I Am Me

I am me.

In all the world, there is no one exactly like me.

There are persons who have some parts like me, but no one adds up exactly like me.

Therefore, everything that comes out of me is authentically mine because I alone choose it.

I own everything about me.

My body including everything it does;

My mind including all its thoughts and ideas;

My eyes including the images of all they behold;

My feelings whatever they may be…anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment, excitement;

My mouth and all the words that come out of it polite, sweet or rough, correct or incorrect;

My voice loud or soft.

And all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.

I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.

I own all my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.

Because I own all of me I can become intimately acquainted with me.

By doing so I can love me and be friendly with me in all parts.

I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests.

I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me,and other aspects that I do not know.

But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully, look for solutions to the puzzles and for ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is me.

This is authentic and represents where I am in that moment in time.

When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said and did, and how I thought and felt, some parts may turn out to be unfitting. I can discard that which is unfitting, and keep that which proved fitting, and invent something new for that which I discarded.

I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do.

I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me.

I own me, and therefore I can engineer me. 

I am me and I am okay.

By Virginia Satir

Borrowed from: http://tinyurl.com/7noqcce

How to be More Interesting and Less Boring

Get out, do new things.  Do something different.  It will give you something interesting to talk about.

Learn to say "yes" to new experiences from time to time.

A change of scenery may be what you need to ignite some energy.

Find your passion for discovery and choose to live life to the fullest.

Be creative.  Start something new.  

Be less predictable, and become a little more unpredictable.  Be spontaneous. 

Get out of your routine rut.  Jump the curb. 

Think outside the box.

Take a stand on something, and be able to back it up.

Do something silly.  Laugh at yourself.  Laugh with others. 

When people ask you questions, don't answer with just a one or two word answer.  Elaborate, make it into a story if you can.  Don't overdo it though.

Listen to or watch the news.  Form an opinion about it, listen to the opinions of others.

Volunteer for an agency.  That will give you something interesting to talk about.

Go to a restaurant or café that you've never been to before.  Try a different menu item.

Get excited about something. 

Have a cause.  Be passionate about something. Boring people don't have interesting things to say.

Have a party or get together. Invite fun and interesting people. 

Embrace a hobby and get involved with others that share the same passion.

Invite a friend or friends to do something fun or different.

Be positive and uplifting.  Be encouraging.  Show interest in other people's lives.

Say "Yes" to invitations and suggestions to do something with people you like being with.

Be enthusiastic about something.  It can be contagious.

Come "out of your shell" sometimes.  Get others to do the same.

Play more.  Organize a games night.  Do some research on the internet and come up with something fun to do at the next family or friend get-together.

Do a "Happy Dance" when something good happens.

Learn a new skill, or take a course in something cool.

Make the best of whatever situation you are in.  Focus on what is good or positive. 

Meet new people when you are at a party or get-together.  Initiate conversation.

Wear bright, bold colours and prints.  Wear a new style or fashion.  Ladies-try a new lipstick color. Change your hair colour or style.

Compliment others.  Praise them. Smile.  Get them excited about something.

Get out of your comfort zone.  Try to be less serious.  Take risks. Do something strange.

Challenge yourself.  Push your limits.  Add some excitement to your life.

Plan an adventure.  It could be as far away as Hawaii, or as close as the local park.  Share what you learn, see and do with others.  Some people like to live vicariously through others.

Laugh at other people's jokes.

Plan a surprise party.  Or just plan to surprise someone.

Play harmless, practical jokes on people.

Flirt as appropriate.

Be confident in yourself.  Take care of yourself.  People prefer that over an insecure, unkempt person.

Sometimes be a little louder, a little bolder.

Here are some helpful links:

7 tips for being an unequivocally b-o-r-i-n-g friend:  http://www.thefriendshipblog.com/blog/7-tips-being-unequivocally-b-o-r-i-n-g-friend

How to be more fun:  http://www.succeedsocially.com/morefun

How to have an exciting social persona:  http://www.theemotionmachine.com/how-to-have-an-exciting-social-persona

Have an exciting, interesting day!

Angela Gentile

Hot Date: Couples Massage

Looking for something nice to do with your partner?  Why not consider going for a couples massage?  There are many spas that have rooms large enough to provide a massage to two people at the same time.

My husband and I had an Aromatherapy Couples Massage at the Riverstone Spa, at Inn at the Forks in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  It was very relaxing and therapeutic.

Riverstone's lounge is very inviting.  It is very nature-orientated, and has running water, a fireplace, comfy reclining chairs, and a lot of healthy snacks.  They serve tea and fresh water with lemon.  The massage tables are very comfy, and they are heated.  They have nice soft sheets and big fluffy comforters.  It's hard not to get comfy and relaxed on their big, warm tables.  The tables are also electric, and maneuver similar to a hospital bed.  The tables can be adjusted to take the weight off your lower back, but raising your legs a bit.

