Showing posts with label balance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label balance. Show all posts

Saturday, October 9, 2010

What you are putting in.. is coming out!

Before you change your thinking, you h ave to change what goes into your mind.
                                              Zig Ziglar

The thing about universal wisdom is that it comes from so many mouths.  The above saying has been proffered a many ways by many teachers. It is in the bible, the Koran and in every self esteem curriculum out there.  TIt is a scientific fact that input is a direct influence on output.  What this means in regards to today's teachings is that if you are not having the success you want in life, if you are depressed, if you are unmotivated and even if you are just really negative all the time; what is your input?  Those things are the output.  What are you reading?  What music are you listening too?  What is your visual surroundings?  These things have a direct influence on what you think and how you act whether you are realizing it or not.

If you struggle with negativity but your only reading the Newspaper and the most uplifting thing you here is a sitcom and the evening news; it is no surprise.  Face it, newspapers publish what sells and saving puppies is nice for the occaisional piece but a full article on it will not sell.  Especially today where people can go online for fluff.

Ways to change this:

1.  Read uplifting stories.  Chicken Soup stories for example
2.  Make sure that even if you like hard core music, you take some time to add in something light and soothing whether it is elevator music, classical or nature sounds.  There are some cool sites you can just listen too like 
http://www.rainymood.com/ that really help with relaxing and stress.
3.  Practice positive affirmations.  "I am becoming happier every day."  "I am enjoying life."  They are most effective in the AM state with a verb ending in ing.  Never use can or will as the brain interprets this as someday down the road.
4.  Look at images of vacation sites.  They say just spending a few minutes looking at such pictures improves mood and stress levels.
5.  Eat right and drink water.  The brain needs nutrition to function and many of today's foods are just lacking.
6.  Talk to your higher power regularly!

Th gist of today.. what goes in.. comes out!  So watch what you are putting into your eyes, ears, mouth and body.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Balanced Life Includes Healthy Weight Loss Practices

Learning how to balance life is much like learning to eat a balanced meal. It needs variety, healthy choices and lots of color. However, due to a feeling of being out of control, many unhealthy weight loss practices are not only harmful but can lead to actual disorders.

There are a number of very dangerous eating disorders that effect people of all ages, races, sexes, and economic statuses. While you may hear a lot in the news about anorexia and bulimia, one of the lesser-known weight loss disasters sweeping the nation is binge eating. Binge eating is very bad for your body and can cause heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other medical conditions, which actually could result in death. Therefore, it is important to learn about binge eating and to seek help immediately if you think this could be a problem for you.

Binge eating is basically a form of overeating at its worst. There are times when we all overindulge in good foods, such as at a holiday or when eating out at a restaurant. However, a binge eater faces overeating problems more than a few times a week. Binge eaters often find themselves overweight and unhappy, which can make the situation worse.



Binge eaters will overeat to the extent that they feel sick. In many cases, they will eat thousands of calories in one sitting, and many of the foods they are eating are not very nutritional and include comfort foods. Binge eaters may enjoy sweet or savory foods, and may also have a problem with alcohol. In one day, a binge eater may eat more than the normal person will eat in a week. Foods that a person will binge eat vary and can even change for a particular binge eater from day to day.

Unlike people who are suffering from bulimia, binge eaters will not induce vomiting in order to rid themselves of the food they’ve eaten. Therefore, binge eaters tend to be overweight. In some cases, a binge eater may eat non-stop for an entire day, but then spend the next three or four days starving him- or herself and exercising vigorously in order to stay at the same weight if possible.

Binge eating goes hand in hand with a number of other physical diseases, but it can also effect a personal mentally and emotionally. Many binge eaters start because they turn to food for comfort as a way to work out their problems, which is unhealthy. Binge eaters are also usually very emotionally charged about their body weight and may experience depression because of it, regardless of if they are overweight or not. Binge eating is not only dangerous for the binge eater, but can affect everyone in his or her life. If you or someone you know is suffering from this disease, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. This is not a good way to lose weight.



