How many of us are so busy doing everything for everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves?  In my late 20’s I had the privilege of working with a Psychologist who helped me realize I did just that.  Then in my 30’s I read a book in one of my courses for my Master of Social Work degree titled “Too Good for Her Own Good, Breaking Free From the Burden of Female Responsibility” by Claudia Bepko & Jo)Ann Krestan.  When I read it I felt I was reading about myself.  It was right after I had become ill with what was later diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  This is a poorly understood pain disorder that some experts are calling an illness of burnout.  Burnout!  That’s what happens when we do too much without being careful to take our own needs into account.

This put me on a healing journey that has spanned more than twenty years during which I learned about many modalities of healing, nutrition, exercise, sleep, meditation, Neurofeedback, and spirituality.  I adopted a holistic approach to wellness and healing that I use myself and teach to my clients.  I finally healed the Fibromyalgia after thirteen years of doing everything the medical community suggested when I added Neurofeedback to my treatment.  After thirty sessions of Neurofeedback I was completely free of the pain I had endured for so many years!

Since changing my career from a computer software engineer to a psychotherapist and Neurofeedback practitioner I have helped hundreds of women who ‘do too much’ get in touch with their authentic selves and learn to direct the love and care they are so good at sharing with others, towards themselves.  It energizes me and ignites me when I help someone learn to do this.  And since I am always in the process of refining this process for myself, I am living life like never before.

I teach what I needed to learn.  Here’s a summary.  It is so important to give yourself adequate rest and plenty of sleep.  A nutritious diet and regular exercise are critical to keeping yourself energized and well.  Caring is a wonderful gift and it feels good.  But over-caring starts to breed resentment.  The ability to ask for help and not feeling like you have to do everything yourself is an essential skill to learn.  You need to learn to protect yourself, your energy, your attitude, and your time. Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people and avoid the toxic ones. Take time to meditate and clear and quiet your busy mind to help with mood, energy, and clarity.

Debra Burdick, LCSW, BCIA-EEG, also known as ‘The Brain Lady’, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is certified by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America in Neurofeeback.  She is the owner and clinical director of Advanced Options, LLC in Groton, CT where she and her staff provide outpatient psychotherapy, Neurofeedback and Substance Abuse Counseling to clients who range in age from five to eighty plus.

Debra developed a holistic system that combines psychotherapy and Neurofeedback to help people feel better, think better, and perform at their absolute peak and often helps people reduce or eliminate medications they take for Attention Deficit Disorder, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep.  She and her staff also help with relationship issues, parenting, learning problems, cognitive function, memory, addictions, TBI, peak performance, and life coaching.

Debra added Neurofeedback to her psychotherapy practice in 1999.  She is a graduate of UCONN School of Social Work with a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and has completed hundreds of hours of coursework in Neurofeedback and Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of the brain.  Before going into private practice she worked at the Child Guidance Clinic, Family Services, and the Child and Family Agency.

Debra has extensive experience helping children and adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  Besides helping hundreds and hundreds of clients with ADHD over the past twenty years, she parented her daughter who has ADHD, was married to a man with ADHD, and was a business partner with someone who has it.  She combines knowledge she gained from her own healing journey, her own parenting experience, her clients, and her professional study to help parents unlock their child’s potential.  She teaches from her unique perspective to provide a holistic approach to creating success with ADHD.  She is the author of A Holistic Approach to Successful Children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder – A Home Study System for Parents.

For more information visit:  www.TheBrainLady.com

Happiness in the Here and Now – 10 Principles that Turn Every Practice into Yoga Practice

I really enjoyed this article about how to bring peace, happiness and harmony to all that we do. Living and embracing a practice of harmony creates happiness right here and now!

Just for Fun! The Sticky Note Experiment
Imagination and creativity is often where fun begins! Take a moment and enjoy creativity and post-its in motion!

66 Things You Can Grow At Home: In Containers, Without a Garden
About a month or so ago, I was ready to plant a container garden and decided to wait a few weeks when I would have much more time to nurture what I plant. I wonder if it is too late? If you are interested in trying your hand at gardening this year or next, this list may perfect for you!

10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know
Is social media changing so rapidly that it is hard to keep up with the new features and how to protect your privacy? This post quickly informs us of different settings that may be helpful.

To read more of my favorites from this week, visit my Stumble Upon page at Stumble Upon Marie Kirkland http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/MarieKirkland/

Happy Reading!

