“Free yourself from the complexities of your life and the imprisonment of your own limiting beliefs. You are enough. Within ourselves we all have the gifts and talents we need to fulfill the purpose we’ve been blessed with. At every given moment we are absolutely perfect for what is required for our journey. YOU ARE ENOUGH! Embrace the power of your truth today. Be unapologetically you. Be free. Today is a new day!” - Steve Maraboli

Hi, Wow, we’re on the third issue of our new magazine and what a ter-rific response it has been getting! It is so empowering for me to get feedback from people all over the world who are saying “POP” and breaking free from their condi-tioned routines in exchange for conscious, empowered living. There is nothing like the feel-ing of moving from a mindset of existing to a mindset of living!

As with any change in life, there is always a tendency, and sometimes even a desire, to go back to the way things were. Don’t allow yourself to fall back into that stagnant rut of busy nothingness. You are here to be at your best, to live to the fullest, and to love, love, love. Updates on the A Better Today front: Our radio show, Empowered Living, will be going back to its regular schedule of three times per week (when possible) and will begin to incorporate guests again as it was before the summer. Although I may be a bit more selective about guests, and will surely conduct more feedback shows, please feel free to send us guest and/or topic suggestions. A Better Today Publishing has been a major focus of our time and energy as we are building a SOLID infrastructure based on the new publishing trends that will surely place ABT Pub amongst the top publishing companies in the future. I am excited for ABT Pub as it will be the first publishing company built from the ground up with a business model that favors the artists and provides a transparent moral charter that is unparalleled in the publishing world. Once again, thank you for subscribing to our magazine! As you read through this month’s issue, please keep in mind that this magazine is designed for YOU, so feel free to send us feedback of what you would like to read about. Like all A Better Today programs and features, this magazine is in a state of refinement and enhancement so please share your ideas and help us make this even more empowering for all. Love & Hugs, - Steve

CONTRIBUTORS

FROM STEVE

AuthorsDavid R. Hamilton, PH.D.www.DrDavidHamilton.com

Joe Baileywww.joebaileyandassociates.com

hEALthDiscovery Health Writers

www.health.discovery.com

LIFEScholastic Writerswww.scholastic.com

Lisa OzAuthor of Us: Transforming

Ourselves and the Relationships That Matter Most

LAyoutCamille CharlesChamillah Designswww.chamillah.com

DIstrIbutED by A Better Today

Publishingwww.abettertodaypublishing.com

A bIG thAnk you...for all listener contributed

artwork and letters.

“The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The

meaning of life is to give your gift away.” - David Viscott

”Don’t speak to me about your

religion; first show it to me in

how you treat other people.

Don’t tell me how much you

love your god; show me in how

much you love all his children.

Don’t preach to me your

passion for your faith; teach

me through your compassion

for your neighbors. In the end,

I’m not as interested in what

you have to tell or sell as I am

in how you choose to live and

give.” - Cory Booker

“People sp

end a

lifetime s

earching

for

happiness

; looking

for

peace. Th

ey chase

idle

dreams,

addictions

,

religions,

even ot

her

people, h

oping to

fill

the empt

iness tha

t

plagues th

em. The

irony

is the on

ly place

they

ever need

ed to se

arch

was with

in.”

-Romana

L. Anderso

n

“Every day, tell at least one person something you like, admire, or appreciate about them.” -Richard Carlson

“Don’t spend your precious time asking ‘ Why isn’t the world

a better place?’ It will only be time wasted. The question to ask

is ‘How can I make it better?’ To that there is an answer.”

— Leo Buscaglia

FEATURED AUTHOR Ride the Wave of KindnessYour good will can heal the world.Teach yourself to see the best in others.

to see the best in each other. So, as often as you can, try to see the best in the person right in front of you. See the best in family members, friends, work colleagues, people you come into contact with throughout the day, people at meetings, clients, children, even people you regard as enemies and people who have hurt you in the past.

When you make an effort to see the best in others, you help bring it out in them. I used to be an athletics coach and I could only bring out the best in the athletes when I made an effort to recognize their uniqueness. When I saw it, I could point it out to them. So it became more obvious and they were able to develop it. And they felt great because I had complimented them. It works the same way with qualities of character.