Life must be given variety, mindful attention and as you know from the theme of this blog, balance! Eating should be no different, eat slow and with mindful attention to each bite. Eat a safe and moderate variety. Live life to the fullest, it is too short to be spent in regret.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Higher Power - A Force That Moves Even When You Are Not Paying Attention



Regardless of what you have identified as your higher power, if you remain open to it, you can be amazed at the answers and guidance you can find. Some people only use that small quiet voice within as a higher power; others have identified a specific spiritual power. It doesn't matter who or what; what matters is that you remain open to it.

I recently had a real life example of this spiritual force at work. I was not looking for work and was enjoying both my brick and mortar job and my two online businesses. I was doing counseling work with inmates in a medium security prison which I loved. I had helped build the program and was able to see day to day changes in people's lives and families. Online, I was enjoying my combination business which is both face to face and internet and my straight internet work with http://drinkact.tv/cherylmatthynssens and http://EZWealthSolution.com/home.php?balanceguide One day as I was cleaning my email, I saw an email I almost deleted not recognizing the name or subject but something about it made me check it. It was a request to apply for a position in a little town across the state. Curious, I emailed them back for information. Mostly, I was curious as to how in the heck they even knew who I was.

I went for an interview, still curious. I really did not need the job. Things were going well for me financially and personally. I was well liked in my job and had the satisfication of watching something I had helped create within the prison I was employed at work wonders in lives. The position was in a somewhat isolated county. It was small, rustic and warm. It was barren geographically compared to the lush green coastal area I was used to enjoying. But for some reason, I fell in love with it and.......
was not chosen for the position. Where I had not sought the position in the first place, I chuckled and went back to my life, unaware that my higher power had other plans for me.

Four days before Christmas, I received a call that the original hire had not worked out, would I come for another interview on the 22nd of December? Surprised but again curious, off I went and this time I took my 21 year old son for the six hour journey to the remote center. It was a great time. My son saw a frozen river for the first time and made jokes that he was not moving with me if I moved, he was not living any where that a running body of water freezes. (this will become relevant soon) After I left, I had decided I would not take the job. I mean, why move off into the wilds and it would even mean a cut in pay. When I got the call offering the position, it was a warm and friendly call with three individuals. I found myself agreeing to take the job. I sat down afterwards and for a brief moment, wondered what in the heck I had just done.

My family has lived in the county I would be leaving since I was five. I had left it for brief forays into the world such as college but had always returned. My children were raised there and two were still at home and going to school I would be wandering off all by myself? After a few moments of "what in the heck did I just do.." I felt this strange sense that everything would be all right. For me, this is where the story gets a little wierd and it was only after looking back that I could see that my higher power had been at work all along.

My employer was horrified when I gave notice. I had been by her side the whole time. My co-workers were stunned. I had always been there and it was believed I would be there till I either burned out or retired. My family was even more stunned.

I began to look for a place to live by phone due to the six hour drive. Much to my horror, there were no places that were within my price range. I looked for a place to rent, but no one wanted my chihauha in their place. I had resigned myself to renting a motel by the week type room until I could find something face to face. On a whim, I called one place that had been listed the first time I interviewed and that was still in the paper. It was larger then I wanted, I really did not need that many bedrooms. However, I was getting desperate. I called it many times but never got a call back. Finally, I got lucky and someone finally answered.

As expected, the owner said "no pets." Frustrated, I asked for any referral. She listened to my tale and then asked where I would work. She took my number and about fifteen minutes later, she called me back and said I could have the place. I could have my dog.. .no pet deposit. Puzzled, I asked her why she had changed her mind. Turns out.... she would be in a referring agency and we would work together on those referrals. Her house had been sitting empty, and she had not been inclined to call any of the applicants back due to the damage done to the home from the last renters. A shiver went down my spine.

It just continued on and on until today. It snowed heavily before I moved, making me fear the trip with a u-haul across mountain passes. Yet the roads were amazingly dry and smooth for the six hour drive. The house turned out to be only a few miles from work in a quiet area. And then came the news that sealed it as a higher power movement. My 21 year old son calls me. This was what he said. "Mom, I met this girl that I really really like. I think this is the one. Here is the thing, she lives in (town I was going to work in). Is your place large enough that I can move with you and go to college there?" I sat down. The only place I had called with enough bedrooms was the one I had amazingly managed to secure. I, of course, said yes and then made sure to spend a great deal of time teasing him about love and a place where moving water freezes.