Until next week…

Yesterday, however I felt like a fairy tale character searching for the right place to be when all I really needed was to release the routine and come home to me. The comfort at B&N lasted a little beyond the battery life of my Mac… so I waited…. next stop… Books-A-Million… not right… Starbucks… just right but something was still calling out to me so I headed home.

For some time now my writing space has been my office. Last night I changed the flow and ascended into my meditation room, repositioned a few things , lit some candles, turned on the fountain, meditated and proceeded to ‘be’ the words instead of write the words.

I felt light, free and awakened as I remembered that I have all that I need, to be all that I am! Now that my words are flowing freely, once again, stay tuned for more blog posts and articles.  In the meantime, I’d love to hear all about what you are searching for today?

Mary’s story demonstrates that all of life is Good and very good indeed, if we take the time to experience it from the inside out, receive it’s gifts and be of service. I am excited and pleased to introduce Mary McManus

In December 2006, my life came to a screeching halt with the diagnosis of post polio syndrome, a progressive neurological disease. I was told I needed to make major lifestyle changes including quitting my full time award winning career as a social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic. I was three years ’shy’ of retirement.

Because of the nature of post polio syndrome, I had no choice but to get still and go within and oh the blessings I discovered wrapped up in the gift of post polio syndrome. In February of 2007, I discovered the gift of writing inspirational poetry in my soul.  I always enjoyed creating original poetry to celebrate special occasions for family and friends. A new world was unfolding before me. Opening up to a new path in life, I am now living life like never before.

Writing inspirational poetry opened my heart to healing through messages of hope, visualizing and claiming wholeness and experiencing God’s Love and abundance in my life. My heart sings with joy when I write poetry and I am transformed. I am blessed to use my gifts to bless the lives of others. I donate 20% of book proceeds to two charities near and dear to my heart.  I have helped heal relationships through the original poetry I create for New World Greeting Cards. A father did not know what to say to his daughter on her wedding day; a daughter did not know how to say happy birthday to a mom with whom she recently reconciled.  After speaking with me to create a keepsake poem, they discovered the transformative power of forgiveness in their lives. The recipients wept with joy to experience messages of love – relationships and lives are healed.

Mary McManus is the owner/creator of New World Greeting Cards, original poetry for every occasion where “It’s more than a card, it’s a gift from the heart.” She is a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher! She is the author of “New World Greetings:Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World” and “Set Sail for a New World:Healing a Life Through the Gift of Poetry”.  Mary donates 20% of book proceeds to Hope Charitable Trust to help children crippled by polio in India to walk again and to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. She is a spokeswoman for polio and post polio syndrome, working tirelessly to raise money and awareness to help end polio now and help polio and post polio survivors worldwide. Mary’s website is www.newworldgreetings.com. Her blog Welcome to a New World can be followed at www.newworldgreetings.blogspot.com

It is my great pleasure to feature Lori this week as she shares how she is living life like never before.

You may be familiar with the importance of feeling gratitude for all you have in your life. Equally important and less discussed is the idea of expressing that appreciation; letting the people for whom you are grateful know how you feel.
Mother Teresa said, “There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation than for bread.”
Most people are silently and internally begging for someone to recognize their achievements. They are desperate for a pat on the back, for someone to validate how they spend day in and day out is of some value. Have you ever been there? Sitting alone, having the crappiest day ever, wondering who even cares?
What if on one of those days, you received something that said “thanks, I appreciate your efforts; I value what you do and who you are”? How could that change your outlook?
Through Zen Rabbit and with The Gratitude Cookie™, I help people strengthen relationships – with clients, vendors, employees, friends, family, anyone – by helping them satisfy that hunger. Spreading joy in a way that everyone can relate to, this is my mission.
And while my mission is noble and my purpose clear, there have still been plenty of bumps in the road. Every entrepreneur, (geez, if we’re being real, everyone with a life!), faces challenges that seem insurmountable. Finding support through others who can offer advice or just hold you while you cry is essential. So is connecting to your inner guidance, spirit, the universe, God, whatever term resonates with you. Taking time to sit quietly, clearing your mind of the tangled web of thoughts running rampant, even for just five minutes a day, to connect with this higher power, makes all the difference. Here’s the funny thing. I’ve known the benefit of making this connection for years, but I never took time to do it! I was “too busy.”
Then my life reached a point of critical chaos and I felt like there was nothing else I could do. I finally made time to connect with my soul, and continue to do so regularly, and I’m living life like never before. So much more calm, grounded and in the present moment, and opportunities come so much easier. Yes, really, it is that easy.
Lori Saitz is founder of Zen Rabbit Baking Company. She helps people show appreciation for and give recognition to others. The main (delicious!) tool her team uses to help accomplish this important feat is through The Gratitude Cookie™. A thin, crunchy cross between a butter and a sugar cookie, The Gratitude Cookie is so named because if you’re eating the cookies, you’re encouraged to think about something you are grateful for as you munch on each one. The web site is www.ZenRabbitCookies.com and you can reach her by phone at 561.889.8195.

