You can have "something" from every age

   Have the imagination of a child,
   the possibilities of a teenager,
   the spirit of a 20 something,
   the self discovery of a 30 something,
   the confidence of a 40 something,
   the fortitude of a 50 something,
   the experience of a 60 something,
   the wisdom of a 70 something,
   the reverence of an 80 something,
   the perserverance of a 90 something,
   and the luck of anyone over 100.
 

Why all kids are "home schooled," for better or for worse

     Having two small children, I've seen some debate on whether home schooling is the right thing to do for your child. This is definitely a subject that I don't think there's a Yes or No answer to. There are valid arguments for both sides, but in the end I think it comes down to the teacher--i.e. the parent. If the parent is engaged, dedicated, enthusiastic and completely qualified, then I think home schooling is a great option. I know there are concerns about how the child will progress socially, but there is a growing network of home schoolers that make sure their kids get plenty of interaction with other kids. There seems to be an emerging "hybrid" model that attempts to give the kids the best of both worlds.

     My children won't be home schooled, at least not in the traditional sense; but don't all children get most of their real life education at home? When it comes to the impact that a child's upbringing and values have on their adult life--aren't we all "home schooled" to a significant degree, for better or for worse? What kids learn in school, while valuable and essential, will never have more bearing on their lives than what they learn, witness, and model at home. As parents, we are all teachers, and whenever your kids are in your presence they are being "schooled." As adults we begin to exhibit many of the same characteristics that our parents did--not the characteristics of our 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Applebottom. This is why I think the home school debate completely depends on the individual situation.


     Whether your child is home schooled or not, they will learn much more than academics just by watching you. As parents, we should all put on the teaching cap when it comes to our kids. We are constantly teaching them anyway, whether we are aware of it or not. Providing a healthy model for your kids to follow is the best education they can get, and even if they go to public or private school, the most important teacher of their lives will always be you.

  

What Are You Grateful For?

    I ask that question a lot on Facebook, and I really enjoy the answers I get from all kinds of different people. Sometimes it's really big things like a new baby, a graduation, or a marriage. Other times it's comparatively small things like "another day above ground" or a morning cup of coffee. It really doesn't matter how big or small the thing is, the important thing is being in a state of gratitude. In every moment, we are given the choice of what to focus our attention on. Gratitude unlocks the deadbolt to happiness and puts the joy of living into proper perspective.


   I try to ask myself this same question everyday because it makes me focus on everything that's great with my life instead of everything that's "wrong" with it. We all have flaws, stress, obstacles, and things we'd like to improve about ourselves, but if you focus on everything that you are blessed to have, these other things lose the importance. You'll notice that the level of happiness in human beings is not determined by their race, age, education, or finances--but by there level of gratitude for life itself.

How To Kick Your Addiction

      What's your addiction?

    Is it over eating, drinking, smoking, shopping, gambling, bad relationships, narcotics, prescription drugs, hoarding, sex--or a combination of any of these?


    Maybe you don't consider yourself an addict. Maybe you've only reached the "bad habit" stage of your destructive behavior. But if you've decided on any level that you'd be better off without this behavior, the best way to kick the addiction is to replace it with a healthy habit. You need something positive to refocus your attention, take up your idle time, and counteract the behavior.

 Here are some examples of good habits that can help replace bad habits/addictions:

 Overeating -------> Exercise
 Drinking/Drugs-------> Meditation
 Smoking-------> Running
 Shopping------> Volunteering


 These are just some examples, and please keep in mind that there may be emotional issues at the root of your addiction, but incorporating a good habit can only help when dealing with them.