Oh, and the pay cut, it was only on paper. Turns out the benefits package was so much better that I didn't even notice the difference in my deposited check. There are many other small and strange factors that add to this experience for me. Probably the most significant was when I stepped into my office (which was not a renovated cell for the first time) I felt like I had come home.

The reason I relayed this story to you is that I could have shut down this strange series of events at any time. However, I remained open to internal guidance and opportunity. I did not allow the many fears I felt at any given time take over in my decision making. Our higher powers, regardless of whether it is more minds then one or a divine being; are offering us the answers we need every day, week and month. The problem is, we often are not listening. Or.. if we don't like the answer, we will shut down the response as "not an answer." The biggest reason we don't listen... we fear the answer. Our lives are filled with opportunities if we do not remains so focused on the problem that we cannot hear it. So remain open to new ideas no matter their source. Your higher power may even send you a strange ... curious email... I know mine did for me!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Spiritual Growth: the Spiritual Challenge of Modern Times


More on Spirituality


To grow spiritually in a world defined by power, money, and influence is a Herculean task. Modern conveniences such as electronic equipments, gadgets, and tools as well as entertainment through television, magazines, and the web have predisposed us to confine our attention mostly to physical needs and wants. As a result, our concepts of self-worth and self-meaning are muddled. How can we strike a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of our lives?

To grow spiritually is to look inward.

Introspection goes beyond recalling the things that happened in a day, week, or month. You need to look closely and reflect on your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and motivations. Periodically examining your experiences, the decisions you make, the relationships you have, and the things you engage in provide useful insights on your life goals, on the good traits you must sustain and the bad traits you have to discard. Moreover, it gives you clues on how to act, react, and conduct yourself in the midst of any situation. Like any skill, introspection can be learned; all it takes is the courage and willingness to seek the truths that lie within you. Here are some pointers when you introspect: be objective, be forgiving of yourself, and focus on your areas for improvement.

To grow spiritually is to develop your potentials.

Religion and science have differing views on matters of the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living on Earth, while science views the spirit as just one dimension of an individual. Mastery of the self is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs of the body are recognized but placed under the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint to ensure the growth of the spiritual being. In Psychology, realizing one’s full potential is to self-actualize. Maslow identified several human needs: physiological, security, ba sense of belonging, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualization, and self-transcendence. James earlier categorized these needs into three: material, emotional, and spiritual. When you have satisfied the basic physiological and emotional needs, spiritual or existential needs come next. Achieving each need leads to the total development of the individual. Perhaps the difference between these two religions and psychology is the end of self-development: Christianity and Islam see that self-development is a means toward serving God, while psychology view that self-development is an end by itself.

To grow spiritually is to search for meaning.

Religions that believe in the existence of God such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam suppose that the purpose of the human life is to serve the Creator of all things. Several theories in psychology propose that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. Whether we believe that life’s meaning is pre-determined or self-directed, to grow in spirit is to realize that we do not merely exist. We do not know the meaning of our lives at birth; but we gain knowledge and wisdom from our interactions with people and from our actions and reactions to the situations we are in. As we discover this meaning, there are certain beliefs and values that we reject and affirm. Our lives have purpose. This purpose puts all our physical, emotional, and intellectual potentials into use; sustains us during trying times; and gives us something to look forward to---a goal to achieve, a destination to reach. A person without purpose or meaning is like a drifting ship at sea.

To grow spiritually is to recognize interconnections.

Religions stress the concept of our relatedness to all creation, live and inanimate. Thus we call other people “brothers and sisters” even if there are no direct blood relations. Moreover, deity-centered religions such as Christianity and Islam speak of the relationship between humans and a higher being. On the other hand, science expounds on our link to other living things through the evolution theory. This relatedness is clearly seen in the concept of ecology, the interaction between living and non-living things. In psychology, connectedness is a characteristic of self-transcendence, the highest human need according to Maslow. Recognizing your connection to all things makes you more humble and respectful of people, animals, plants, and things in nature. It makes you appreciate everything around you. It moves you to go beyond your comfort zone and reach out to other people, and become stewards of all other things around you.

