Tip Tuesday - 3 tips for a happier life

Happiness is...getting lost in a good book.

You can create your own happiness. Take a moment right now to pause and think about what makes you happy. What brings you peace, joy, happiness? Whatever it is find time to incorporate this thing or things into your life...frequently.

Below are three tips to get you started on the road to happiness.

1. Surround yourself with positive people - as much as you can. If you can't find any positive people, you can be that person. When you're feeling negative vibes from someone find a polite way to remove yourself from the situation. If all else fails...run.

2.  Do something fun - whatever fun looks like for you, schedule time and do it.

Create your own wacky videos

3.  Take care of yourself - self-care is important, this is a statement that we hear often.

Making healthy choices

"Do the work, get the results"

Complete this statement -

"I am happy when________________________________."

Now take your statement and put it into action. You are on your way to creating happiness.

Fitness Friday – 3 Tips to transform your attitude about fitness

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

My mom completing a chest press - age 72 yrs (taken today)

Is your fitness level where you want it to be? If you answered yes, you can stop reading now. If you answered no, read a little further.

“If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.” – Ronnie Lott

Just for fun take my quiz below about your thoughts on fitness. Answer each question True or False

1.      I’m too old to worry about fitness or begin a fitness routine.

2.      I’m too tired to exercise.

3.      I don’t have time to exercise.

4.      I don’t want to give up all the food I like, just to be in shape.

If you answered “true” to three or more of the above statements, it’s time to transform your attitude about fitness. Below are a few tips to get you started.

1.      Believe in yourself – sometimes you have to encourage yourself. Picture yourself achieving success in whatever you set your mind to do. No matter your age, you are not too old to begin a fitness routine. You can begin by taking walks, start where you are comfortable.

2.      Tear down negative things – get rid of self-doubt, negative perceptions of why you “can’t” achieve what you want. For every reason you have for why you “can’t” do something, come up with an alternative way to make it happen. If you feel like you don’t have time to workout, think about an activity you can eliminate to fit in exercise. Fit exercise into shorter periods of time that will fit your schedule.

3.      Make small changes – make small changes over a period of time until you build a routine that fits your schedule and lifetime. Participate in a healthy eating challenge or fitness challenge. Challenge yourself to give up certain foods for a short period of time (30 Day challenge). You could also begin a fitness challenge for 30 days. Take baby steps, then add on as you accomplish a goal.

Whatever you believe, you can achieve. Are you ready to take fitness to the next level?

Words of Wisdom - 5 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month

Photo Credit: Borrow.Read.Repeat

Roses are Red, and Yellow too,
I wrote this poem just for you.

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? You can celebrate by writing something more creative than I did; that was just a warm-up exercise for you. If you're looking for ways to celebrate Poetry Month, poetry.org lists 30 ideas that you can try.

1.  Attend a poetry reading at a local bookstore, cafe or library.

2.  Buy a book of poetry from your local bookstore.

3.  Memorize a poem

4.  Share a poem with a friend.

5.  Sign up for a poetry class or workshop.

To view the entire list of ways to celebrate National Poetry Month, click here.

What would you add to the above list?