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Retreat Reviews: "I thought my dreaming days were over, but since leaving my teaching job, I have started a new career and my husband and I are exploring China for two years!! Dream Positioning works for both of us as we move forward together..." -Shulah S. Retreat Participant "My wife and I attended a retreat run by Dr. Lavi years ago. Things we learned still help us keep things exciting!" -Bill and JoAnn H., previous participant

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Sunday's Comic Strips: Hugs, Adventure, Puns, Cats, Dogs & More


Thought for the Day: I'm taking the weekend easy but found some funny posts to share from my Google+ connections. Thanks to (above) +Anette Sjöö  (Next page, in order of appearance) +Orissa McDonald +bharath devasani +Rosie Hantos +John Eckstine +Google Plus Engagement +Marlo Angelo Tito Enjoy the rest of this beautiful weekend!  Read on to see the rest of today's comics...

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Saturday's Songs for the Soul: People, Nature & Music



Thought for the Day: As you know Saturday's posts look at how music helps us cope with life's challenges. I am not a religious person, but do feel that some traditions are important to our emotional /psychological health. This weekend is the 36th anniversary of my brother Bill's death (June 25) and the 3rd anniversary (June 29) of my brother Larry's passing. It is a Jewish tradition to say Kaddish at Friday night and Saturday morning services on the week of a loved one's death. Therefore, I went to services. Last night I went to a small service at which the Rabbi asked people to say the names of their loved ones. I had not expected to do this, but stated their names. Today, I was at a larger synagogue so that my participation was more anonymous. The music and the Kaddish at both services moved me and added to the experience. On Friday, the Rabbi spoke about Chana Senesh and the song Eli, Eli (My God, My God). It is a beautiful song that I decided to share today with a brief story about her life. The closing song, Adon Olam was sung to the melody of Billy Joel's hit, "For the Longest Time." It came right after the mourner's Kaddish and brought tears to my eyes, since Larry would have loved the creative rendition. He loved to find new covers of well known songs.

The sermon last night made me think about what 3 things would I choose if I had to choose just 3 things to have in life. I chose people, nature and music. Then I chose songs that speak to these 3 priceless elements of life...

Friday, June 27, 2014

#FF Friday's Fabulous Finds: Bill Gates & Bill Clinton, Malala, Art, Bono

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Thought for the Day: Here's some interesting articles and posters with quotes for summer reading. It includes with interviews with Bill Gates & Bill Clinton, a quote by Malala, a Flipbook of birds & a quote by Bono. The hand drawn flip books of birds (cover) are really amazing. Have a great weekend.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Thursday's Psychology Trivia: Is there a Connextion Between Girls, Sports & Breast Cancer?


Thought for the Day: It is already Thursday and time for another psychology trivia question:

True or False: Girls active in sports during adolescence and young adulthood are 20% less likely to get breast cancer later in life.

What do you think?

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom: Who's Responsible for Good Communication?


Thought for the Day: On Wednesdays, I go searching for quotes which often lead me to write a response to a quote. Today, I found a quote on google+ from +Kurt Smith  a counselor from California who works on men's "stuff." Communication between men and women is one of the areas he focuses on. Somehow the quote rubbed me the wrong way. What do you think, are we only responsible for what we say and have no responsibility for what the other person understands? Here are my thoughts...

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Tuesday's Psychology Tips: On Fairy Tales, Love, Sweat and Tears


Thought for the Day: Somehow Monday slipped away from me. I was unable to get to the blog to post. Here is a Tip from my HealthTap postings which came to me after working with a couple over the last few weeks in marriage therapy. They have two very different views of love. He is a romantic and expects love to be "blissful." She believes that love is sticking with someone through thick and thin. In her mind there is no such thing as "blissful" love. When she talks about how hard love can be, he feels disappointed.
Part of helping them in therapy is the process of learning to find common ground so that they can understand each other's views.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Sunday's Comic Strips: Animal Videos and Funny Photos

You're not going anywhere! 


Thought for the Day: Somehow the weekend is quicly disappearing. Here's are some great funny videos and pictures for your enjoyment. Thanks to +Zoraya Tonel , +funny funny , +SIDHU Harpajen+Debbie Smith +Elisa E & +Stephan Klimmeck for the great images!


Friday, June 20, 2014

#FF Friday's Fabulous Finds: Photos, Addiction, Mastery, Self Love, Obsessive Eating, Music

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You may need to look at this on your phone or ipad 

Thought for the Day: It's the end of the week and I have a mix of interesting finds for your today. There are some wonderful photos and quotes with photos, and article on the impact of addictions on the families of the addict, Some tips on how to master anything, on self love and how to know if you have a problem with obsessive eating. Finally there are a couple of music videos. I hope you enjoy these finds & have a great weekend!

I'm not sure why, but when I try to view this on my computer, I can only see the 1st page. Please let me know if you have trouble opening the magazine online. Thanks! Barbara

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom: Happiness Comes to Those Who...