Growth is a process thus to grow in spirit is a day-to-day encounter. We win some, we lose some, but the important thing is that we learn, and from this knowledge, further spiritual growth is made possible.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

"Have One Week, Will Relax"





Your 7 days program to Stress management

They say there's more than one way to skin a cat. The same goes when you start tearing your hair out with all the frustration, grief, anxiety, and yes, stress. It's a state of mental conditioning that is like taking that bitter pill down your throat, causing you to lose your sense of self, and worse your sanity. Just thinking about it can drive anyone off the edge.

And they say that the proactive ones are already living off the edge.

As one stressed-out person to another, I know how it feels, and believe me there are many variants when it comes to stress. Coping with life, and carrying the problems that may or may not belong to you can scratch away the little joy and happiness that you can carry once you head out that door. You can't blame them for being like that; they have their own reasons, so much like we have our reasons to allow stress to weigh us down. They say that stress is all in the mind, well, what's bugging you anyway?

There are several ways to manage stress, and eventually remove it out of your life one of these days. So I'll try to divide it into a seven-day course for you and I promise it's not going to be too taxing on the body, as well as on the mind.

1. Acknowledge stress is good
Make stress your friend! Based on the body's natural "fight or flight" response, that burst of energy will enhance your performance at the right moment. I've yet to see a top sportsman totally relaxed before a big competition. Use stress wisely to push yourself that little bit harder when it counts most.

2. Avoid stress sneezers
Stressed people sneeze stress germs indiscriminately and before you know it, you are infected too!

Protect yourself by recognizing stress in others and limiting your contact with them. Or if you've got the inclination, play stress doctor and teach them how to better manage themselves.

3. Learn from the best
When people around are losing their head, who keeps calm? What are they doing differently? What is their attitude? What language do they use? Are they trained and experienced?
Figure it out from afar or sit them down for a chat. Learn from the best stress managers and copy what they do.

4. Practice socially acceptable heavy breathing
This is something I've learned from a gym instructor: You can trick your body into relaxing by using heavy breathing. Breathe in slowly for a count of 7 then breathe out for a count of 11. Repeat the 7-11 breathing until your heart rate slows down, your sweaty palms dry off and things start to feel more normal.

5. Give stressy thoughts the red light
It is possible to tangle yourself up in a stress knot all by yourself. "If this happens, then that might happen and then we're all up the creek!" Most of these things never happen, so why waste all that energy worrying needlessly?

Give stress thought-trains the red light and stop them in their tracks. Okay so it might go wrong - how likely is that, and what can you do to prevent it?

6. Know your trigger points and hot spots
Presentations, interviews, meetings, giving difficult feedback, tight deadlines…. My heart rate is cranking up just writing these down!

Make your own list of stress trigger points or hot spots. Be specific. Is it only presentations to a certain audience that get you worked up? Does one project cause more stress than another? Did you drink too much coffee?

Knowing what causes you stress is powerful information, as you can take action to make it less stressful. Do you need to learn some new skills? Do you need extra resources? Do you need to switch to decaf?

7. Burn the candle at one end
Lack of sleep, poor diet and no exercise wreaks havoc on our body and mind. Kind of obvious, but worth mentioning as it's often ignored as a stress management technique. Listen to your mother and don't burn the candle at both ends!

So having stress can be a total drag, but that should not hinder us to find the inner peace of mind that we have wanted for a long time. In any case, one could always go to the Bahamas and bask under the summer sun.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Live cautiously, but Live Fully!






It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.

- Marcus Aurelius


Caution is such a two edged sword. We teach our children to be cautious with strangers; to be careful crossing streets. We have traffic lights, signs and symbols for caution. It makes sense to forecast possible danger in the world and then step carefully. So can one be too cautious? Yes!

When you always wait for tomorrow because today is too risky, then you miss on ever taking action. When caution turns into inaction for fear of consequences; life ceases to have any true meaning. Sometimes, one has to weigh all the possibilities and then take a step hoping for the best case scenario and not the worst.

Caution can turn into looking for every possible catastrophe that could possibly occur. Instead of moving with a wary step, the individual become frozen to a state of immobility with a fear of acting. Life is to short to spend it fearful of every possible bad result.

We must live for today, just for today. We must take each day and live it to its fullest. Be aware of the possibilities both good and bad then step forward. Make sure that you are prepared for the worst, but expect the best.

