Motivation Monday - Memorial Day – 3 Interesting Facts

Photo Credit:memorialdayforyou.epizy.com

Memorial Day is a time to honor military personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Observed on the last Monday in May, this Holiday has many interesting facts associated with it.

Below are 3 Facts associated with Memorial Day.

1.      Waterloo observed the first Memorial Day on May 5, 1866. The celebration consisted of a community-wide event in which residents decorated the graves of soldiers and local businesses closed down for the festivities.

2.      In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day.

3.      By 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act went into effect, and Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday that would occur on the last Monday in May.

These facts were taken from the article – Memorial Day Facts 2022, 15 Things to Know AboutHistory, Origin of Holiday.

To all veteran’s, thank you for your service. To families of fallen soldiers, blessings to you.

Check out words of hope by poet Amanda Gorman. 

YouTube Video Credit: CBS Morning ANews April 17, 2020

Fun Friday – 3 Ways to find joy at work through humor

 

Near the beginning of COVID-19 when many places of businesses were under a stay-at-home order, it was a time of high anxiety and stress. It was difficult to experience joy. One way that I found joy was through humor.

There were many days of hanging out in a Zoom room from my home office (the living room table, kitchen table, or any area where I could blur my background). When an opportunity came up to add fun to my day, I took advantage of it. One I dis that was by accepting an offer to participate in a Humor Happy Hour.

The Humor Happy Hour met one time a week for four weeks. Each week speakers focused on humor in the workplace. It was not a comedy show but focused on ways to uncover humor at work.

I was recently a guest on a podcast called Shore2Shore. The podcast is created by mParks, the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, and focuses on the spaces in Michigan and the people who are involved with them. One focus of my interview was using humor in the workplace,

Here are a few ways to find joy through humor at work:

1.      Create a fun at work day – have games around the office that employees can take a break and engage in – Connect 4, Lego’s, PlayDo, etc.

2.      Create an office challenge – have a competition to see who can take the greatest number of steps in a week; have a spirit week at work, think about high school days – crazy hair day, hat day, backwards day, you get the idea.

3.      Have a humor quote of the day or week – this is only fun if it is appropriate humor, choose wisely, but have fun.

Click here to listen to the podcast to see what else was covered in the podcast.

What do you do to find joy in the workplace?

 

Words of Wisdom - Motivation - Lion Mentality by Ray Lewis

 

Lion Mentality by Ray Lewis

Motivational Monday – 7 Ways to Celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day

 

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” John F. Kennedy

 

National Senior Health and Fitness Day was established to focus on the betterment of the health of Seniors. The goal is to help Seniors “stay fit and healthy.” (Nationalday.com)This national day was established by the Mature Market Resource Center, and is celebrated on the last Wednesday in May, which this year is May 25^th.

Did you know that over 1,200 locations celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day? I didn’t know either until I stumbled upon an article. If this isn’t reason enough to get you moving toward health and fitness, below are 7 easy ways to get you started.

1.      Take a nature walk

2.      Drop-in on a fitness class

3.      Join a wellness challenge – if you don’t know of a challenge happening in your area, grab a few friends and create your own challenge. Use National Fitness Day  as a kickoff day for a longer challenge. You could make your challenge a 5-week event with rewards for goals you accomplish.

4.      Schedule a doctor’s visit – if you haven’t had a check-up in a while schedule an appointment, don’t put it off. You may have heard the saying, health is wealth. Invest in yourself.

5.      Dance – dance in your kitchen, swirl into the living room, moon walk to your bedroom. No matter the style of dance you choose, use dance as a fun way to move your body.

6.      Work in a garden – this can have a double benefit, exercise and relaxing at the same time. There’s a peaceful feeling to working in a garden. Eventually you

can use the fruits of your labor to prepare a healthy meal.

7.      Play a game that stimulates brain health – there are plenty of apps around that you can download to your phone. One of my favorites are the word searches. These are quick and fun to do while standing in line at the grocery store, waiting at a doctor’s appointment or some other appointment.

What would you add to the list of ways to celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day?

“Action is the foundational key to all successes.” – Pablo Picasso

Feel Good Friday – Cherish Your Parenting Moments

Sitting in a bedroom that used to belong to my adult son, I looked up and noticed two strands of six-inch braided nylon rope taped to the wall. A ton of fond memories flooded to my mind. The cotton rope was from the year my sons high school basketball team won the State Championship.

