Use Technology to Keep Healthy

It is terrific to use technology to get back to basics and stay healthy. Modern technology has taken a lot of the drudgery out of getting into and staying healthy. When I was a very young teenager, I bought Jane Fonda's step aerobics workout book. I worked my way through the book page after page and used another book to hold the pages while I did the exercises. When I was a child, personal computers were out of the price range of most people and the idea of using the computer to research issues of health was not done. Over the course of my lifetime, things have changed in incredible ways. Today there is an enormous variety of ways most people can access information on health and fitness. For example:

• DVDs and CDs for the television or computer
• Internet websites and YouTube videos
• Video games and programs
• Applications for the laptop, tablet and cellular phone
• E-books
•  Fitness devices like the Fitbit and Garmin devices
• Athletic shoes with built-in computers that connect to cell phones and smart devices

All of these items are eons beyond my old Jane Fonda step aerobics workout book. DVDs are available in almost every exercise discipline known to man. It is exciting to be able to change workout style each day if one chose. This means that while working out with DVDs at home, a person never need be bored. Additionally the easy availability of the internet makes it easy to get information about health, illness and a variety of healing methods. With a few key strokes of a keyboard or a few swipes on a smartphone, one literally has the information of the entire world at one's fingertips. This means that at a very basic level, one has all the information one needs to find out what not only what good health is, but also how to achieve good health.

Almost everything we do in life is better is we have our health in order. Good health is the basic foundation we need to make everything else we do in life. With the technology available today, it is easy to find out new ideas for getting healthy. Whenever one hears about a new health study on a news report, one can immediately do an internet search and instantly get more information on the topic.

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Basics - Use Technology to be Healthy

In conclusion, it is terrific to use technology to learn about good health, to get healthy and stay healthy. Technology can make what used to be hard boring work easier and fun! So, the question for you this terrific day is, how do you use technology to get healthy or stay healthy?

Celebrating National Poetry Month with Langston Hughes

April is National Poetry Month so I am celebrating it by sharing a little  about my favorite poet of all times, Langston Hughes.  Hughes is one of the most famous and prolific poets and writers of the Harlem Rennaissance period in America. That period was the birthplace of a great number of incredible poetry that has influenced my life. One of my favorite gifts of all time a book, The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes My husband bought me this paperback volume about ten years as a birthday gift and I have read it so much it is getting a little worn and crumpled. I have been a Langston Hughes fan since I was a young child. I like his books as well as his poems. He is my all time favorite. If anyone wants to get me in a good mood, pull out some Langston Hughes verses and I will melt in your hands. My husband just has to mention some of my favorite Langston lines and turn to putty in his hands.

The following poem is my favorite poem of all times, I see it as a metaphor for my life as a woman, a wife and a mother. My life has not been a crystal stair, but I am still climbing, still moving and still succeeding.

Mother to Son 

Well, son, I'll tell you:

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

It's had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I'se been a-climbin' on,

And reachin' landin's,

And turnin' corners,

And sometimes goin' in the dark

Where there ain't been no light.

So, boy, don't you turn back.

Don't you set down on the steps.

'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.

Don't you fall now—

For I'se still goin', honey,

I'se still climbin',

And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

I do not have the space to share all the rest of my favorite poems, so I will just share a few lines from a few of my favorite poems. Sit back, relax and enjoy these beautiful words. Once you have read each, take a moment to sit back and just enjoy the rythym and flow of the words.

Dream Variations

To fling my arms wide

In some place of the sun,

To whirl and to dance

Till the white day is done.

Then rest at cool evening

Beneath a tall tree

While night comes on gently,

Dark like me-

That is my dream!

I like this one because of the freedom and imagery of flinging arms, dancing with wild abandon and then being enveloped by my friend, the night.

The following poem I liked as a child because I pictured myself walking along these great and glorious rivers instead of along the Schykill River in Philadelphia.

Negro Speaks of Rivers

. . .

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln

went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy

bosom turn all golden in the sunset

. . .

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I like the following poem because it paints such a beautiful picture in my mind. It reminds me of patriotism and the promise of America.