Thought for the Day: Today's quote is an important one. Happiness comes to those who don't wait for others to make them happy. It comes to those who become someone who makes them happy. What makes you happy? The more you know about what makes you happy, the more you will achieve happiness. Take some time every day to do things that you enjoy. It's a natural anti-depressant.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Tuesday's Psychology Tips: 20% of Women Are at Risk for Mental Illness in 1st Year After Childbirth

Photo by Gagilas
Thought for the Day: Last night I read the first part of an article in the New York Times, 'Thinking of Ways to Harm Her' on New Findings on Timing and Range of Maternal Mental Illness, by Pam Bellock. I felt the findings were so important that I wrote several Tips on HealthTap. New research is indicating that postpartum depression is not the only thing women need to be aware of and getting help for during pregnancy and the 1st year after giving birth. Read on to see why:

Friday, June 13, 2014

Friday's Fabulous Finds: Downside of Being a Good Dad, Diet Myths, 60's Protest Photos, & Sleep Habits of History's Great Minds

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Thought for the Day: Today's Fabulous Finds are a mixed bag which includes a long, but interesting commentary on the downsides of being a good father from Esquire Magazine. In addition there are some last minute printable Father's Day Gifts from Moms and Munchkins, Interesting 60's protest photographs from The Telegraph, some diet myths which may change your food choices from a blog called: Healthy Fat Burning Foods For You and the sleep habits of history's greatest minds. I hope you like this Flipboard magazine. Have a great weekend!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Thursday's Psychology Trivia: Could Your Parents' Marital Status Predict Your Weight or Lead to Eating Disorders?


Thought for the Day: It's time for Thursday's Psychology Trivia. This week an article about a recent study caught my eye. It has to do with how marital status of parents can impact on their children's eating habits. Since the eating habits we form in childhood tend to stick with us for life, this study is clearly not trivial. Here's the question:
A recent study of third graders found:
a) Children of divorced parents had a 54% higher prevalence of general overweight (including obesity)
b) Children whose parents never married were 20% more likely to be underweight 
c) There was an 89% higher prevalence of abdominal obesity compared to children of married parents
d) Boys with divorced parents were especially at much higher risk of being overweight than boys with married parents.
e) Girls with married parents had a higher risk of having eating disorders than girls whose parents never married
f) a), c) & d)
g) b) & e)
h) all of the above
Do you think you know the answer? read on to see what they found... 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom: Does the Pursuit of Happiness Lead to Unhappiness?


Thought for the Day: Today's Words of Wisdom came from answering a question on HealthTap. The question was: Do any docs think the pursuit of happiness brings about unhappiness? For those of you new to my blog, on HealthTap responses to questions are limited to 400 characters. Given the broad nature of the question, this one was challenging, but it lead me to create the quote you see in the image above: 
"The pursuit of happiness does not lead to unhappiness. The pursuit of unrealistic expectations leads to unhappiness."

Here's how I put it in 400 characters...

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Tuesday's Psychology Tips: You Don't Have To Be Lucky To Live Longer


Thought for the Day: Research has shown that doing 5 of these things will lengthen your life by 10 years of you start by the age of 40. If you start earlier, you may lengthen your life expectancy even more. 

Monday, June 9, 2014

Motivational Mondays: Parenting Special Needs Kids Is Like a Treasure Hunt Without a Map


Thought for the Day: Yesterday, I watched the Tony Awards. Although I have watched the Oscar Awards almost every year since I was a child, I do not remember watching the Tonys. In many ways this is surprising to me since I always loved musicals and know the songs from when I was a child. The program hosted by Hugh Jackman was wonderful. It allowed me to get a taste of plays and musicals from Broadway. Since I live just an hour from New York City, I try to see as many as I can. What stuck me even more was the number of winners who spoke about accomplishing their dreams. Many also mentioned how their parents played a role in their accomplishments. One acceptance speech stood out for me, since it highlighted a parenting principle that applies to all parents; however, it is especially important for parents of special needs students. Parenting is at times like a treasure hunt without a map.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Sunday's Comic Strips: Psychotherapy, Mental Health, Relaxation, TextGeneration & Funny Photos

Thought for the Day: Here's a few funny comics & photos for this Sunday afternoon. I hope you enjoy them! Thanks to +CareLuLu , +People of Color Network , +HealthyPlace , +Dueling Analogs , +Likemorelikes.com+Edward Vigeant & a home on Dune Road in Westhampton Beach Long Island for the photos!

Friday, June 6, 2014

#FF Friday's Fabulous Finds: 20 Things Not 2 Do, Cookie Monster on Will Power, 91 Year Old Marathoner & Good Night Darth Vader


To view the magazine click here.
Thought for the Day: I don't know about you, but I am very glad it's Friday. This week has been a very busy one for me and I am ready for the weekend. In addition to the amazing cover art on this week's magazine (be sure to click on the magazine to see it in motion, some sites don't display GIF's), today's finds include 20 things to avoid doing in order to be successful, PBSSesame Street's Cookie Monster's tips on will power, based on Psychologist, Walter Michael's marshmallow research on the importance of children learning to wait (See Psychology Trivia 1/9/2014 Could Learning to Wait Predict Your Children's Future Success?), the record set by a 91 year old marathon runner, and a light hearted look at Star Wars' Darth Vader. Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Thursday's Psychology Trivia: Can You Will Yourself to Get Deep Sleep?


Thought for the Day: It is well past the normal time for Thursday's Psychology Trivia, but better late than never on a busy week. It is a well-known fact that slow wave sleep (SWS) i.e., deep sleep, “plays a critical role in body restoration and promotes brain plasticity and our mental health; however, it markedly declines across the lifespan.” Here's today's trivia question:
True or False:Even when you are feeling sick or exhausted from a hard day’s work, no matter how much you wish for a good deep sleep, you may not be able to get it through your own will.
Read on for the answer... 

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Sunday's Comic Strips: Technology's Impact on Humanity


Thought for the Day: Here are a few comics which offer commentary on technology's impact on humanity. Hope you enjoy them. I found them all on google+. Thanks to +Rahul mina+Little Fun ,
+AnGeLo BeAu  +Florina Ciurea & +Frank Majidi from G+ community Funny Technology.