If someone told you that you were a generous person, for instance, you would probably think to yourself, Hey, I am a generous person, and with that

By David R. Hamilton, PH.D.

WE HAVE AN AMAZING CAPACITYthought foremost in your mind you would prob-ably go through your day being even more gener-ous than normal and touching many lives along the way. Pointing out great qualities in people can change the world.

To start with, you could notice, for example, that someone occasionally showed kindness. Then you could try to let that be how you defined them in the future. You might say, “Oh, there goes that kind person” instead of “There goes so and so.” Sometimes it might be difficult to see something positive in a person’s behavior because circum-stances have influenced some people so much that the positive part of them is buried. You can look for it. Help them to find it.

The actor David Hayman, a dear friend of mine, once said to me, while describing someone who brought lots of conflict into the room with him,

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Ride the Wave of KindnessYour good will can heal the world.Teach yourself to see the best in others.

“He’s an angel of God—cleverly disguised as an ass.” So, which part of a person are you willing to see? The part you focus on is the part you will then see most and will tease out of them.

Genuine kindness carries extraordinary power. This is where you have nothing to gain from being kind and only wish to help. It is different from acting in order to gain something else. Of course, it is not wrong to be aware that you will gain something from a kind act, because there will always be a gain for you. You cannot avoid that. You get back what you give out in one form or another. So if you give out kindness, you will receive kindness in some way. In fact, you receive the moment you give. Don’t you feel great when you help someone?

But the real point is to be kind not in order to get something back but from a genuine heartfelt wish to help. Then your act carries much more weight. As my mom always tells me, “It’s the thought that counts.”

In the Bible it is written:“I may speak with the words of men and of angels, but if I have not love I am but a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Corinthians 13

To do something from a space of love carries real power. So examine your motivation!

Anonymous acts of kindness can also have a huge impact. There was a time, a few years ago, when I was extremely short of money. One day I received an envelope in the post containing £20 (approximately $41). There was no name or address, only a small piece of paper with the words: “God bless.” Whoever sent it knew of my situation but had no need for me to know of their kindness. They only wanted to help.

That £20 was like a lottery win to me, and it meant more and stretched further because of the love that came with it. The spirit of the gift was far more important to me than its monetary value. So it is with your genuinely kind thoughts, words, and actions. The spirit of your intentions carries the power.

The power to change the world is in you. It’s in your ability to choose and your courage to follow through on your choices. All you need to do is choose to be kind, and you might just inspire others to do the same. A wave of kindness can be magical!

David R. Hamilton acquired an honors degree in biological and medicinal chemistry, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry before working as a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry for several years. He left the pharmaceutical industry and athletics coaching in 1999 and returned to Scotland as a motivational speaker. Visit: www.DrDavidhamilton.com.

About the Author:

Dare To BeWhen a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be! © Steve Maraboli From the Book, “Life, The Truth, and Being Free”

“With one kind gesture you can

change a life. One person at a time

you can change the world. One day

at a time we can change everything.”

-Steve Maraboli

FEATURED AUTHOR

in our true Selves keeps us in a state of profound presence and awareness. Being grounded means that we are actually living from the true Self—not just believing that it is a good idea. We are congruent with our Being. We are an embodiment of the truth of who we are. This security in who we are is like a tree whose roots are firmly planted in the ground, able to withstand strong winds of adversity. It keeps us from entering other persons’ “reality” and taking on the resulting feelings of fear and anxiety they are experiencing. Staying grounded in our true Selves prevents us from triggering our own thought system similarities to the other person’s thoughts and commiserating with their predicament. Instead, we relate to their

By Joe Bailey

innate Spirit that has the power to transcend the situation and see solutions.

When a child is frightened by the dark, the natural parental response is to reassure the child, hold them with affection, and remain calm while they are upset. Most parents don’t take on their child’s irrational fears. Over time the child will lose his fear of the dark through persistent, calm reassurance from his parents.

This same principle applies to adult situations. For many years I worked with hospitals and clinics to teach health care professionals how to remain calm

Continued on the next page...