I, Too

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

I liked this one because I grew up in the days before a black president was a reality and I dreamed of the day it would come to pass.

I have shared several great poems by a fantastic poet with you. I have bared a little of the real me by sharing my celebration of National Poetry Month with you. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, how are you celebrating the National Poetry Month?

What a Thing to Say - I Had Nothing Better to Do

You can find serenity in building a love that stands the tests of time, in-laws and children. When you find that serenity, you will also find peace, comfort and strength.
Over the years, my husband has said some incredible things to me:

• I love you
• Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife
• I do
• Women don't become beautiful until they get past thirty
• I will love you when you are 90 and your butt sags to your knees
• I had nothing better to do that day

photo credit: Millzero Photography via photopin cc

The last statement was something he said once during an argument when I asked him why he married me. At first I was upset with his response. What did he mean he had nothing better to do? I got a major attitude. He tried to calm me down and get me to listen to his explanation. But, I was not having it. Then, all of a sudden, I got it. I realized he had given me a wonderful compliment. What Darren was trying to explain to me was, that of all the things in the world that he could have been doing, there was no option better than choosing to share his life with me.
When we got married all those years ago, Darren was the perfect tall dark and handsome figure. He had a decent job, was a college student and had the whole world before him. In other words this was a man with many options before him. He did not have to get married, he chose to get married. In addition, since he was a major hottie, there were plenty of women who would have loved to marry him. This I know, because I had more than one tell me. However, even with all the choices available to him, there was nothing he could think of on March 31, 1990 that was better than marrying me. In my mind that is good stuff!

Twenty-three years have come and gone since our wedding day. A lifetime of things have taken place. We have lost parents and grandparents. We have gained and lost children. We have had the for richer, for poorer, in sickness and on health and the for better or for worse talked about in our wedding vows. We have lived in apartments and houses and in the city and in the suburbs. We have been so busy we saw each other only a few minutes per day and we have been around each other twenty-four hours per day for years at a time.

Some things have over the years. Instead of our home being a cozy apartment for two,  it is a crowded house of six with two pets. We no longer get up at 3 am just to drive to New York for hamburgers. Hugs and kisses get interrupted by little voices saying, "Ewwwww, that is nasty." Spending plans now include school supplies,  children's toys and lots of bandages. Television programs now get switched quickly with the approach of little feet in the night. Instead of fighting each other for sheets and blankets, we now must join forces against the attack of twin fingers and stinky feet.

When I think about love, romance and companionship that starts when people are young and lasts way past them being old, I think of Darren's kind of love. Over the years, the two of us have grown and developed. The people we were at nineteen and twenty-four are different from the people we were when we married at twenty-three and twenty-eight. Now at forty-six and fifty-one we are different from the young kids who got married all those years ago. However, some things have remained and grown stronger:

• Mutual respect
• Deep friendship
• Physical attraction
• Blind trust
• Support: mental, emotional, and physical

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Serene Sunday, What a Thing to Say

The things Darren did twenty-three years ago that got on my nerves, still get on my nerves. I still do not like it when I ask him if it is raining and have to listen to the history of precipitation before getting my answer. I still don't like it when he gets bossy. The sweet things he did back then to make me smile, still make me smile. He still knows I will forgive almost any offense if the apology is accompanied by a ball of yarn or a book. I like that he still doesn't like to see me cry and is always my hero. The way he has always adopted my dreams as his own and believed in every venture I undertake still fills me with indescribable joy.

In conclusion, I am thrilled by the fact that after all these years, I have a husband who had nothing better to do than marry me and spend his life with me. So, the question for you this serene day is what is your recipe for building a love that lasts?

Click here to check out a story about the line Darren used to hook me forever the day we first met.

After Tragedy Comes The Next

It is terrific to know that no matter how bad things are now, there is a next on the way. Right now, all over the news, radio, and social media people are discussing the tragedy that occurred at the Boston Marathon. Those discussions are good and important because when a tragedy occurs, those of us left behind want to understand what happened, why it happened and how we can keep the tragedy from repeating itself. We mourn the victims and pray for the survivors and the families of those involved. Everyone around the nation and around the world wants to know what happened and why. Parents are searching for as many answers as possible so they can explain things to their children. First we want to know what happened, then we want to know why. Then comes the next.

A basic fact of life is that no matter how bad the tragedy, no matter how many tears we shed, there is always a next. The next is where hope abides.  The next is what we figure out when we tell our kids that a bad thing has happened but we will go on, there will still be Elmo and SpongeBob. The next is what happens when we tell our employees to take the rest of the day off to be with their families and come back to work tomorrow morning. The next is when we have dinner ready when our husbands come home and convince them, that things will be ok at home while they are away. When tragedies happen, we all come together, families, friends and even strangers huddle together for protection, comfort and understanding. We cling to hope and pray for understanding. Then comes the next.

photo credit: QueenNeveen via photopin cc

As we sit and try to figure out what happened in Boston, as we seek to understand the who, what, when, where, why and the how, it is important for us to hold on to the knowledge that the next is coming. We cannot change the bad thing that happened. In truth, we may not be able to prevent similar tragedies from taking place in the future. What we can do is be assured that next is coming. The next is important because in the next we have power, we have control, we have hope and we have possibilities. In the next, we can reach out and do kind things for the families of those who died in the tragedy. In the next, we can look for ways to be of service to the survivors. In the next we can look for ways to comfort those around us who were not directly affected or involved but are hurting. The tragedy has happened, now comes, the next.

The next thing, the next step, the next action to take varies from person to person. There is no definitive thing to do next. Undoubtedly, we will all be doing something next. Some will ignore the events and pretend they never happened. Some will look for ways to be of service to the survivors. Some will try to figure out the whys and the hows. One thing we will all do is whatever is next. Because like it or not, deny it or not, want it or not, the next is coming. In conclusion, it is terrific to know that we do not stay in tragedy forever, the next arrives. Just like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the next is coming. So, the question for you this terrific day is, now that we have experienced this tragedy, what is your next?

Spring Into Business Improvement with A Customer Referral Plan

It is thrilling to do some spring cleaning in your business and improve your customer referral policy. Spring cleaning is often thought of as the deep and thorough cleaning that takes place after the long winter has ended. While spring cleaning is usually thought of in connection with a home, spring cleaning should also be done in your business. Entrepreneurs should take time on a regular basis to evaluate the condition of the business, to find ways to improve the business and its operations. An important place to concentrate cleaning and improvement efforts is the area of customer referral.

photo credit: nffcnnr via photopin cc

Every entrepreneur knows that customers make the business go around. After all no matter how wonderful the product or service, how well-trained the employees or how innovative the business model, no business can succeed without customers. An entrepreneur should always have in mind ways to satisfy customers and how to get more customers. Satisfied customers advertise your business with the stories they tell others about you and your business. It is critically important to your success that those stories be good ones. Therefore, the first step in creating a good and sustainable customer referral program is to satisfy your current customers.

Look at your business operations with a critical and objective eye. Ask the following questions about your customer service policy:

• do you have a written customer service policy that is understood and followed by all employees
• do customers know your hours, locations and refund policies
• how do you handle customer complaints
• what is your return policy
• what is your customer loyalty program

Once you are satisfying your current customers, the next step is to get your current customers to refer others to your business. There are several ways to do this:

• ask customers to write referral letters immediately after the satisfactory experience
• ask customers if they are willing to accept phone calls from potential customers
• have customers fill out customer experience cards to be shared with potential customers
• create a blog for your business where you share stories from and about satisfied customers
• create a customer forum section on your website that allows customers to talk about their experiences with your business and its products and services

There are several things to ask for when getting referral letters or stories to share from current customers. These things include:

• the name of a particularly good employee
• a problem that your product or service helped solve
• how a dissatisfied customer became a satisfied customer
• the customer's favorite thing about working with your business
• happy stories about results achieved from using your business' products or services

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Thrilling Thursday Spring Cleaning-Customer Service

An interesting fact is that there are as many ways to create a good customer referral plan as there are businesses. In order to be as successful as possible as an entrepreneur, it is important that you create a customer referral plan that works for your business. Also keep in mind that customer service is an ever-changing area of business operations. Things that satisfy customers today and make them refer customers to your business may no longer work tomorrow. Customer service is an area that needs continuous work and attention, do not rest on past successes.

In conclusion, it is thrilling to have a policy that gets your satisfied customers to refer more customers to your business. So, the question for you this thrilling day is , are your satisfied customers referring you more business?

Spring Into Action in the Face of Fear

It is magnificent to spring into action in the face of fear! There are many situations in life that require a person to take action, and to take that action, now even in the face of fear. Fear is commonly defined as the state of being afraid or apprehensive. Taking action now means that you move and do what needs doing, now.  Fear, if left unchecked, unchallenged and free to roam, makes it difficult to take action now. The next time you have something to do that causes you to feel fear, find your courage and take action anyway. Courage is not the absence of fear, instead it is  taking action in the face of fear. You must find the courage to spring into taking action now in the face of fear. In other words, when it comes to taking action now, you must put on your big girl panties and your fake it until you make it dress and get to doing what needs doing!

photo credit: Lynn Friedman via photopin cc

  In order for things to get done, action must take place. Fear is not sufficient justification to put off taking action. Bad things happen when fear stops a person from taking action now. Some of the things a person can expect when she allows fear to stop her from taking action now are:

• embarrassment
• failure
• disappointment
• missed opportunity
• loss of income

None of these are things that a person wants to experience. However, what is exciting about having the courage to act and take action in the face of fear is that if you do it once, you can do it again. In other words, if you find the courage just once to take action in the face of fear, that action will give you strength to take action again in the face of fear. You cannot wait for pretty words, perfect situations, and just the right moments.  When it is time to take action, take it!

There are several wonderful things that happen when you find the courage to look past fear and take action now. A few of these things are:

• achievement of the desired results
• success
• satisfaction

It feels good to take action when you should and move towards getting the results you want. There is something good and wonderful about working towards a goal and achieving your desired results. Success is habit-forming. Once a person has success in one area, the feeling of satisfaction that is obtained is so pleasant that one wants to feel it again and again. Therefore, it is good to find courage in the face of fear and take action now. The problem is that some people do not know how to find the courage to take action in the face of fear.

There are a two tricks that I have found helpful when I am scared to take necessary action:

• the five second rule from Lost
• be like Nike

In the first episode of the television show Lost one of the characters told another that he found the strength to battle his fear by allowing panic and fear to run wild for five seconds, five seconds only and then he went into action doing what needed to be done. I have used that tactic on several occasions with success. The first time I used it was before the television show aired. But once it did air, I always used that story as an example of a way to handle fear. For example, when I defended a client charged with murder for the first time, when the jury walked in to start the day I was scared to death. As I sat in my chair I acknowledged that I was scared, nervous and afraid. I admitted it to myself and thought about it for five to ten seconds. Then I shook my head, pushed the fear aside and got down to business. I was later able to enjoy the success and satisfaction of my client being found not guilty by a jury of his peers.

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Spring into Action in the Face of Fear

I have also used the Nike, "just do it" attitude to take action when I was afraid to act. When I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my twins and my husband was rushed to the hospital I was terrified. However, I had to get my two children out of the house and around the corner with me to the hospital. At that point I could either do what I wanted to do which was sit and cry or I could hide my fear and get to the hospital and handle the business that needed handling. So, I sucked it up put the kids in the car and went around the corner to the hospital. There was no pausing, no hesitation. There was only just doing it.These are not pretty stories. It is not pretty to be afraid. It is not cute to find the courage to take action in the face of fear. But, it is a thing that needs doing.

 In conclusion, it is magnificent to find the courage to spring into action and act now in spite of fear. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, what do you do to get things done when you feel afraid?

Spring into Family Improvements with Compliment Day

You can find serenity in having compliment day with your family. Sometimes, when there is more than one child in a family, sibling rivalry occurs and the children will bicker and argue with each other. Often when that bickering and arguing occurs, it tends to drive a mother off the ledge into insanity. Or perhaps that is just at my house. I am the mother of four children ranging in age from 17 to 5. As much as it shames me to admit it, on occasion, my children bicker and argue as if they do not realize they are supposed to love one another.

photo credit: Soulfull via photopin cc

After one afternoon of breaking up one too many fights, I created compliment day at the Davis house. One day per week everyone in the family is showered with compliments by the other members of the family. We worked out the following schedule:

• Sunday  - Dad's day
• Monday - Little Twin's day
• Tuesday - day off used for emergencies or if someone needs extra
• Wednesday -  Big Twin's day
• Thursday - My Son, my son my golden one's day
• Friday - Teenie Bopper's day
• Saturday - Mom's day

By dividing up the week in this manner, everyone gets a day to be treated to compliments and no one has to wait more than a week to be a recipient of the good stuff. The original plan was for the compliments to be given out spontaneously by everyone in the family. What things evolved to was compliments only being given out when mom says so, at meals and when the recipient of the day asks. The person who is receiving compliments has the right to request compliments whenever desired and whoever is asked does not have the power to refuse.

This system has been working out remarkably well for our family. It is easy to apply and can be followed by any family. Human beings are social creatures who need to be loved, cared for and appreciated for who they are. When a person is the recipient of kind words, true words, genuine compliments, that person cannot help but feel good. I know many people who go days, weeks, months and in some cases years without ever receiving a true and kind compliments from another person. My children are blessed and fortunate because they will grow up knowing that they are loved and worthy of good and kind words.

Think about it for a moment. How would you feel if you knew that one day per week you were guaranteed to receive kindness and praise from those around you? Would this make you feel better? While sitting and receiving the compliments, would you chest rise, your shoulders pull back and your head raise a little?  It is a good application of the Golden Rule. The children learned that if they give good compliments, the others will give them good compliments. At the same time, if they give out stinky compliments, they get some pretty stinky compliments in return. The following are a few of the stinky compliments:

• you eat your dinner every day
• you are smart for a boy
• you have three pretty shirts

Here are a few of the good compliments:

• you are the rainbow
• you are the best  sister
• you are my big brother hero
• you always make me smile
• I knew when I was born and I first met you that you would love me forever

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis,serene Sunday, compliment day

I have come to enjoy my compliment day. As a mom, there are so many times when my children take me for granted and think my contributions to the family are small and not worthy of note. However, on Saturday when it is my compliment day I feel really good. I am often amazed at the quality of compliments I receive. The last one in the good list above came from my Little Twin. I must admit, my little one has GAME, big time.

In conclusion, you can find serenity in having your family members compliment each other. So, the question for you this  serene day is, when was the last time your family members spent time complimenting one another?

Better Blogging and Better Business

In this article I am going to give you some great articles on blogging and business that I have found interesting during the past week. Be sure to check both sets of articles, there is often relevant overlap!

For Bloggers

1.     Many bloggers write purely for the sheer joy of getting words and ideas from their brains onto blog sites. There are other bloggers who write for money, to earn a living. For these bloggers, this article from the people at Hongkiat.com will give you ideas on where to go to get paid for writing blog posts and articles. http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/sites-to-get-paid-blogging/

2.   Bloggers like most people use Facebook for a variety of reasons. This article from Blogging Basics 101 talks about how the various Facebook rule changes may impact how a blogger runs contests on a blog site.  http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/2013/03/5-reasons-not-to-ask-for-facebook-likes-comments-and-shares-for-your-giveaways/

3.  RSS feed services are heavily relied upon by bloggers for a variety of purposes. Now that Google has announced Google Reader will be done away with in the near future. This article by a writer with competitor Feedblitz talks about the demise of Google Reader and why RSS feeds are here to stay.  http://www.feedblitz.com/rip-google-reader-first-thoughts/

4.  Bloggers are often concerned with Google rules about syndicating articles and duplicate content. This article from Google explains how they view syndicated articles and how they view duplicate content on a site. http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66359

5. Changing fonts in Wordpress is a task that has driven more than one bloggger to consider throwing her computer through a window.  This article from Lexilyn Studio may help keep some computers safe. http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66359

For Entrepreneurs

1.     Entrepreneurs are increasingly finding that LinkedIn is a good tool for making connections and developing relationships. This article from Virtual Social Media discusses how to use LinkedIn groups for business purposes. http://www.virtualsocialmedia.com/how-to-use-linkedin-groups-effectively-for-business/

2.  Entrepreneurs are increasingly learning the power of blogs and bloggers. This article from Smart Boy Design tells entrepreneurs how to write a corporate blog.  http://smartboydesigns.com/2013/03/18/write-corporate-blog/

3.  For entrepreneurs, it is always time to think about taxes. This article from the people at Daily Worth discusses the rules for deducting home offices on a tax return. http://posts.dailyworth.com/posts/1729-home-office-check-deduct-it-hmmmm#.UU2mYxyG2So 

4.  While entrepreneurs are increasingly learning the importance of social media, often they are making mistakes with application.  This article from Stream Feed explains why social media efforts may not be working. http://www.steamfeed.com/social-media-not-working-for-you-heres-why/

5.  One thing that is certain to drive entrepreneurs insane is email. This article from The Self Employed gives five ways to get a handle on email. http://theselfemployed.com/technology/5-no-fail-ways-to-take-control-of-your-email/

If you come across an interesting article for bloggers or business people you would like me to highlight here, please email it to me at: janeanedavis@janeane's world.com. It is sensational to get better at what you do. So, the question for you this sensational day is what steps are you taking to make your blog and business better?

Spring Into Action in the Face of Fear

It is magnificent to spring into action in the face of fear! There are many situations in life that require a person to take action, and to take that action, now even in the face of fear. Fear is commonly defined as the state of being afraid or apprehensive. Taking action now means that you move and do what needs doing, now.  Fear, if left unchecked, unchallenged and free to roam, makes it difficult to take action now. The next time you have something to do that causes you to feel fear, find your courage and take action anyway. Courage is not the absence of fear, instead it is  taking action in the face of fear. You must find the courage to spring into taking action now in the face of fear. In other words, when it comes to taking action now, you must put on your big girl panties and your fake it until you make it dress and get to doing what needs doing!

photo credit: Lynn Friedman via photopin cc

  In order for things to get done, action must take place. Fear is not sufficient justification to put off taking action. Bad things happen when fear stops a person from taking action now. Some of the things a person can expect when she allows fear to stop her from taking action now are:

• embarrassment
• failure
• disappointment
• missed opportunity
• loss of income

None of these are things that a person wants to experience. However, what is exciting about having the courage to act and take action in the face of fear is that if you do it once, you can do it again. In other words, if you find the courage just once to take action in the face of fear, that action will give you strength to take action again in the face of fear. You cannot wait for pretty words, perfect situations, and just the right moments.  When it is time to take action, take it!

There are several wonderful things that happen when you find the courage to look past fear and take action now. A few of these things are:

• achievement of the desired results
• success
• satisfaction

It feels good to take action when you should and move towards getting the results you want. There is something good and wonderful about working towards a goal and achieving your desired results. Success is habit-forming. Once a person has success in one area, the feeling of satisfaction that is obtained is so pleasant that one wants to feel it again and again. Therefore, it is good to find courage in the face of fear and take action now. The problem is that some people do not know how to find the courage to take action in the face of fear.

There are a two tricks that I have found helpful when I am scared to take necessary action:

• the five second rule from Lost
• be like Nike

In the first episode of the television show Lost one of the characters told another that he found the strength to battle his fear by allowing panic and fear to run wild for five seconds, five seconds only and then he went into action doing what needed to be done. I have used that tactic on several occasions with success. The first time I used it was before the television show aired. But once it did air, I always used that story as an example of a way to handle fear. For example, when I defended a client charged with murder for the first time, when the jury walked in to start the day I was scared to death. As I sat in my chair I acknowledged that I was scared, nervous and afraid. I admitted it to myself and thought about it for five to ten seconds. Then I shook my head, pushed the fear aside and got down to business. I was later able to enjoy the success and satisfaction of my client being found not guilty by a jury of his peers.