My first thought was, why is this basketball net remnant still on my wall? Then I realized why…it was a fond memory for him too. It was a time of excitement, exhilaration, friendships, and fun. I remember sitting on the hard bleachers, gripping my Black and Red plastic pom pom, and shout, “defense, defense.”

Fast forward eight years and hear the words, “cherish every moment, they grow up fast.” This realization was evident when my former employee and friend (Angie) sent me a picture of my son coaching her son. I smiled from the inside out and said, “wow, they grow up fast.”

When Angie started working with me she was a Senior in college and my son was the current age  of her son. This gives me the feeling of a Lion King moment with the circle of life…a warm fuzzy. Little did we know that the two Ms. Angie’s lives would reconnect in this way. My son is known as Coach Don to the kids he leads through basketball drills and skills.

If your children are all grown up, like mine, it’s not too late to create new memories. Go for a walk, laugh together or simply sit and enjoy each other’s company.

Whether you’re a parent, an aunt or someone else who has touched a child’s life, know that your presence matters to that child (youth or adult). Your influence can make a difference.

I still have the single Black and Red pom pom, which was my companion at every basketball game. It is tucked in the back of a closet, but the memories are still in my heart.

Share one of your fond parenting memories. Along with that, go out and create e new memory. 

Wordless Wednesday - Finding Humor in a Smile

 

Self-Deprecating Smiling Humor - Ryan Hamilton

YouTube Video Credit: Robert - HumorPoint

Motivational Monday – Feed Your Body & Your Soul

 

What do you do when You’re feeling hungry? You seek food. At a woman’s health event that I attended; the theme was Feed Your Body & Your Soul. As believers in Christ, the message was that you feed your soul though the Fruit of the Spirit.

May is Women’s Health Care Month. As you feed nutrients to your body, don’t let your soul starve. Feast on the Fruit of the Spirit which are – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

Let’s focus on one fruit today – Joy. According to Rose Publishing, joy is more than happiness. “It is not based on financial success, good health, or popularity. By believing in God obeying his will, receiving his forgiveness, participating in fellowship with other believers, ministering to others, and sharing the Gospel, believers experience joy.”

There was joy in the room as I sat and listened to a speaker feed us nutritional facts for our bodies. She shared things we can do to have increased energy and improve our sleep. One of the things that stood out for me was that we need to “feed your gut fiber. Fiber comes from plants.”

We are encouraged to eat a variety of foods that provide fiber, not simply the same foods over and over. Beans are high in fiber, as well as other proteins. Whole grains also made the list of things to include in our diet. Always on the list for feeding our bodies is to drink plenty of water.

Your body is now on its way to being well fed; time to feed your soul. You can do this through prayer, Bible Study, attending a retreat, or attending a church service. Perhaps listening to gospel music energizes you or soothes your soul. Find a positive connection that strengthens your faith and adds to your feeling of joy.

One other thing the event speaker encouraged was to, “invite social connectedness as part of your healthy lifestyle.”

Chew on this – when you feed your body and soul the proper nutrients, you can increase your well-being. What will you feed your body and soul?

Wellness Wednesday – National Smile Month

The month of May is celebrated as National Smile Month. This day was established by the Oral Health Foundation to raise awareness of important health issues. And it serves as an opportunity to flash your bright smile after a dental cleaning (just my opinion).

During my last dental cleaning, the hygienist asked how my adult sons were doing. She reminisced about the times my younger son would visit for his cleaning. He was about three or four years old at the time she recalled. “He would hop in the chair, no apprehensions, and after a short while he was asleep.”

A few years older, my son was still relaxed enough to fall asleep. The dentist and hygienist liked the antics of my son, but I was the one who got in trouble for his smile. I was told, “Mom, you have to brush his teeth for him when he doesn’t do it.” I don’t think they understood my struggle. I tried to brush his teeth; I got a few of them brushed before he twisted and turned.

Fast forward fifteen years or so I’ve still said a time or two, “Did you make your dental appointment?”

His response was, “Ma, I’ve got it from here.”

That’s when I realized, this phase of my parenting was done. The condition of my son’s smile was now in his hands.

