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Archive for the ‘Feeling and Staying Youthful’ Category

Find More Joy this Summer

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

I hope you are enjoying summer fun and spending quality time with family and friends. I love to do things that make me feel like a kid again. When school lets out for the summer, it feels like time for me to begin summer vacation as well. Do you feel that way? I remember going to the pool, eating frozen candy bars, hanging out with my girlfriends and dreaming about what I wanted to do when I grew up.

Even though I don’t sun bathe anymore, I still eat the occasional (non-frozen) candy bar, hang with my women friends and still dream almost every day about my future. Some things never change. I know that finding my balance and peace and joy are still tops on my to-do list.

How is your joy level measuring up these days? Are you happy with your life and all it has to offer? I want to tell you if you are not feeling joyful, do something about it right now. When you woke up this morning did you begin your day with thanks and appreciation for what you have and who you are? I just became a grandparent again for the 6th and 7th time, and all seven are granddaughters. What a blessing. They are identical twins but each is uniquely special with her own personality and temperament, and each already knows what makes her feel safe and secure. Remind yourself how special you are—and how unique—and that there is no one like you in the whole wide world.

What gives you joy? Is it a place, a person, an experience or something that you can smell, taste, and touch? If you have forgotten some of these things bring them to mind…..a walk on the beach, your friend’s great sense of humor, or the taste of those great chocolate chip cookies hot out of the oven. Remember and close your eyes and now all those experiences are yours and no one can take them away.

One of the guest authors I interviewed recently told me she makes sure that each person she works with has a plan to be empowered and full of promise. She helps women know they have the ability to create the world they want and deserve. “Deserve” is an important word that women need to understand. It means you have a right to have a life full of joy, happiness, and to feel safe and secure. Our goal for you is that you will find your joy. You deserve joy in your life. I hope these articles help you to find more joy, more tools to be at your best, to feel revived and excited about what is around the corner. We are here for you and our promise is to keep giving information that will help you live well, laugh often and love more.

~ Dr Nancy

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No Gain No Pain Read Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

Monday, November 30th, 2009

There are hundreds of magazine covers and articles that entice you to check your weight at the holidays by planning ahead. They tell you to eat before you go to parties. Never arrive at a buffet line hungry. Eat healthy low calorie foods before you go. What they ignore, however, is the emotions that are so wrapped up in the holidays, they can trip you up faster than a child’s roller skate.

Before watching your weight soar, read Dr. Nancy’s article on how to avoid holiday weight gain. She candidly brings to light all of the triggers that can create a frenzy of emotional upheavals that can cause you to comfort yourself with food. Then she tells you how to deal with these triggers in satisfying, non-calorie ways that will help you feel good about the holidays and yourself. Study these coping mechanisms and avoid, not only extra holiday pounds, but those nasty, unfulfillable New Year’s weight loss resolutions as well.

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Moxy Women Find Your Voice

Monday, October 26th, 2009

That is the theme of Jean Harper and Dr. Nancy O’Reilly and many more women throughout the world. The network of women discovering how powerful they can be is growing minute-by-minute. It’s exciting and inspiring.

Watch Jean’s new Moxy Women Movie and find inspiration from the women featured there and the images and music that can make your heart soar.

Then listen to the interview Dr. Nancy did with Jean last June. Jean talks about how her sister’s life and death inspired her to turn her business, “Women Taking Care of Business,” into a force for women everywhere. The image that looks so much like Elizabeth Taylor on the beginning of the movie is Jean’s beautiful sister.

If you find a kernel of truth about yourself in anything you see and hear here, listen. Personally, I’m very lucky that I have always been encouraged to follow my dream. Yet, I have two quotes above this screen where these words appear: “Practice what you want to be.” Dr. Nancy O’Reilly; “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Lao Tzu. I realize that am the author of my own limitations. And I must practice to be more than I perceive as possible.

I hope you find the movie inspiring. And you increase your own personal power and that of other women you meet.

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Finding Joy Keeps Me Young

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

It seems too simple, “Think happy thoughts and you’ll be happy.” So why don’t I do it? Why don’t we all do it? Imagine what the world would be like if we did.

Dr. Nancy’s article, “Finding Joy…” reminds me how fortunate I am. It’s true that I have a tendency to behave in the ways this article recommends. However, even naturally cheerful, optimistic people need a nudge now and then.

The biggest nudge this article gives me is to think “present tense.” Reading it carefully, there is nothing here that worries about tomorrow. It’s all about today. She advises us to think, “I’m going to be happy today.” She says to “ be grateful for what IS… be kind… savor every moment.”

Dr. Nancy may have discovered the true fountain of youth. All she had to do was open my eyes so I could see it too.

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Is Healthy the New Skinny?

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

We loved this June 29 post by Andrea we found online. We women need to grab hold of this concept – that our body changes do not define who we are. Right on, Sisters!

“Healthy is the new Skinny: Obsession with body perfection”

(In a recent radio interview) I mentioned the term “Mommy makeover” and realized I may have offended some people by talking about this. This was not my intention, and I apologize if I may have offended anyone who has undergone a tummy tuck and/or breast augmentation after having a baby. My overall point is that after having a baby, many times a woman’s body is not the same as it was before. Fat is in places it wasn’t before, extra skin may be on the tummy and breasts sag. One of my good friends has even told me her husband calls her breasts “udders”. Nice.

What I want to emphasize is that if we work on accepting these body changes for what they are: body changes and nothing else, we can learn to live with them instead of relying on plastic surgery to give us back what (we thought) we needed. Whose standards is it that we have to have a flat stomach and perky breasts? That’s what I’m asking. That when did it become so important that we all look like Barbie? I’m not ecstatic that my body doesn’t look like it did before I had kids, but I’m working on loving it for what it is instead of going under the knife. I’m not better than anyone who does get plastic surgery; I know many smart, beautiful, amazing women that have, but I want all women to know that you can have body peace and happiness without plastic surgery. It is possible.

~  Live Your Ideal Life

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