Only when we expect the best can we truly have a hope of achieving the best. The brain always works to achieve what it hears in our thoughts the most. If we expect the worst, chances our we will only see the possibilities and confirmation of the worst. If we expect the best, the same applies, we will see the best possible results.

So use caution as it was meant to be used, to take your time and make good and well thought decisions. Do not fret and worry to a state where you cannot take an action. Only by embracing each day for all it can bring us can we truly hope to enjoy life. Such principles are time honored as evident by today's quote. Wisdom does not change even in the face of progress. Live cautiously, but Live Fully!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Live In the Moment! Be Present!

Being Present... what does that mean? It means that whatever you are doing, be there. If you are in a business meeting but your mind is on your kids at the lake this next weekend, you are undercutting your potential. You may miss making some contribution that would benefit your team. You may miss some contribution that could make the difference in your earning potential and freedom.

On the reverse side, if you are at that lake with the family and your mind is on work or you are answering messages, you are missing the miracle of family. You may miss that first dive or that accomplishment of overcoming a fear or beating a sibling for the first time. Children and Grandchildren grow so fast. Every moment you are with them, but not present, you are missing the miracle of childhood. Live life with no regrets! If you look back and wish you had been home more, you can never make that up.

One of the hard things about a J.O.B (Just over broke) is that you do not have freedom. That means that you have to work harder to get that balance in your life that is so crucial to stress management and happiness.

Physically - Be Present when you eat. Take the time to actually taste your food. Enjoy it. This lowers stress, lowers how much you eat and makes meals something to look forward to. Have dinner with people you care about. Make your meals about socializing and not about how quick can I get to the TV or back to that report that is due on my desk. Take care of your body! It is the main vehicle that has to get you through the next 70+ years. Pay attention to how you feel. Get exercise, plenty of water and good nutrition.

Socially - Be Present in your organizations. It doesn't do you any good to join a business organization whether it is MLM or Direct Marketing if you stand on the fringes and watch what others are doing. Dive in there. If you are volunteering, don't wait for someone to ask, Dive in there. Be present and let others know what your strengths are. You never know what opportunity will arise because someone remembered you from a PTA meeting, a spiritual gathering or a business meeting.

Mentally - What ever you are doing, where ever you are, be there in mind and spirit. Listen, really listen, to what others are saying. People, including me, are often so busy thinking about what they want to say next, they are not really hearing what their prospect is saying. If you really listen, you will connect better with family, prospects and customers. They will feel validated and important. Karl A. Menninger once said, " Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand."

Spiritually - Many think religion when they hear this word. But while it can include religion, it is not limited to religion. It is about staying in touch with that all important "I". What are you doing to stay centered? Are you happy? If not, what do you need to change? Ask yourself as you look at this, will _________ matter six months from now? If not, let it go. Spend time with you and be present. Don't let your mind wander to business, family or even finances. Just spend a little time being present with the most important person in your life. YOU!

For me, being present is so important. As a Direct Marketer with my company, I need to stay in the moment when I am working. If my mind is on dinner, the fact that it is so hot outside and I want to go to the lake, I won't get the things done I need to do with the quality that will bring me what I want.

Being present is especially important to those who are in business for themselves. Businesses need your attention to stay productive. Learn how to Market your business is crucial. Paying attention to current trends, really listening and focusing on what is working now. If this is an area that is weak for you, you can get training. There are many places out there to get such education. If you don't have an idea where to start, try Balanced Freedom, my site. We have great training, easy to follow instructions and marketing plans for any budget, EVEN ZERO Budget.

So how do you stay present? Practice! You need to catch yourself when your mind is drifting and remind yourself why being where ever you are in that moment was important to you. If it isn't important to you, ask yourself a even more important question, why are you there?

Have a Prosperous Day!
Cheryl Matthynssens

Saturday, August 15, 2009

World Vision - My Charity of Choice



I have been a sponser of a World Vision child for Two years now. I want to help do more. Clean water, schools and a chance at a future are so important. Join me and help me raise $1,000000.00 for this vital organization.

Here is some information from them and please go look at their page worldvision.org if you are unfamiliar.

