Control Your Thoughts and Appreciate Life Everyday

     There is no human being that does not get negative thoughts from time to time regardless of how spiritual or motivated he or she is, and if you do exist, please comment here with your secret! Some people are more capable of controlling their own mind and their thinking than others and that is just due to awareness. There is a whole industry filled with books, videos, and audio tapes dedicated to teaching "Mind Control" and "How to Think Positively", not to mention conferences held by those same people who produced those materials.
     Anthony Robbins is one of the top Motivational Gurus of our time traveling the world to give seminars to millions of people trying to help them redefine themselves, their lives, and their view of the world around them. You can't always change the people and surroundings you're in but you can change the way you think about them. Anthony Robbins is just one of the many Motivational Speakers who teach step-by-step ways to overcome fears, become more confident, strive for and obtain higher goals, and many other helpful "Mind Control" tips.

     About 10 years ago while I was reading one of Napoleon Hills books, someone bought me a book called "Awaken The Giant Within" by Anthony Robbins which I think is an awesome book! At that time of my life I had overcome so many terrible situations and felt that one of the only things that still had control over me was my irrational fear of snakes. I wasn't even afraid of getting bitten by one but I just couldn't even look at one in a book or on TV without having nightmares about them. After reading the book I felt it was time to TRY to conquer that fear at least a little bit. I started by going into Petco and with the assistance and understanding of the sales girl, I was able to "choose" which snake I would attempt to hold (of course one that barely moved!). Although I was just short of a panic attack and probably stopped breathing for those 30 seconds, I did let her put the snake into the palm of my hand....well, maybe it was only 5 or 6 seconds, but I did it!!! Unfortunately I am still just as afraid of them in an "uncontrolled" environment, such as in the woods where they can just appear at any time, but I can at least look at them without having nightmares. The photo of me in Times Square as the Naked Cowgirl was when someone walked up to me unexpectedly with a snake because someone told him I was afraid of them and that he should let me hold it (which I only touched it). Notice my smile was totally fake!

     I am currently listening to audio CD's called "Power Thoughts - 12 Strategies to Win The Battle of The Mind" by Bible teacher Joyce Meyer. One of her favorite phrases is "where the mind goes, the man will follow" which is why it is so important to recognize our negative thoughts at the moment they are occurring and turn them around into positive thoughts. After reading Joel Osteen's book "Become A Better You", I started watching him preach on TV occasionally for some spiritual reinforcement and a reminder of how fortunate I am for everything and everyone in my life and especially the good health of myself and my family.
     I am also a firm believer of the "Law of Attraction" as explained in the the metaphysical book "The Secret". I know some religious people feel that science and religion are conflicting when it comes to God and a higher power but I believe it is all related and everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. For any of you intrigued by the metaphysical world, rent the video "What The Bleep Do We Know?" available on Netflix or from a local library.

I had to watch it several times to even start to follow this mystery of life and the universe as explained in this video...very interesting!
     I admit to having mood swings that sometimes bring me down, and although it seems like there's no "light at the end of the tunnel" sometimes, it is my faith in God and all of the positive reinforcements I've brainwashed myself with that gets me through those rough times. Some of my other favorite books are "The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire" and "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" by Deepak Chopra, MD,  and "Manifest Your Destiny" by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. Please comment and let me know what your favorite uplifting or motivating book is.
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Make Time For Old Friends...And For Making New Ones

  

If you're lucky, you may have a few "good" friends that you've known for years and no matter how much time passes, it seems like you're picking up right where you left off.

After many years pass and so many changes occur in everyone's lives, getting together makes you really appreciate this friendship that has survived. I am fortunate enough to have kept some"true" friends from my past and have also grown close to some new ones over the years. With all of the classes I have taught, the many gyms I've worked at, and variety of other jobs and activities I've participated in, I am surrounded by many great people I call "Friends".

     My 10-year reunion opened my eyes to see that some people I spent time with in high school were just people to pass the time with while others had a greater impact on me when I saw them whether we stayed in touch or not.
Ten years after high school most people were trying to impress with their accomplishments and careers, while I was (in the minority) showing photos of my children. Although I trained clients, taught Aerobic classes, and I went to school part-time, I was more of a "stay-home mom" at that time.

The 20-year reunion was very different and had less people attend. I felt that most people were truly happy to see each other and weren't trying to "impress with their success". Now "they" were showing photos of their young children and I was already divorced.

My children were 8, 12, and 15 so I was ready to go out afterwards with other friends who either still single, divorced, or had babysitters. Most of my struggling was over and things were staring to get much easier for me.
     My closest friends couldn't attend so we planned our own reunion in South Beach, Florida. Two lived in Florida, one in Arizona, and two of us in New Jersey. It was amazing to see them after 10 or 20 years and still connect immediately!

Most of those four days were spent talking on the beach or while drinking sangria at the condo. We made an agreement that we'd try to get together at least once a year and the next year we did just that, and this time was with our families. My girlfriend Frankie and her husband Joe were gracious enough to let us all come to their beautiful home in Cape May, NJ. It was four of us ladies, two husbands, 3 teens, an 11-yr. old, and four more that still cry a few times a day...definitely eventful!

I occasionally get together with some of my high school friends since I am living back in the town I grew up in.

It's nice to see that my kids are friends with children of people I went to school with, and I've also become friends with some of my kid's parents that I didn't know from school. I love my hometown of Secaucus, NJ...great people here!

After many years pass and so many changes occur in everyone's lives, getting together makes you really appreciate this friendship that has survived. I am fortunate enough to have kept some"true" friends from my past and have also grown close to some new ones over the years. With all of the classes I have taught, the many gyms I've worked at, and variety of other jobs and activities I've participated in, I am surrounded by many great people I call "Friends".

Since working at Hackensack University Medical Center I have met so many good friends that are not from my town. Just like children in school who spend 7 or 8 hours with the kids in school, we as adults form bonds with the people at our jobs that we spend a lot of time with. It is what makes going to work every day something to look forward to...or at least more enjoyable.

Of course being the "Naked Cowgirl" of Times Square has brought a whole new world of people into my life, some just passing by and others who have become meaningful in my life and made life very exciting at times.

Then there are the people in our lives that we spend the most time with when not at work or school, such as family and significant others. They are the ones we complain to about our jobs and school, and the ones we talk to when we are concerned with or upset with our friends. 

Let's be grateful for the important people (and pets) in our lives both near and far and make time for them while we can :)