That segment as well as the programming on the Planet Green network helped our family to shift our consciousness beyond casual recycling to become more aware of our effects on the planet. In addition to continuing our recycling our eco-resolutions are to use non-toxic cleaning products, to conserve more energy and eat locally grown food.

If you are still deciding your eco-resolution here is a short video filled with ideas that will inspire you.

Happy Earth Day!

Have you ever experienced a moment where you can feel the pure energy of love and simply know that Love Is? This video showcases an unconventional story of love and friendship that transcends the test of time.

This story is about John, Ace and Christian the Lion but could very well be about the reunion of families or long lost friends and the joy they experience when they see each other again for the very first time, especially if a reunion seemed improbable.

Watching this video reminds me of my many reunions this past year and how great it was to experience love that lasts a lifetime!

Reconnect with a loved one today…

Love is!

The Cool Hunter – Architecture
Imagination is often where creativity begins. Just for fun take a look at these amazing photos of architecture and see if you are inspired to expand your vision of what is possible in the everyday homes that we live in. Enjoy!
 
9 Ways to Enjoy Freelancing More
Whether you are a freelancer or not these 9 tips are good for simply creating a lifestyle of choice as well. Great tips!

How to Make Brand Advocates Out of Regular Customers
Are you wondering how to build your brand? This article discusses three important areas for marketers and entrepreneurs to focus on when creating brand advocates.
 
 
To read more of my favorites from this week, visit my Stumble Upon page 

 
Happy Reading!
 
Until next week…

I am so proud to feature Deborah Bailey this week as she inspires us all with her writer’s journey. 

How many of us cover up our true feelings and desires in order to fit in with the crowd? For most of my life I’ve been a writer, and I was a professional copywriter for a few years. I left that career in order to go into the corporate world so that I could make more money as my friends were doing. Years passed and I felt tortured by my decision to leave a creative life behind.

When I finally left corporate I was reluctant to go back to being a writer because I believed what I’d been told for years – writers don’t make any money! When we’re called to follow a certain path, yet continue to struggle against it, we are only struggling against ourselves. Nothing we do will prosper until we’re honest about what we really want.  

Recently I’ve found a way to take my love for writing and put it together with the skills I learned in my coaching classes. I’m excited now to set off on a path that finally feels right. I’ve also finished my first book, “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life.” By ignoring my inner critic (and outer ones too) I feel that I am on track. I can finally say that I’m so excited that I’m living life like never before.

Deborah A Bailey is a writer, coach, speaker and author of the upcoming book, “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life.” She hosts a weekly internet radio show, “Women Entrepreneurs – The Secrets of Success” on Blog Talk Radio. In addition to providing coaching for employees transitioning into entrepreneurs, Deborah recently launched services to assist entrepreneurs who want to write books to promote their businesses. Her website is www.dbaileycoach.com.

Kiara and Khiry-Touring Full Sail University Hall of Fame

So it’s the 13th of April and it is confirmed – I definitely have Spring Fever! This week I have had an extra surge of energy, creativity and a sense of renewal. I have also noticed that I am more open to receive and filled with joy. The best part of this season is that I am not the only one giddy with life. It feels good to connect with so many people who are having fun with life and planting seeds of growth, prosperity, fun and so much more!

This weekend our family enjoyed a college road trip to Full Sail University in sunny Florida in preparation for an August start date. Touching, feeling and revisiting your dream adds fuel to your desire, ignites your passion and lends excitement to your actions. We are truly enjoying every step of this adventure!

I am most excited about welcoming my 53rd birthday yesterday. It was amazing and the outpouring of love was and still is the true definition of an abundant life. Thank you to each an every one of you! If you haven’t guessed yet, I just LOVE my 50’s