purposefully towards what you do want. Your mind will go to work creating that. You'll get unstuck. Your energy will increase. Solutions, alternatives, and options will come to you more easily.

Here's a recent personal example. At the end of a long day, I was getting ready to prepare dinner. I'd been grocery shopping and had the ingredients for three complex dishes I hadn't made before. Hungry and tired, I reviewed the recipes but quickly became frustrated and overwhelmed. I started saying to myself "I don't want to make these dishes. I don't want this to be so hard. I don't want these recipes to be so complicated." Those thoughts increased my agitation. I felt stuck and upset.

Then I took a deep breath. I asked myself, "What do I really want in this situation right now? (Besides a personal chef!)" The answer was "I want to make a healthy and great tasting dinner in a way that is fast and easy for me." I quickly saw a solution I'd been unable to see minutes before: make only one of the new dishes that night along with a simple salad and save the other new recipes for another evening. So that's what I did. The cooking was less stressful and the food turned out great. I switched from what I didn't want to what I did want. And it worked!

Are you focused on what you want or what you don't want? I know many (maybe most) of us have an ingrained habit pattern that focuses us on what we don't want. Changing this pattern can be challenging. And I've seen with myself and my clients that it's definitely worth doing!

In Your Life

The more you focus on what you do want, the more pleasure, passion, and purpose you will create in your life. Focus on the clear road ahead, not on the truck coming at you. Try experimenting with this.

1) When you're feeling stuck, stressed, worried, angry, unhappy, or upset, become aware of what you're focusing on. You may be focusing on exactly what you don't want.

2) As soon as you notice you're focusing on what you DON'T want, ask yourself, "What DO I want in this situation?"

3) Purposefully and intentionally, change your focus to and keep your focus on what you do want.

4) Repeat as needed.

Enjoy!


About the Author:
Bonnie McFarland works with women at midlife who are restless, stuck, or dissatisfied and want more passion and purpose in work and life. Her e-book, "What Lights You Up? Your Guide to Pleasure, Passion, and Purpose in Life," as well as "Light Matters," her ezine with tips and tools for getting more of what you truly want, are both available free. Your Guide To Pleasure, Passion and Purpose In Life http://www.labellavia.com