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis, Spring into Action in the Face of Fear

I have also used the Nike, "just do it" attitude to take action when I was afraid to act. When I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my twins and my husband was rushed to the hospital I was terrified. However, I had to get my two children out of the house and around the corner with me to the hospital. At that point I could either do what I wanted to do which was sit and cry or I could hide my fear and get to the hospital and handle the business that needed handling. So, I sucked it up put the kids in the car and went around the corner to the hospital. There was no pausing, no hesitation. There was only just doing it.These are not pretty stories. It is not pretty to be afraid. It is not cute to find the courage to take action in the face of fear. But, it is a thing that needs doing.

 In conclusion, it is magnificent to find the courage to spring into action and act now in spite of fear. So, the question for you this magnificent day is, what do you do to get things done when you feel afraid?

Spring into Family Improvements with Compliment Day

You can find serenity in having compliment day with your family. Sometimes, when there is more than one child in a family, sibling rivalry occurs and the children will bicker and argue with each other. Often when that bickering and arguing occurs, it tends to drive a mother off the ledge into insanity. Or perhaps that is just at my house. I am the mother of four children ranging in age from 17 to 5. As much as it shames me to admit it, on occasion, my children bicker and argue as if they do not realize they are supposed to love one another.

photo credit: Soulfull via photopin cc

After one afternoon of breaking up one too many fights, I created compliment day at the Davis house. One day per week everyone in the family is showered with compliments by the other members of the family. We worked out the following schedule:

• Sunday  - Dad's day
• Monday - Little Twin's day
• Tuesday - day off used for emergencies or if someone needs extra
• Wednesday -  Big Twin's day
• Thursday - My Son, my son my golden one's day
• Friday - Teenie Bopper's day
• Saturday - Mom's day

By dividing up the week in this manner, everyone gets a day to be treated to compliments and no one has to wait more than a week to be a recipient of the good stuff. The original plan was for the compliments to be given out spontaneously by everyone in the family. What things evolved to was compliments only being given out when mom says so, at meals and when the recipient of the day asks. The person who is receiving compliments has the right to request compliments whenever desired and whoever is asked does not have the power to refuse.

This system has been working out remarkably well for our family. It is easy to apply and can be followed by any family. Human beings are social creatures who need to be loved, cared for and appreciated for who they are. When a person is the recipient of kind words, true words, genuine compliments, that person cannot help but feel good. I know many people who go days, weeks, months and in some cases years without ever receiving a true and kind compliments from another person. My children are blessed and fortunate because they will grow up knowing that they are loved and worthy of good and kind words.

Think about it for a moment. How would you feel if you knew that one day per week you were guaranteed to receive kindness and praise from those around you? Would this make you feel better? While sitting and receiving the compliments, would you chest rise, your shoulders pull back and your head raise a little?  It is a good application of the Golden Rule. The children learned that if they give good compliments, the others will give them good compliments. At the same time, if they give out stinky compliments, they get some pretty stinky compliments in return. The following are a few of the stinky compliments:

• you eat your dinner every day
• you are smart for a boy
• you have three pretty shirts

Here are a few of the good compliments:

• you are the rainbow
• you are the best  sister
• you are my big brother hero
• you always make me smile
• I knew when I was born and I first met you that you would love me forever

Photo Credit: Janeane Davis,serene Sunday, compliment day

I have come to enjoy my compliment day. As a mom, there are so many times when my children take me for granted and think my contributions to the family are small and not worthy of note. However, on Saturday when it is my compliment day I feel really good. I am often amazed at the quality of compliments I receive. The last one in the good list above came from my Little Twin. I must admit, my little one has GAME, big time.

In conclusion, you can find serenity in having your family members compliment each other. So, the question for you this  serene day is, when was the last time your family members spent time complimenting one another?