What will you do to observe National Smile Month? Dental Health.org has ideas for celebrating. If you have grandchildren or know of young children, one idea that sounds fun is to write a letter to the tooth fairy.

For adults who want to show support, take a smiling selfie, and post it to social media. There is a “Smiliey” background that Dental Health would like you to use. If you’re interested in more details about National Smile Month, click here.

Keep your smile healthy and brighten someone’s day by flashing your smile at them. 

Motivational Monday – Women’s Health Care Month – 3 Ways to celebrate

 

It’s time to make your health a priority. Does that statement sound like a cliché? Yes it is, but it’s a cliché worth repeating, over and over, until it sticks with us. The month of May is celebrated as Women’s Health Care Month. If you are already laser-focused on your health, encourage a friend, or loved one to do the same.

Here are 3 ways to celebrate Women’s Health Month.

1.      Focus on doing one thing to improve your health. Doing that one thing consistently, over time can make a big difference. If you already have a routine, add a new or different component.

2.      Schedule quiet time everyday. Even if you only have 5-10 minutes to spare, tune everything out and sit quietly (or listen to birds singing, watch a sun set, hum a song). If it’s the middle of the day and you need a break at lunch time…take it. A few minutes away can help you to feel rejuvenated. I’m speaking from experience.

Don’t tell anyone, but one sunny day during lunch, I sat in my car with the seat reclined,  my feet out the window, and reading a book. It was ultimate relaxation.

3.      Journal. Don’t discount the benefits of journaling. You’ve probably heard it said a thousand times that , “journaling is therapeutic.” Well, try it and see.

No matter how you choose to observe Women’s Health Care Month, the most important thing is to show yourself love and self-acceptance. Make one change today towards improving your health.

 

Wellness Wednesday - National Fitness Day

National Fitness Day is celebrated on May 7th. What does your fitness routine look like? For National Fitness Day, shake up your routine and try something different.

I've become acquainted with the orignator of Got2Go Fitness and have become a fan of her brand. She promotes wellness for women over 50 and has short fitness videos that are easy to follow. One of my favorite is her hula hoop challenge. As you may know, I love my hula hoop.

Check out Got2Go Fitness on YouTube.

YouTube Video Credit: Got2Go Fitness

Youtube Video Credit: Me (and my trusty hula hoop)

Whether  a hula hoop is your mode of exercise or something different, get moving and encourage a friend on National Fitness Day.

Muffins with Mom - The Road Trip - Advice from a backseat driver

 

“Get on I-94 West for 10 miles, merge to the left lane, take the ramp, go South…” I attempted to lower the volume on my car GPS, but in reality it was my adult son spewing out directions to me from the backseat.

“Ma, why do you have a printed MapQuest? Just put the location in your phone.”

I could feel my sons contorted face looking at the back of my head. Glancing in the rearview mirror was confirmation of his antics.

Actually, the directions ARE programmed in my phone, the MapQuest is my back-up plan.”

“I’m surprised you don’t have one of those old Tom Tom systems.”

“It’s in the glove compartment, I couldn’t get it to work.”

Our overnight bags were secure in the trunk of the car and bags of snacks rode inside of the car like passengers. We settled into our ride, windows slightly open, letting in the damp morning air.

My mom was riding shotgun, in the passenger seat, but didn’t want to be in charge of the directions. She nibbled on the breakfast sandwich she grabbed at a restaurant drive-thru before we hit the road.

Both my sons popped their wireless earbuds in and slid into a comfortable recline. Well, as comfortable as one can be in a car when your knees are almost jabbing into the seat in front of you.

I listened to an audio book recording of one of my favorite authors. Not more than five minutes passed when I heard my son announce, “Ma, we just passed our exit.”

“I thought you were my GPS. That’s why I printed a MapQuest.”

“No Ma, we’re not using that MapQuest. We’d have to search the steps to see where we are. If we miss a step or there’s construction, we’d have to turn around, go home, and start over.”

His sarcasm wasn’t lost on me. “I stopped using paper checks…one technology change at a time is all I can handle.”

 After four hours in the car, we arrived at our destination, an all-star basketball game that my son was playing in. After the days excitement was complete, we headed to our hotel where the only directions needed were, “which way is the swimming pool?”

What has been your experience on a road trip?