The Need
Today, more than 26,000 children under age 5 will die from preventable or treatable causes — that means an estimated 9.7 million children in this age group will die this year. And the vast majority of all child deaths occur in developing countries.

There may be cures for their conditions, but they don't have access to the necessary medication, treatment, or immunizations.

Their parents may lack basic knowledge of nutrition, hygiene, and health care. And their governments don’t have the resources to provide adequate health programs. When parents aren't healthy, they can’t provide for their families’ needs. And when children aren’t healthy, they can't attend school or focus on their future.

Fast Facts

Every day, more than 26,000 children under the age of five die, mostly from preventable causes.

More than 25 percent of the world’s infants are not immunized with critical vaccines that cost about $1.



World Vision’s Response
World Vision helps bring medical care and increased knowledge of health, nutrition, and hygiene to children and families in need through these interventions:

Emergency medical care
Health clinics and therapeutic feeding centers | Last year, World Vision teams helped 9.7 million victims of disasters and humanitarian crises in more than 50 countries. Emergency clinics enable staff to care for critical medical needs.
Medical supplies | World Vision helps facilitate emergency care by providing hospitals and clinics with top-quality medicines, equipment, and supplies.
Training
Health care | World Vision trains birth attendants and health workers in places like Ghana where people might not otherwise have access to health care.
Hygiene | Community programs teach the importance of personal hygiene in preventing disease.
Nutrition | World Vision volunteers and staff train parents in the critical role of healthy foods and nutrients in the diets of growing children.
Access to health resources
Immunization and early childhood care | World Vision provides children around the world with vaccines, vitamin A, and nutritional supplements, and supports mothers through pregnancy and childbirth.
Health clinics | World Vision works to ensure access to health care for people in impoverished countries like Romania, where years of oppressive leadership drained the country of medical professionals.
Preventative care | World Vision focuses on the prevention of childhood diseases through prenatal care and well-child care programs in countries worldwide.
Hygiene supplies | Families in need are given essential supplies like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste to help stave off serious diseases.
Advocacy | World Vision seeks to play a leadership role in advocacy and policy improvements for health reform at global and national levels.
Through all of its health and hygiene interventions, World Vision works to enhance the quality of life for children and their families in order to help them reach their God-given potential.


Your Opportunity to Help
You can help children survive and thrive by providing access to vaccinations, medical care, and health training for their communities.

Your gift will make an impact. For example:
$25 sends lifesaving immunizations and healthcare for needy children and families.
$80 ships vital medicines and healthcare supplies to help save the lives of children in 36 countries.
A gift of any amount will enable response to the most urgent health needs of the communities we serve.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Balance through Financial Freedom

So many Entrepreneurs spend their days after every dollar that they miss the most precious of success' gifts - Freedom!

What are you working for? If it is for a bottom line be careful that you do not look back with regret. Live a life of balance that insures that every day is a life of memory.

Spirit/Emotional- nourish your spirit however you define it. This does not have to mean a religious nourishment. What do you do to take time to enjoy the moment of the day? When was the last time you held hands as the sun set? When was the last time your spirit felt peace and awe? There is nothing so precious as a baby's first giggle. Your child's first goal. The site of puppies frolicking. Take time to nourish what is the most important thing you have - YOU!



Mental - Learn, never stop learning! Business, relationships, life in general changes. Each of us must grow and change with the world around us. If we do not, we will find that our relationships out grow us. Our businesses will be left in the dust as we remain in antiquated strategies. Never stop learning. A life of freedom, prosperity and nourisment depends on it.


Physical - Take care of yourself physically. Eat right! Take Vitamins - the toxicity in our environment and lack of nourishment in food today is a documented fact. Do what you can to exercise even if it is just moving between business calls. If you do not feel at your best, then you will not be all that you wish for family, self or business.

Social - Do not put off your "I love You's" You never know what time you have on this world. You never know for tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Spend time with people. If you wait "till we can afford to" - you may never do it.

I realized the importance of all this personally as I had the opportunity to see Mount Rushmore with my daughter and granddaughter this summer. I was always saying some day and I did not get to have my sons on that trip. I put it off till "I could afford it." Memories that will not be forgotten and a lesson I am passing on! Work like your world depends on it... but then.. take time to be healthy enough to enjoy it.

www.balancedfreedom.com