Greetings from LIFESTYLE CHOICES!
Simple and Present
The holiday season is upon us: a time of family gatherings, home-cooked meals, and generally great expectations for most of us. We have a small home in rural San Leon which is situated on a large lot planted with vast amounts of tropical plants. We call it The Oleanders due to the indigenous oleanders which grow there. It is the perfect retreat to celebrate Thanksgiving! The foliage has grown so much this past summer we can hardly see the hot tub from our porch although it’s only ten feet away. This is good. We absolutely love getting into the hot tub surrounded by our plants, away from the world.
Over the years I have found joy but also stress while celebrating holidays. In retrospect the stress was mostly due to too many expectations of what I’d wanted to happen and then having a different outcome than what I’d envisioned. I decided I needed to create simple get-togethers.
First of all what do I truly want to accomplish during the holidays? What I really desire is to create fun, loving memories—a happy mom who’s enjoying being with my kids and husband. Not tired and irritable. I want to be present. My plans evolved to have the home-cooked meals but have them less elaborate. I don’t have to do it all. My husband’s volunteered to smoke the turkey, my sons will bring side dishes, and I’ll add what’s lacking with fewer desserts. None of us needs them anyway.
Most importantly I need to be peaceful and happy. As a parent, we set the tone for our families. A great Alanon tool is HALT. It’s an acronym for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. To ensure a better outcome, it’s best for me to feed myself spiritually, be peaceful, and get rest. I need to halt and do what’s necessary for me to be in the state of mind which fosters well-being prior to the holiday.
There will be no computers or televisions on that day. We won’t be on our cell phones either. My sons and their families love to come to The Oleanders although we don’t have an internet or cable connection there. None of us uses these diversions when we’re all together because typically we’re only together for the day. We’ve experienced some challenging life events which have caused us to be immensely grateful for our time together. They actually enjoy being with us without any distractions!
If we decide to “do” anything, it’ll probably be play a board game or ride the scooter. We’ll also get into the hot tub after dinner. How fun talking together, peering through the lush foliage, secluded in a peaceful, restorative environment.
Intentionally I will “catch” them doing things right and compliment them. Lift them up. I will think about what is right and minimize thinking about what’s wrong. Although they’re now grown, I realize I can still influence their lives. What a perfect opportunity to do this!
Keeping the holidays simple yet mindful is creating the fun, loving memories I want for my family. That’s what it’s all about!
Last Update in 2010 on Childhood Obesity:
This month a new study from Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity was released which is the most comprehensive study of fast-food nutrition and marketing ever undertaken. The report, titled Fast Food F.A.C.T.S. (Food Advertising to Children and Teens Score), examined the marketing efforts and practices of 12 of the nation’s largest fast-food chains. The fast-food industry focuses extensively on TV, the Internet, social media sites, and mobile applications. Some of the key findings:
Compared with 2007, in 2009 preschoolers saw 21% more ads for McDonald’s, 9%more for Burger King, and 56% more for Subway. Children ages 6-11 saw 26% more for McDonald’s, 10% more for Burger King, and 59% more for Subway. These increases are especially notable for McDonald’s and Burger King, which have pledged to reduce unhealthy marketing to children.
- Hispanic preschoolers see 290 Spanish-language fast-food TV ads each year. McDonald’s is responsible for ¼ of young people’s exposure to Spanish-language fast-food ads.
- African American children and teens see at least 50% more fast-food ads than their white peers. McDonald’s and KFC in particular specifically target African-American youth with TV ads, targeted Web sites and banner ads.
For more information click on http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/product.jsp?id=71426
2011 TED Award Recipient Announced:
JR, a moving and innovative artist who exhibits freely in the world’s streets, has been named the recipient of the 2011 TED Prize.
JR creates what might be called “pervasive art.” Working with a team of volunteers in various urban environments, he mounts enormous black-and-white photo canvases on the buildings in the slums around Paris, on the walls in the Middle East, on broken bridges in Africa, and across the favelas of Brazil. These images become part of the local landscape and capture people’s attention and imagination around the world.
JR remains anonymous -– never showing his full face, revealing his name, or explaining his huge portraits. His work is about raising questions.
View the powerful trailer “Women are Heroes” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vNPT7ZQZqQ It was first presented this year at the Cannes Film Festival where it received a long, standing ovation. When I read about thousands or millions of people and their plights, it is hard for me to fathom. This trailer helps me to “feel” what is happening with so many women around the world.
Time for an Inspiring, Uplifting Video:
Check out this video on Increasing Your Confidence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Gs02ZmUmE Paul Potts singing my favorite aria from Puccini’s Turandot.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!