We each had a one hour, full-body massage.  I chose a "Breathe" aroma and my husband chose "Muscles and Joints".  The essential oils contained eucalyptus, which is very earthy and "piney" smelling.  At some points, a hot, damp towel is placed on our backs, feet and around our necks.  They also use a Japanese Mint Oil on our back which feels really warm (much like Rub A535).   A warmed eye pillow was placed over our eyes when we were lying on our backs.  The massage ended with a head massage and a warm, damp towel under our necks.

The best part of this is that we can claim it on our Health Insurance (Manitoba Blue Cross).  Luckily for us, the $199.00 we spent (in total) is reimbursed 80% by Manitoba Blue Cross.

Ahhh...  We both feel rested and rejuvenated.  What a nice way to spend time together while looking after ourselves at the same time.

Check out this article from Mayo Clinic on the health benefits of massage:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/massage/SA00082\

You may also like my other post on Massage and Energy Work: http://onthebrightside-angela.blogspot.com/2010/08/massage-therapy-and-energy-work.html#comments

Have a great day!

Angela Gentile

Wear Sunscreen (The Awesome Speech and Song)

Click on the following link to see a very nice YouTube video version of  "The Sunscreen Song" by Baz Luhrmann:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9t3o5q_SHg  It is well done, and I actually had a couple tears in my eyes.  Simple, straightforward advice about what's important in life.  Beautifully put. 

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.

By Mary Schmich
June 1, 1997.

Have an awesome day!

~ Angela Gentile

We All Need a Little Pep Talk Sometimes

I have a Think Positive Thoughts Every Day Calendar (2011) at work, and for this month, I found the words very encouraging and supportive.  It's especially good for those who are going through a hard time.  It reminds us that life isn't always easy, and it affirms to us that we can get through it with some encouragement.

        A Daily Pep Talk

     
           Repeat to yourself:
           "I am strong.  I am special. I can do anything."


          Sometimes life throws hurdles in our path,
          but we just have to keep on going full speed ahead,
          looking inside ourselves for the courage to leap over them 
          and never look back.


          You are a strong and special person, 
          and you can do anything. 
          May you always believe in yourself. ♥

             -by Natalie Evans


Pass this along to anyone who you think may need a little encouragement, or a "pep talk". 

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

Being Happy in Your Own Skin

"Being happy in your skin, that's what it's all about".  

 -- Koo Stark

As I was getting ready for my day, I noticed that most of my skin care products have something in common.  They all have Vitamin E and/or Aloe Vera.  I find that these two ingredients provide the nourishment that my skin needs, especially in this dry, cold climate.  Have you noticed what makes your skin feel good?  Here are some of the skin care products I use and find them to be quite effective:

• St. Ives Swiss Formula, Vitamin E Advanced Body Moisturizer
• St. Ives Elements Timeless Skin Daily Micro-Dermabrasion with fine mineral crystals, chamomile and vitamin E
• Lever 2000 Fresh Aloe with crisp cucumber and aloe extracts, Refreshing Soap Bars
• Balea Exfoliating Face Mask with Aloe Vera Leaf and Ginseng
• Avon Beauty Soap with Aloe and Vitamin E for Face and Body
• Equate Vitamin E Cream

"Skin creams containing Vitamin E play a critical task in the skin's overall appearance, reducing the development of discolorations, inflammations, irritations, lines, scar tissue, stretch marks, sun/age spots and wrinkles. With vitamin E cream, skin can appear healthy, youthful and undamaged". Read more: Vitamin E Skin Cream Benefits | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5166182_vitamin-skin-cream-benefits.html#ixzz18ZqYos4I

"Skin care products with Aloe Vera increase the availability of oxygen to the skin and thereby aid synthesis and strength of the skin tissues. Aloe Vera lotions are widely used for cleansing the skin. Many of the skin care products containing aloe vera are also fortified with Vitamin E and collagen to maintain the skin's elasticity and suppleness and keep the moisture in. You can pick up suntan lotions with aloe vera. The anti-burning properties of Aloe combined with SPF factors make this an excellent skin care product". Read more: http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/benefit-aloe-vera.html

Looking after our biggest organ is very important.  It is the outer expression of who we are and provides protection against all the elements. Drinking lots of water, avoiding the sun, using sunscreen, reducing alcohol intake and not smoking all aid in providing a healthy looking skin (and a healthy lifestyle!).

By the way - I just found a can of Barbasol Thick and Rich Shaving Cream in my bathroom cabinet.  It says "With Aloe".

Healthy skin is happy skin.  Be happy in your own skin.

Have a wonderful day!

~ Angela Gentile

The Great Awakening - Mindfulness Meditation

"Mindfulness is...Paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally." --Jon Kabat-Zinn.