Staying Grounded

Stay Grounded in Presence and Being

(from Fearproof Your Life)

Dare To BeWhen a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!

with patients who were extremely emotional or in life-threatening situations. I taught these professionals how to “be with” the person in pain by listening deeply to them, feeling compassion, and then doing their jobs (mending a wound, performing a surgery, administering medication).

Over the course of time, the level of staff burnout and stress decreased significantly while patient satisfaction reports went up dramatically. Of course, the hospital always intended to be a caring institution, but under extreme stress the staff had lost their bearings (grounding). From that negative state of mind, the staff ignored their patients, became calloused, quit listening, and lost most of their compassion. Because they judged their patients and took their emotional states personally, the staff had no immunity from patients’ negativity. They suffered from what is now a popular term in medical circles—“compassion fatigue.” By empowering themselves through understanding how they and everyone else creates their experience via their thinking, they were able

to return to the caring people they had been before they became burned out.

The staff at the hospital I worked with also became immune to other staff members’ negativity. They discovered how not to get caught up in the gossip that was always flying around the conference rooms. By remaining in their true Selves, they were able to listen compassionately to their coworkers. They also knew when to walk away and not participate in the gossip and fearful projections so common in these types of institutions. The entire culture shifted from one of negativity, stress, and anger to one of calm, caring, and compassion.

Like the hospital personnel, we have the ability to be with others who are in a state of fear or other negative emotional states and not catch their “mental flu.” Remaining grounded in our true Selves allows us to listen deeply and feel com-passion when we are with others who are in pain without sacrificing our healthy state of balance.

Joe Bailey’s life purpose is to help people find true happiness and peace of mind. Towards this end, he

studied psychology at the undergraduate and graduate levels, eventually becoming a licensed psychologist.

For the past thirty years, Joe’s desire to understand the connection between the psychological, physical

and spiritual facets of human beings has pulled him into a deeper understanding of the whole person and

away from the current fragmented view. His search led to a health-based approach to counseling,

prevention programs, workplace wellness and the attainment of a personal life of peace, joy and

fulfillment for all people. www.joebaileyandassociates.com

About the Author:

6 Listener Contributed Artwork.6

owadays, our busy schedules make it hard to find time to take care of ourselves by eating healthfully and exercising. We consulted nutrition, health and fitness experts to come up with seven simple steps to take for better health. Our tips keep hectic lifestyles in mind and promote the two basics of a healthy diet: balance and variety. You can find more information like this in the book, Great Adventures in Food (St. Martin’s Press, 2000), by FoodFit founder and CEO Ellen Haas.

HEALTH SECTION

N

1: Breakfast is a habit to cultivateYogurt with fruit is a breakfast option full of calcium and antioxidants.Research shows that breakfast-eaters consume fewer calories at

lunch and dinner and are less likely to snack compulsively the rest of the day. What you have for breakfast matters. A study found that people who kicked off the day with eggs or pastries ate more saturated fat throughout

the day than people who had cereal and fruit for breakfast.

• Abreakfastthat’shighinfiberand carbohydrates but low in fat gets your metabolism moving faster. Breakfast skippers burn fewer calories. • Goodgrab-and-gobreakfastsareabanana or a bag of dry cereal such as oat squares (oats lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels). • Mixberriesintoplainyogurtforacalciumand antioxidant boost.

Continued on the next page...

7 Step Plan for Healthy Livingby Ann Coulston, Jane Folkman, Rachel Johnson, Richard Cotton and Carol Krucoff

(From Discovery Fit & Health)

• Ifyou’reoptingforanenergybar,checkthe label carefully and pick the one with the least calories and saturated fat

2: Think “portion control” — size it up!Aservingofmeat,fishorpoultry is equal to a deck of playing cards.Don’tfeelyouhavetoclean

yourplatewhenyou’reeatingout.Mostmealsare a lot larger than the average adult requires. Try splitting dinner with a friend. There are so many healthy advantages to eating a balanced dietfeaturingplentyoffruits,vegetablesandwhole grains. So make sure you eat enough of them. Remember:

• Aservingofmeatisaboutthesizeofadeck of cards or your palm. • Besuretoreadthefoodlabel.Manysnacks are sold as single servings but actually providetwoservingsormore,likeabagof pretzels.• Substituteoneortwo“firstcourse”dishesfor themain;you’llgetavarietyoftasteswithout huge portions. • Waterworks.Drinkslotsofitatthetableto slow eating and hunger.

