Once the calendar turns, magic happens.  We turn hopeful.  We start resolving to do better.  We are even giddy with the clean slate we've been handed.  I wondered why people do not make the same resolutions any other time of the year.  Or, why we wait until a new year to look forward.  Or, why we lament on the past at the end of the previous year.

It seems that the hope of tomorrow or a grand unknown is what gives us the magic of the new year.  It is almost like an hourglass - as the sand spills into the lower chamber, or moves closer to the end, we start looking back.  When the hourglass is turned upside down and all the sand is at the top, there is hope.

Let's not wait until a new year comes.  I challenge you to take each day as the clean slate.   Each new day gives us a chance to start over, see the possibilities, and put our stamp on each moment.

I invite you to change the magic of a new year to the magic of each new day.

Savor life's best,

Aimee

http://www.OccasionsToSavor.com

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Happy New Year!

We are hours away from moving into 2010.  We have a blank slate to write on and new experiences to have.  Our choices are brand new.  Our possibilities are limitless.

I learned so much during 2009 that I cannot wait until 2010.  Here are the top

1. I discovered the love of blogging - writing my own blog, when I can carve the time, and reading other people's blogs.

2. I started working with a Success Coach and I am expanding my thinking in amazing ways.

3. I found that loving what you do everyday makes a world of difference.

Taking this knowledge into 2010 means that an abundance of possibilities await me.

May 2010 bring you new possibilities, opportunities, and new insights!

Savor life's best,

Aimee

www.OccasionsToSavor.com

I enjoyed an interesting and motivating presentation several weeks ago in Nashville, TN for my business.  Company managment and field leadership shared content-rich sessions and I had several ah-ha moments.  A motivational speaker, Dale Smith Thomas from http://www.WinnersByChoice.com spoke and confirmed a critical philosophy I am striving to pass onto my young son - the issue of choice.

When I had power struggles when my son was 2- and 3-years old, I asked his pediatrician about how to deal with the behavior challenges.  It was simple - give him choice.  I started to give my son a "this-or-that" type choice on a regular basis.  For example, instead of asking would you like to put on your shoes (or something to that effect), I started asking "Would you like to start with your left shoe or your right shoe?"  It worked brillantly.  I have since moved up to "Option A", which is usually what I need him to do or "Option B", which comes with a negative consequence and is typically something he would like to do.

The presentation by Ms. Smith Thomas reminded me of the control we truly have over the present situation - not that we can change circumstances by sprinkling pixie dust.  We choose how we react to a situation.  We have a choice on how we take responsibility for our actions in a given situation.  I always asked my son as I dropped him off in the mornings - "Are you going to have a good day?"  Now I ask "Are you choosing to have a good day?"  My son is a generally upbeat and optimistic child so the answer is an enthusiastic "Yes!"  I like that tone.  And if I am not able to pass on any other value, I choose to pass on the value of choice.  It is never too late for me to learn the power of choice as well.

Savor life's best,

Aimee

http://www.OccasionsToSavor.com

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Life has been especially busy for me.  However, I have noticed a showstopper, so to speak.  My son, who is 4 years old helps me slow down.  He sees the wonder is ordinary occurrences - the wind blow the trees, the squirrels chasing each other up a tree, and seeing live fireworks, when he jumped up and down clapping and shouting.  You cannot help but show excitement with live fireworks, unless they give you a headache.

Each time, it made me say "WOW" because I forgot how great it was to see these things.  It takes a kid to help me see the wonder of the world.  He helped me savor those precious moments in life that are not routine or a daily occurrence.  My young son helped me reset my pace to slow down sometimes.  I am glad to see the wonder a kid sees!

Savor life's best,

Aimee

www.OccasionsToSavor.com

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In my view, parenting is one of the biggest challenges I have faced in my life.  It is incredibly rewarding, gratifying, yet challenging.  I visited two informative Parent Discussion sessions reviewing parent books in the suburban Philadelphia area.

The first session covered discipline in general terms, like increasing appropriate behavior and techniques to decrease inappropriate behavior.  There are a lot of theories and experts available to review and discuss.  I like the general approach, especially since the group was small and we got to share a few scenarios for feedback by the facilitators.  Those areas of parenting were a refresher for me.  My takeaway from the Parent Discussion Group was that I need to modify my behavior in order to increase appropriate behavior or decrease inappropriate behavior.  The week following this Parent Discussion went smoothly as I implemented a new concept for me - "Get 2-Yeses for every No".  This approach reduces your child hearing "No" constantly and helps you express your desires in an agreeable manner (the "Yes" part) that your child responds to.  It actually helped me stay calm when addressing my son's behavior.  So, it worked beautifully for us!

I just participated in the second session, which drew a larger group.  Hearing the diversity of family configurations - the number of kids and the spectrum of ages in a given family helped me feel a sense of comraderie, like any kind of family might have challenges.  I attended the sessions more for me as I felt like I was becoming a Army general pushing my son through his morning and evening routines.  I learned a couple tips on engaging cooperation from my son.  Since it has only been a day, I have not tried the techniques yet.  I suspect the simplicity of the parenting techniques will work equally as well.  You'll hear about it, if it does not. 

The value of the local support with this Parent Discussion Group is quite comforting and I hope to participate in future sessions.

Savor life's best,

Aimee

http://www.OccasionsToSavor.com

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