February 10, 2008
Wow! has this been a busy month so far! The year is whizzing in to top gear already.
"Time is fleeting and finite. No matter how organized we may be, there is never enough to do all the things that we should be doing."
How true..
Thanks to Martin Avis for that Power Thought... and for this quote by Audrey Hepburn, who said
"Remember, if you need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others."
Are there any 'good wives' out there today?
I received this great article from my dear friend Ruth from Minneapolis. It appeared in the Housekeeping Monthly 13 May 1955. Thanks Ruth for thinking of me.
How things have changed??
Here is the "The good wife's guide" a la 1955.
- Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
- Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work weary people.
- Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
- Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
- Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
- Be happy to see him.
- Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
- Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
- Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
- Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
- Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
- Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
- Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
- Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
- Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
- A good wife always knows her place.
Methinks this was written by a man?
The mango season is coming to an end in this part of the world - what a shame! I've really been enjoying eating a mango each day, especially because they contain vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene. No other tropical fruit contains all three of these powerful antioxidants.... and, they taste so good!
Here's another tip from Martin Avis - you might have noticed that I enjoy Martin's KickStart newsletter - you could sign up for it here if you wish.
This one could be a hard one to put into practice, but if you can integrate it into your life, it is one that will create magical amounts of time for you. (I'm trying very hard!)
Lose the maybe habit.
The 'maybe habit' is one that every single one of us has to some extent or another. It is the knee-jerk reaction to defer a decision.
Should I? Shouldn't I? Maybe I'll think about it later.
Maybe I will, but I need more input.
Maybe I'll do it after lunch.
Maybe I'll think about that tomorrow.
No you won't. You are just feeding your maybe habit.
It will be very hard to stop yourself because I doubt you are even aware that you are doing it. Procrastination is like dry rot - it takes a lot of effort and some heavy-duty deconstruction to eradicate.
But consider this. Every time your maybe habit kicks in, you waste the time it took to defer the decision. And you'll waste that time over and over again until eventually, circumstances will force you to answer yes or no.
It not only wastes time, but it wastes your emotional strength. Undecided actions play on your mind. they sit in your brain and make you feel guilty. They cause you to worry and feel stressed.
And all that negative energy slows down your thought processes and reinforces your maybe habit. Other decisions then get deferred and the cycle continues.
Break that habit!
Watch out for the maybes and every time you find yourself invoking one, consciously say to yourself, 'No! I will decide right now!'
When you minimize your maybes, you will automatically maximize other aspects of your life - time, energy, positivity and action.
And maybe ... that's not such a bad idea at all!
When you really want something, do you put affirmations to work for you but don't feel quite right about it, or don't quite get the success you're after?
I've just come across a program that I'm sure will help you to fast track the path to achieving your goals......I can't wait to try it!
Click the link to find out more. Please continue to share this Choose Wellness Newsletter with your family, friends and business associates - the more the merrier!
I welcome your questions, comments or requests so please contact me if you have anything you'd like to ask or say.
Until then keep well and remember
'healthy cells = healthy bodies', so keep all those cells well fed in 2008.
Best wishes
Jane
I'm sure you'd really enjoy reading "The Science of Being Well", so if you haven't done so yet, just click for your copy.