TheAmericanInstituteofCancerResearch,oneofFoodFit’sresourceassociations,hasmoreinformation on portion control.

3: Plan ahead for snacksSliced fruit is a healthy snack.Snackingisn’tabadhabitifyou’remindful

ofhowmanycaloriesyou’reeating.(Keepafood and exercise diary to stay on track andstayhonest.)Infact,eatingfrequentlyinsteadofwaitinguntilyou’reravenousmighthelpyouavoidovereating.Italsokeeps blood sugar levels normal and brain chemistry in balance.

• Haveacornerinthefridgereservedfor good-for-you nibbles. Wash some carrots or celerysticks,cherrytomatoes,peppers, shelledpeas,strawberriesandblueberries and place them in airtight see-through con tainers or plastic bags. • Putsomecut-upveggiesorslicedfruitonthe table to help you through those starving moments just before dinner is ready. • Snackonlywhenyou’rehungry;it’snotthe cure for a glum mood.

4: Small changes make a big difference — to your waistlineCupcakesdon’thavetobeabadthing,justchooselower-fat versions.

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Chooselowfat.Switchingto1percentorskimmilk from 2 percent slashes the fat by at least half.Eatyourfruitinsteadofdrinkingit.You’llgetmorefiberandantioxidantsandfewer calories (an orange has 90 calories and an 8-ounceglassoforangejuicehas110calories).Other changes that make a difference:

• Knocktheword“club”offyoursandwich,i.e., dropthebacon,cheeseandextrabread.Go formustardtoaddflavorandsavecalories and fat. • Holdthebutteronyourmoviepopcornand you’llsaveover200calories.• AnEnglishmuffinisusuallyhalfthecalories ofanaveragebagelandthey’reremarkably lowinfat,too.• Switchtowaterfromsugarysodas

5: Fit fitness in throughout the dayYoudon’thavetobearunner to stretch — try stretching while talking on the phone.

Lifestyleactivitiescanprovidehealthbenefitssimilartoatraditionalgym-basedworkout.Getmovingbyparkinginthefarthestspace, climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator,orwalkingorstretchingwhileyou’re on the phone.

• Thegoalforgoodhealthistoaccumulate 10,000stepsaday,expertssay.Tohelpkeep track,somepeopleuseanelectronic pedometer—apalm-sizedgadgetthatclips

to your waistband and measures the number of steps you take. • Balanceononefootwhilebrushingyour teeth. Balance on the other foot while combing your hair. • Takeyourdogforawalkeveryday.Ifyou don’thaveadog,borrowyourneighbor’s,or just walk your “inner dog.”

6: Remember the ba-sics of good nutritionFor a healthier diet, consume a variety of healthy foods.

There are three “rules” for healthy eating. They’reeasytorememberandeasytofollow.

• Expandthevarietyoffoodsinyourdiet.• Addmorefruits,vegetablesandwholegrains to the foods you already eat. • Selectmorelower-fatfoodchoices.

7: Treat yourselfYoga can exercise the body and quiet the mind.Pickadayortwointhe

weekandhaveatreatthatisplanned,suchasa dessert or entrée that you especially enjoy. Theextra100-200caloriesyou’veeatenwillthenbeeasilyburnedoffwitha1-2milewalk.Other ideas include:

• Challengeyourselfwitha5Krunorwalk.• Treatyourselftoamassage.• Trymeditating,yogaoranold-fashionednap.• Takecareofyourselfasoftenasyoucan.

Copyright The FoodFit Company All Rights Reserved

Letters from A Better Today

Community

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your ideas

about religion and life. It is difficult to

find a person who will be honest about

those topics, which makes dealing

with our own feelings overwhelming

sometimes. Hearing you speak your

mind and share your truth helps me

deal with mine. I am grateful.