The ancient Buddhist practice of mindfulness is a way to help slow the mind and to reduce stress and anxiety.  I recently attended a 3-hour Mindfulness workshop that was led by an experienced facilitator, Elaine Bergen.  There were 20 participants, most from Pastoral Care and Health Care.  Our morning started off with an "informal" mindfulness exercise where we took a new look at a raisin.  We imagined we were from another world, and that we were taking a look at this raisin for the very first time.  We used all our senses to examine this small, interesting, sweet-smelling and sweet-tasting object.  We were even instructed to "listen" to it!  (not all of us could "hear" it).  Some people were laughing and giggling, and this was interesting to note because some people just couldn't get "into" the mindfulness experience as it was intended. I enjoyed the experience and one of the participants described the raisin as "beautiful".

The second experience was a 15-minute "Whole Body Awareness" meditation.  We were instructed to sit comfortably, (eyes closed or not) and focus our attention on our body, starting at the tips of our toes, all the way to the top of our head.  If thoughts came in (like trying to decide what to do about supper), we were instructed to bring our attention back to our body part.  As our mindfulness shifted to different areas of our body, we soon became aware of our thoughts, and feelings about each body part.  Some said they couldn't "feel" their nose, other's couldn't "feel" their ears.  Others said they felt all the aches and pains and planned to make an appointment with their doctor or chiropractor.

The third experience was a 10-minute "Breathing" meditation.  We were asked again to sit comfortably with both feet planted on the ground.  We focussed on our breathing, both the inhale and the exhale.  We were then told to zone in on the part of breathing that we were most acutely aware of.  For me, it was the rise and fall of my chest as I inhaled.  I imagined my lungs filling up with air.  This was the easiest meditation for most.  It is also easy to do as we always have our "breath" with us wherever we go.

The fourth exercise was a mini 3-minute "Whole Body" meditation, where we were to imagine ourselves like an hourglass.  We focussed on our body from the outside to the inside and honed in on the tight space and breathed into that area.  We then ended by being mindful of our "heart space" and opened up and breathed  deeply into that space.  This meditation went quickly.

The last meditation was one of "Loving Kindness" by way of Christopher Germer. We sat for 10 minutes, silently repeating the phrases, "May I be safe, May I be happy, May I be healthy, May I be at ease".  We also repeated these same phrases with reference to our loved ones.  This was very relaxing as well, and it left me with a sense of well-being.

Overall, I was very grateful for the variety of experiences in mindful meditation.  Being present in the moment is very relaxing, and can help with slowing down life's hectic pace.  Taking a slow, mindful, deep breath or two is really all you need to do sometimes to slow down (this is your cue to do it now!).

Cultivating Mindfulness and Suggestions for Daily Practice by Jon Kabat-Zinn from Oprah.com are great resources. Check out his website at http://www.jonkabat-zinn.com/.

Have a wonderful, mindful day!

~ Angela Gentile

Putting Pen to Paper

"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium."  ~Norbet Platt
 
These days most of us spend more time on the computer, typing away at the keys, than we do writing the old fashioned way, with pen and paper. Before computers, there were typewriters.  Producing reports, filling out forms and writing up essays were the main reasons people used typewriters.  Now, we see computers, laptops and hand-held devices everywhere.  A quick note to someone via e-mail or Facebook is so much easier than picking up the phone, or writing a letter and sending it in the mail.

When I am feeling "unsettled" or "out-of-sorts", I find that writing down my thoughts and feelings on good old-fashioned paper really helps me get clarity and sometimes I surprise myself.  This expression of my inner self comes out, almost instantly, as the pen hits the paper.  The action of body, mind and spirit coming together in an act of self-expression provides me with comfort and usually offers me a chance to realize what is going on or what I need to do.  I usually don't get the same effect when I type on the computer.

If you are interested in self-expression and connecting with your inner self, take your time finding yourself a nice journal.  Find a journal that you really like.  There are big ones, little ones, some are lined, and I've even seen journals with sparkly gems glued all over the front cover.  You may choose a plain old note book, or a binder with loose leaf.  A locked diary may be something you prefer.  Anything will do.  Just make sure you feel free to express your innermost thoughts and feelings and your writing will remain private and safe.  Find a quiet space, and write.  Think of it as a private chat with your inner self.  Don't worry about grammar and spelling, don't even bother crossing the t's or dotting the i's.  Just write!


I have been a journal writer most of my life.  The other night I went to my bedroom, closed the door and wrote about how I was feeling.  I gained so much clarity after writing out three pages.  That night and the next day I was so peaceful and relaxed.  It made a big difference for me.   Writing about all the joy in your life and things you are grateful for are also ways that you can use your journal.  What other ways can you make pen and paper work for you?

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile