Health and Lifestyle
The Art of Being a Domestic Guru
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Today our Podcast revolves around Domestic Arts. It is actually a Management position that had been downplayed for years. In the 50’s and 60’s, schools taught Home Economics. The courses taught adolescents the relevance of contributing and learning skills to become independent. They were refined at home. Later the term domestic engineers was given to mainly women who took their home economic skills to the next level.
Domestic engineers were then and continue to be needed in making our homes warm and hospitable. Linda and Kate discuss the evolution of these skills. Whether they pertain to men or women, they are much needed in our society today. Those of us who know them well need to be instrumental in teaching and passing them on to the next
“Home-making today should have a background of scientific training because only in this way can real efficiency be achieved.The average girl wants to be able to keep her house with the least possible strain, and in order to do this she must have good training. this can best be achieved by taking a good course in home economics.” Eleanor Roosevelt (1933) First Lady and Social Reformer
Being creative and adding hospitality to our homes is essential and so appreciated by everyone who enters our doors. Let’s make memories for our youngest family members.
This family is getting ready for a small dinner!
Also check out the Best Year Ever by clicking on the Icon here. You’ll be glad you did!
Are You Present and Focusing?
Are you present and focusing on an agenda? Your child is calling you to come play with them. Are you able to shut down and focus on the short playtime? I always found it hard to stop doing one thing and focus on another, but I am learning that it is not only healthy, but also so fulfilling to do one thing at a time.
I literally just shut down a CD I was listening to and decided to write this blog. I had been writing one every day for over 18 months, but in the past 6 months, my time and attention has gone to establishing care for people over the phone and online. I do well when I can concentrate on one task. I don’t misplace files or forget details. I used to do a dozen things at the same time. This was particularly true at home as a mom, but I also had to do that with children and chores. Multitasking seemed natural.
As the year winds down, I am staying present and focusing on one thing at a time. I have a better retention of what has transpired and feel more accomplished as well. I am going to carry this effort forth into 2018.
Welcome! Rosy is present and focusing that I am not leaving!
How are you focusing these days? Are you feeling scattered? Perhaps you are lonely and not connected? Many of my friends are retired and free to glide through a schedule of their own, and even though I have my own business and can schedule in special events, I am being careful about not committing to too much outside of this office. For many years I used my extra energy in that way, but now it is more intentionally directed.
I watch Rosy and notice that she will run to her kitchen pillow when I walk in with groceries. Our dog Lord used to do that too. He’d perch himself at the top of the staircase and have a view of the whole family room and french doors. I think dogs know when to separate themselves when things get too crazy. They aren’t in the way and still they have control.
When we are with other people, we want them to be focused on what we are saying. We have all had the experience where we are talking and the other person either blanks out or answers inappropriately. It is all too obvious that they are not present nor focusing on our interaction.
As we flow into the Advent Season and all the merriment around us, do take the time to be cordial and present. Worry less about the gifts and the peripheral decorations. Focus on the people you are talking with and listen. You’ll feel contentment and pride.
Look forward to our Podcast later this week when Kate Halma joins me on using “Domestic Arts”. It should be a down-to-earth look at some wholesome, old-fashioned, and needed skills. We don’t want to lose them!
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The Value of Losses
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The Value of Losses can become a cornerstone for you. Although this Podcast is short and simple, it is powerful and necessary to hear. Please take the 5 minutes out of your day and listen. Ask others to subscribe to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments where the minor moments lend great insight into living a full and complete life.
Stop, Isolating Yourself is NOT the Answer!
Stop isolating yourself from other people. It is not the answer to moving ahead. We are people that function our best and surge ahead when we are in community. You may be a leader or a follower, but either way, being with others gives us energy and feedback.
If you think about how we are created, we are instantly brought into a community. It is called a family. The love of two people have provided an instant family for us. Often the unit has extended family that care for us too, like our siblings, grandparents, neighbors, or devoted aunts and uncles. We are feed, warmed, and cuddled. People sing to us, make funny faces, and comfort us. They tease us and make us giggle. It is usually a mom, dad, or nanny who cares for us on a regular basis where we gain trust.
We are then taught about the people in our neighbor like the church community, police, fire department, teachers, and other sources of care. Our teachers take us on field trips; our parents teach us to volunteer. We attend church breakfasts, pray together, become active in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports programs, and extra programs available around us. We have our pictures taken with the Easter bunny, Santa Claus, or dance troop.
Stop isolating yourself. Connect with other people and find comfort with pets!
In each case and under all these circumstances, we are taught to exchange our talents and interests with those around us. That is the healthy way of becoming all we can be! The best part of being involved is that it gives us feedback to enjoy time with one another. We trade our skills and services. We learn what we are good at the areas we prefer to avoid. Our talents develop and so do our unique personalities.
Somewhere along the line, some people pull back from the “crowd”. This happens when we don’t feel good about ourselves. We are hurt or feel unappreciated. We don’t know who is safe to turn to or where to go for answers. We have all been there, and it isn’t a good feeling. If we are lucky, we may have access to a dog or cat that gives us unconditional love and companionship.
When one has had a spouse die or a divorce happens, the reality of being alone is reflected to us when we have a social engagement to attend and we are alone. We are the ones driving, parking, and walking into an affair on our own. We don’t have that partner there with us to assist us or to make small talk to while everyone else seems to comfortable.
Getting the support you deserves from a caring professional is a good beginning to forge ahead and thrive! Isolating yourself is not a good move. Get connected and be the best version of yourself!
Are You Doing Nothing Because of Fear?
As I walked through a local cemetery, there was a peaceful moment of thinking how these deceased people had conquered fear in their lives. Had they fought a physical problem like heart disease, cancer, or an immune problem? Had they fought in a war and had mental issues to deal with in their lifetime as a result of the experience. Were some of these people harmed as children and fearful for their whole lives? Every person has a story to tell and as we die, do our stories die too? I hope not. Walking and reading the dates gave me only a few facts about each person, but it would be wonderful to glean information and wisdom from all of these lives.
It is sometimes easier to do nothing than to open a can of worms and not know how to deal with them. But in the pursuit of some fresh air and clarity, it is wise to address the things that bother us. If you have an issue that can be solved with an action, you don’t have a problem! This small phrase has continued to pop out all month at me. It was like that as I walked the cemetery too. Could some of these people enjoyed a happier life or one that was less stressful?
I spied a feather laying on the ground. Where was the bird? Had it flown off in pursuit of it’s safety? Fear often helps us to be safe by running from danger. We seek the safety of shelters, cling to the safety of another person, or the protection of caretaker we trust. We turn to prayer and to our relationship with God. We may be begging for help, insight, or resolution. The feather was the only sign of a bird, just like the tombstones were a sign of precious lives that had lived. I hope the bird was just shedding naturally one of its feathers and that it was with a flock of its own.
Fear can be a safe guard when it serves as a safety measure. We run or hide depending on the circumstances. Or fear can block us from taking opportunities for grown by paralyzing us. I have plenty of people come into my office with fear. Often it has caused them great anxiety and a feeling of hopelessness. Every one of us has experienced the momentary “oh what now?”
Small steps make for great progress. We can move mountains with one shovel full at a time and build wonderful programs, improve our health, and promote business by taking a single step. We can do so by taking action. We can lean on the support of other people. We can ask questions and pursue answers we need.
Please do something and shake away “fear” and all that it robs you of doing and being. Have a super week and keep flying high. When you do land, let it be a peaceful and wonderful moment.
Linda can be found at “Delight in Living, Ltd.” office most days of the week. You can contact her for appointments or to join any of the ongoing groups or by checking out www.delightinliving.com
Failure Can Lead to a Brilliant Outcome
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This is Mini Miracles from Minor Moments with Kate Halma and Linda Gullo. Welcome to Podcast # 75 on Failure can lead to a Brilliant Outcome?