Delilah P.

Portland, Oregon

Steve,

Thanks for this magazine and for your

helpful radio show! You have really

good advice about relationships, but

can you talk more about dating for

those of us who aren’t in deep

relationships yet? I trust your advice

and look forward to hearing more.

Lee K.

Camden, New Jersey

Super Duper Guru Steve,

Hehehe! I love how you make such

sense (and non-sense) of our chasing

“gurus”. Steve, you are a breath of

fresh air for me and I’m sure for many

others. Your words are wise and

practical and I appreciate the time

you take and effort you make to share

your life with all of us. Please don’t

ever stop shining your light!

Darla F.

St. Louis, Missouri

Mr. Steve,

I got my whole school listening to you

Steve. Your words are what we need

these days of bad role models. I wish

you could come to my school and

address the senior class. Is this

possible? Thanks for being such a

great role model to so many people!

Alberto R.

Bronx, NY

(note: Steve has contacted the school and

will be speaking there this year)

nfortunately, teasing is often part of growing up — almost every child experiences it. But it isn’t always as innocuous as it seems. Words can cause pain. Teasing becomes bullying when it is repetitive or when there is a conscious intent to hurt another child. It can be verbal bullying (making threats, name-calling), psychological bullying (excluding children, spreading rumors), or physical bullying (hitting, pushing, taking a child’s possessions).

Bullying and Teasing: No Laughing Matter

LIFE SECTION

UHow Bullying StartsBullying behavior is prevalent throughout the world anditcutsacrosssocio-economic,racial/ethnic,andcultural lines. Researchers estimate that 20 to 30 percent of school-age children are involved in bullyingincidents,aseitherperpetratorsorvictims.Bullying can begin as early as preschool and intensifyduringtransitionalstages,suchasstartingschoolin1stgradeorgoingintomiddleschool. Victims of bullying are often shy and tend to be physically weaker than their peers. They may also havelowself-esteemandpoorsocialskills,whichmakes it hard for them to stand up for themselves. Bullies consider these children safe targets because theyusuallydon’tretaliate.

Effects of BullyingIfyourchildisthevictimofbullying,hemaysufferphysicallyandemotionally,andhisschoolworkwill

likelyshowit.Gradesdropbecause,insteadof listeningtotheteacher,kidsarewonderingwhatthey did wrong and whether anyone will sit with thematlunch.Ifbullyingpersists,theymaybe afraidtogotoschool.Problemswithlowself-esteemand depression can last into adulthood and interfere with personal and professional lives. Bulliesareaffectedtoo,evenintoadulthood;theymayhavedifficultyformingpositiverelationships.Theyaremoreapttousetobaccoandalcohol,andto be abusive spouses. Some studies have even found a correlation with later criminal activities. Warning SignsIfyou’reconcernedthatyourchildisavictimof teasingorbullying,lookforthesesignsofstress:• Increasedpassivityorwithdrawal• Frequentcrying

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Bullying: Know the facts about bullying, even if you don’t think bullying affects your child.

• Recurrentcomplaintsofphysicalsymptoms such as stomach-aches or headaches with no apparent cause • Unexplainedbruises• Suddendropingradesorotherlearningproblems• Notwantingtogotoschool• Significantchangesinsociallife—suddenlyno one is calling or extending invitations • Suddenchangeinthewayyourchildtalks— callingherselfaloser,oraformerfriendajerk

How to Help First,giveyourchildspacetotalk.Ifsherecountsincidencesofteasingorbullying,beempathetic.Ifyourchildhastroubleverbalizingherfeelings,reada story about children being teased or bullied. You canalsousepuppets,dolls,orstuffedanimalstoencourage a young child to act out problems. Onceyou’veopenedthedoor,helpyourchildbeginto problem-solve. Role-play situations and teach your child ways to respond. You might also need tohelpyourchildfindawaytomoveonby encouraging her to reach out and make new friends. She might join teams and school clubs to widen her circle. At home and on the playground:Adults need to intervene to help children resolve bullyingissues,butcallinganotherparentdirectlycanbetrickyunlessheorsheisaclosefriend.Itiseasytofindyourselfina“hesaid/shesaid” argument.Trytofindanintermediary:evenifthebullyingoccursoutsideofschool,ateacher,coun-selor,coach,orafter-schoolprogramdirectormaybe able to help mediate a productive discussion. Ifyoudofindyourselftalkingdirectlytotheotherparent,trytodoitinpersonratherthanoverthephone.Don’tbeginwithanangryrecountingoftheotherchild’soffenses.Setthestagefora collaborative approach by suggesting going to the playground,orwalkingthechildrentoschool

together,toobserveinteractionsandjointlyexpressdisapproval for any unacceptable behavior.

At school:Manyschools(sometimesaspartofastatewideeffort) have programs especially designed to raise awareness of bullying behavior and to help parents andteachersdealeffectivelywithit.Checkwithyourlocal school district to see if it has such a program. Schools and parents can work effectively behind the scenes to help a child meet and make new friends viastudygroupsorscience-labpartnerships.Ifyouare concerned about your child:• Sharewiththeteacherwhatyourchildhastold you; describe any teasing or bullying you may have witnessed.• Asktheteacherifsheseessimilarbehaviorat school,andenlistherhelpinfindingwaystosolve the problem.• Ifshehasn’tseenanyinstancesofteasing,ask that she keep an eye out for the behavior you described.• Iftheteachersaysyourchildisbeingteased,find out whether there are any things he may be doing in class to attract teasing. Ask how he responds to theteasing,anddiscusshelpinghimdevelopa more effective response.• Aftertheinitialconversation,besuretomakea follow-up appointment to discuss how things are going.• Iftheproblempersists,ortheteacherignores yourconcerns,andyourchildstartstowithdraw ornotwanttogotoschool,considerthe possibility of “therapeutic intervention.” Ask to meetwiththeschoolcounselororpsychologist, or request a referral to the appropriate school professional.

Written by the Scholastic.©http://www.scholastic.com

Let today be the day… You embrace the truth that you DO have such control to label every event in your life and create an agreement with reality that

empowers you and propels you to greatness.

Small Gestures That Make a BIG Difference

Gesture #10 — Randomly drop some friendly or inspirational cards in the mailboxes of your neighbors.

Gesture #54 — Clip coupons for products you don’t use, and “plant” them in the grocery store where those products are displayed. Someone will be delighted to find them!

Gesture #105 — Take a moment to compliment someone on their appearance. Most people spend time in front of their mirror negatively judging themselves. Your compliment could really lift their day.

Gesture #308 — When grocery shopping, always buy an extra can of tuna, box of pasta, jar of peanut butter, or other dry, canned, or jarred food, and donate them to a local shelter.

(from “The Power Of One”)

Philosophy In Action How would your life be different if…

You could control the outcome of your day, your week, your year?

oroneweek,reserveablockoftimeeachdaytoconnectwiththepeoplewhomean the most to you — your family. From Lisa Oz,authorofUs:Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships That Matter Most.

Great Family Bonding Activities

LIFE SECTION

FDay 1. Havefamilybreakfasttogether.Ifyouoryourspousenormallyleavesbeforeeveryoneelse,let your boss know you will be running a little late.Sitdownatthetable,andbeforeyoueat,take a moment to express gratitude that you are a family.

Day 2. Havefamilydatenight.Dosomethingfunalltogether.Gotodinnerorbowlingorminiaturegolf. Or just stay home and play board games. Try to avoid things like movies or TV. This activityisaboutbonding,andwhenyouarewatchingsomething,youcan’treallyspeaktoeach other.

Day 3. Makeafamilyvaluesdocument.Gettogetherfor half an hour and brainstorm a list of the things that are important to you and your loved ones. For our family these things are telling thetruth,sayingyou’resorry,lettinggoof resentment,beingconsiderateofotherpeople’sfeelings,andsharingwhateveryouhave.Makesure that yours are personally meaningful for eachmemberofyourfamily,thenhave everyone sign it as a covenant that you will all strive to live by.

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Day 4. Take an evening to revisit old family memories. Watch home videos of when the kidswerelittleorperusephotoalbums.Havethe children talk about their favorite birthdays or vacations and tell them stories of when you were little.

Day 5. Havethekidswritedownwhattheywillbelikeasparents.Ifthey’retoolittletowrite,letthemdictate to you. Encourage them to list the ways they will be similar to you in discipline style and howtheywillbedifferent.You’llprobablygetlotsof“I’llletmykidsstayupaslateastheywantandwatchTVallday,”buttheremayalsobesome“Iwon’tyellatthemwhentheyforgetto pick up their toys.” Look for things you could change in your own parenting approach based onyourchild’sperceptions.

Day 6. Schedule a date for an extended family party or picnic.Inviteasmanyuncles,great-aunts,andcousinsasyoucanremember.Haveeverybodybring a dish (with a printout of the recipe) andvolunteertoassemble,photocopy,and disseminateyourfamily’spersonalheirloomcookbook.Also,bringastackofposterboardand markers and have everyone contribute to fillinginthefamilytree.

Day 7. Makeadecisiontodosomethingasagroupthatwillbenefitpeoplebeyondyourimmediatefamily. You can volunteer your time at charities likelocalsoupkitchens(Ihavefoundafew inNewYorkthatallowolderchildrento participate) or make something together that youcandonateataschoolfundraiser.Mykidsreallyenjoytakingflowerstothenearbyretirement home and spending time with the residents. You can also set aside some money each month and determine as a family where you will give it. We let each child have a set amountspecificallyallocatedtotheirown favoritefoundations.Forexample,withthe Ozkids,Olivertendstopreferorganizationsthat seek to preserve the environment or supportthetroopsoverseas,whileArabellawants to help orphans. Discover what matters to your family and get involved.

LISAOzisahousewifelivinginNewJersey.Shealsomoonlightsasawriter,producerandentrepreneur.Withherhusband,Dr.MehmetOz,shehasraisedfourchildren,coauthoredfiveNewYorkTimesbest-sellingbooks,includingYOU:TheOwner’sManualseries,andcohostedadailyradioshowonSirius/XM,yetissomehowunableto organizeherclosetorsticktoadiet.

What Most People Don’t Know

OTALLY unassociated with the honeymoon ;-) … Most people are familiar with the tiny pill that boasts of big results, Viagra. But what most people don’t know is that Viagra was originally developed and marketed as a pill to help with blood pressure issues and hypertension. It failed to catch market interest and the developers were ready to give up on the drug until they noticed a common “side effect”. Viagra was then repackaged and marketed with this “side effect” being its primary use.

ost people know about weddings and the beautiful time that follows known as the “honeymoon”. The bliss of the honeymoon stage has been well understood and has even crossed into other parts of our culture when referencing a grace period. But what most people don’t know is where this “honeymoon” idea originated. Long before the expensive trips and relax-ing vacations for a happily married couple, it was the accepted practice in Babylonia 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the “honey month” or what would gradually transition into what we know today as the “honeymoon”.

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KNOWLEDGESECTION

“The word ‘seek’ is a

verb. Are you treating it

as such in your life?

If you seek change,

success, or love, DO it -

BE it!” - Steve Maraboli

“Become the leader of your life. Lead yourself to where you want to be. Breathe life back into your ambitions, your desires, your goals, your relationships.” -Steve Maraboli

ay What?!?... Most people have heard and maybe even used the expression, “the rule of thumb”, when discussing the general rules of a situation or project. But what most people don’t know is that this expressing came from an obscure law passed in the 1400’s. This law stated that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick thicker than his thumb. Hence, we have “the rule of thumb.”

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Laugh(Submitted by Listeners From Around the World)

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

The sole purpose of a child’s middle name, is so he can tell when he’s really in trouble.

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I couldn’t repair my brakes, so I made the horn louder.

What are people thinking?... During a recent password audit, it was found that one of our employees was using the following password:

MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouie DeweyDonaldGoofy

When asked why such a big password, he said he was told it had to be at least 8 characters long.

I intend to live forever — so far so good.

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I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

Right now I’m having amnesia and deja vu at the same time — I think I’ve forgotten this before.

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