Kate and Linda share on the value of failing. The lesson here is not to worry, because the trials you face may lead you onto the escalator of success.
As a small child, Linda shares how she worked hard in school. Spelling was something she really excelled at so when she misspelled the word “during” she shares how she felt. The lesson of the story is that she never forget how to spell the word during, nor did she forget the value of making a mistake. It is indeed okay for all of us to make mistakes, because there is a silver lining in doing so.
We all must learn. Roy T. Bennett in his writing The Light in the Heart says, “Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.” It is a concept that we must all embrace.
Kate shares the story of her husband’s successful business as a Dog Trainer at K-9 Motivation which he developed after he is was forced out of a job. She also shares of her own story about receiving a “pink slip” and how this turned out to be a blessing.
Life can be “rocky” at times, but become a solid foundation for us!
As Kate talks about her nieces learning to drive, it reminds Linda of her taking a driving test at the age of 16 in a snow storm. The reality of not passing the test, may have in the long run saved her. She ended up learning the skills of driving in sleet, snow and inclement weather! Trials often lead us to having a triumph and a greater perspective.
Our discussion led us to the understanding that giving up doesn’t always mean you are weak; sometimes it provides a means to becoming stronger and smart enough to move on.
Linda defined failure for us. Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective.It is a perception that can fuel us for success. It automatically rules out options and clarifies facts from fiction.
This is noted from a Forbes newsletter. “Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary tour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” — Denis Waitley
Is it from a failure to anticipate, perceive, or carry out a task?
“You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It wont happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” Joel Osteen
Samuel West who opened the Museum of Failure in Sweden focuses on how we can all learn from failure, tells us to Accept failure as an essential aspect of progress & innovation!
Overcome Your Self Doubt Beginning Now!
To overcome your self doubt begins now. Taking an active participation and being awareness that doubt is affecting our lives is the first step in making a change. As we go through life, we accumulate something that will help remove the act of over questioning ourselves. It is called Portable Equity. It is that skill set that goes into our toolbox and aids us whenever we are trying something new. It can be a job, a change in schools, a moment traveling in a new city, or learning a new craft. Our ability to achieve greater things means setting aside self doubt and believing in ourselves.
In other posts I have noted that Portable Equity is something we have already achieved. It is a learned skill set like being detail oriented, a self starter, or being well organized. We may have excelled in a subject like accounting back in college and yet never implemented those skills. The accounting knowledge is still portable and can be used when it comes up with being on a Board of Directors for a not for profit group. It can be used in setting up a new business; the skill is not wasted. Portable equity removes self doubt, because usually we have felt and come to believe in ourselves.
So where does self doubt come from? Is it a message you have placed in your subconscious? Has the doubt been affirmed by someone you admire and now it is something you have come to believe? Are you questioning how to proceed or when to act on an important issue? Have you given up trying new things for fear of failing and moving forward?
Strut forward with Confidence! Photo by Linda Gullo
Doubt can keep us from advancing when you need to move forward. Working with someone who is skilled can help one to a new level otherwise, a person may do nothing at all. For me, I learned awhile ago that I did not know who to trust. I didn’t know who to ask for certain needs I had. I began to just ask anyone and voila eventually you get an answer. So here are a few tips to proceed.
- Ask for help. Psychotherapists and teachers are great resources.
- Listen to experts in the area of learning you want to master.
- Don’t beat yourself up for doubt, just march forward. Mel Robbins would say, “5,4,3,2,1 go”
- List all the areas of competence you already have achieved.
- Work along side someone you admire. Do it free! In giving away, we receive.
- Be your own cheer leader and marvel at your own accomplishments.
Our own negative self talk can be the very thing you need to remove the self doubt that has held you back. BE well, listen to your own healthy values, and meet with continued success. Just on step can put you on the escalator of success.
Check out www.delightinliving.com for groups. You’ll be glad you did.
Continual Learning is YOURS FOREVER
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Enjoy the topic of Continual Learning and how to embrace it with Kate Halma and Linda Gullo. Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments Episode # 73 on Continued Education. Kate starts the episode by quoting her father about education being yours forever. The ladies discuss opportunities to learn and how we share our knowledge. Learning is ongoing and there for everyone.
Did you know the an MBA is also the abbreviation for Mind, Body Adventure? Well here at Mini Miracles we direct so much attention to developmental opportunities for growth and change.
Kate talks about Leadership Greater Mc Henry and how it helped her continue her education. Linda refers to the Incubator Programs that our local schools are engaging in and how people are able to be involved in teaching. In the process of sharing and teaching what we know, we continue to learn.
We are learning even when we play. Maybe it is in being with others as we learn social skills, or when we get triggers to learn about something specific. It is never to late and it’s something no one can take away from you!
Are you a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? How did you get your education? The ladies discuss how and why it is important to know how you learn. Engaging with others, listening, and storytelling help us bring to a fullness in life.
Over the last decade Kate talks about careers and how they have changed. In the process people have had to go back and learn new topics or career opportunities. Business, community, and needs change for us and open up doors for advancement.
Remember that “A single step may put you on the escalator of success.”
Check our the book Kate talks about called Optional Optimism by Deirdre A. McClarin
and also Erasing Adversity by Linda Gullo. Both books are available at www.Amazon.com
Join the ladies in 2 weeks! Next week is our 10 minute Podcast with Linda.
A Podcast on How to Live Fully
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Welcome to a short, but “jam-packed” episode on How to Live Life Fully. To bring anything into your life, Richard Bach says that we need to imagine that’s it is already there! Every step of our lives is a journey and keeps on changing. In this episode of Mini Miracles from Minor Moments, Linda discusses a few ideas that you might want to journal on this week. Maybe these are things that you want to imagine are already there.
“If you’re like me, you have a pretty busy schedule. It is a schedule that has a time frame revolving around work, appointments, deliveries, and sleeping.” Linda shares about how sleep is the first thing to be sacrificed when she has a lot on her plate for the day! Sleep is that important commodity to be removed and replaced by other priorities.
Our daily obligations and commitments to others can be a great source of enjoyment. Today’s short story is tucked into a 3 hour window. Linda spends time with an older Granddaughter that she realizes couldn’t have been spent in any better way. It is the unexpected visit in this daily moment that one feels so invigorating. She was thankful to encounter this brief time in her day. This spontaneous visit was indeed one of those remarkable times. It was nothing special, but yet it was so important in being close to those we love.
Hope you enjoy the Podcast. These photographic sites are from Oregon and taken by Debbie Smakal Davidson who shares her photography with us. 
Resilience Comes with the Support of Other People
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Welcome to this weeks Podcasts on Resilience and being encouraged to heal. We all need support from one another. Often it is the trying times that come out of nowhere, like natural disasters, that remind us of that. Healing and trying to move forward is hard. Daily issues are hard enough, but the major things put fear into us and paralyze us. Those moments of being frozen and unable to progress calls for the reinforcements of other people.
God has given us all so many wonderful talents and opportunities to use our gifts. We need to share them. Linda quotes Mel Robbins from one of her recent talks. “If you have a problem that can be solved with action, you don’t have a problem!”
So this weeks Podcast “Resilience” hopefully will help you to take action and resolve your current problem. Our yard was in complete chaos this week as we had word done to break down and remove a waterfall that was in place for over 40 years. It was built with rebars, mesh, and concrete. Along with many boulders, the pond was dismantled and removed. Today you would not recognize the spot or the gardens around it.
As it progressed, I kept thinking of all the rebuilding that goes on constantly around the world. We all contribute to enhancing our world or making it a better place. Enjoy this short podcast and blessings for resilience!
Peace for you day and have a great one.
