TEENS HAVE NEEDS ...

... And what they need is YOU - we often forget that it's hard to be a teenager. Even when you are disagreeing with them it's hard to remember that they do not have the judgment skills yet to deal with some issues.

When we are teens we are frustrated on so many levels and don't know how to deal with these pressures. 

In those years we are constantly asking ourselves if our friends like us, if

we studied enough for the test in school, are we wearing cool clothes, did we say the right thing, why can't our parents give us more freedom. Plus we are stressed about our "breakouts."  Teens actually have a lot of fears because they lack a lot of life experience. 


How do we deal with our teens - we just love them enough to listen with all your attention and express understanding sincerely. We spend time with them and we don't try to be "their friend."   Teens do not need a parent to be their friend they need a parent to be, well, their parent.  Parents consistently support their teens morally, emotionally and, financially within their means. Friends do not have that responsibility. And that is a big tall order.

YES it is. 

MY OWN EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS RAISED 2 OF MY 4 TEENS AS A SINGLE MOM ...
1. When my sons would act up we would sit down (not in the heat of the moment) and talk out what would go into a contract ..... the expectation, the consequence and the reward. He would get a copy, I would get a copy and there would be a hidden copy. :)

They knew what to expect and it eliminated a lot of stress.  2.  THEN AT RANDOM TIMES I would ask them if they would like to go to dinner. Chili's Restaurant was a

"fav" and we would sit and talk away from home and the other family members. I would MAKE SURE they guided the conversation and do the talking. Always they would talk about what was painful to them. It was amazing. Sometimes these talks would go on for four hours and it would be a work night. Oh well, it was worth the lack of sleep because we were developing a sound relationship. 

3.  SMILE at them when they walk in the door....doesn't everyone like to be welcomed when they come home?  Our teens need it more and they might not even express that but it screams, ACCEPTANCE. That is what they need to feel when

they come home. 

Wish I had known about essential oils then. My fav for relaxing my attitude now is: 
LXR ANXIETY BLEND By Spark Naturals Essential Oils
use my discount code:  sunshine818
Click on this link:
http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/eo-blends/bl-lxr-5ml.html

You place a few drops on the back of your neck, bottom of your feet, across your shoulders, and on your wrists. It has a calming effect and helps with stress. 

MINDFUL LIVING IS OH SO NICE

WHY? 

Living in the moment is what gives a life meaning, clarity, and purpose.  It helps a person make decisions that benefit a life.  And what can be better than that?  Not much.  

There are so many ways to get on that boat of being IN THE MOMENT?  So pick up those paddles.

Oh there are so many ways: YOGA, MEDITATION, LISTENING TO CONVERSATIONS YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH, ARRIVING MENTALLY & EMOTIONALLY TO BE "A PART OF THE EVENT", MAKING EYE CONTACT, AND ENJOY BEING YOU. 

Julia Roberts once said she was rarely mindful so advice was given to her to enjoy washing the cup = being in the moment of everything she does. 

Each one of us can be more whole

MIND and BODY

by being

MINDFUL

If you would like to try an essential oil that can help you become more peaceful and mindful

You can try

SPARK NATURALS

ZEN GROUND BLEND

http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/eo-blends/zen-grounding-blend.html

use my discount code (it's the same one I use)

sunshine818

EXHAUSTION CURE FOR SURE

SLEEP IS ALMOST A LOST ART

THIS TOPIC INFLUENCE BY MY FB PAGE: "MIND BODY HEAL" BECAUSE:

SLEEP IS NOT JUST FOR LITTLE PEOPLE........IT'S FOR EVERYONE!

Our relationship with technology is usually the cause for loss of sleep:  TV, iPads, iPhones, Tweets, Computers, Tablets, Facebook, Pinterest, or any other form of distractions. 

Some will say, "But I'm organizing my tomorrow's work schedule", or "I haven't had time to answer my FB messages" or "I need to study for my test!" Crazy part of all of that is YOU WILL NOT BE ALERT THE NEXT DAY for any essential job, test, focus, or even driving. There are so many issues caused by lack of sleep. Take a look at this:

Is it really worth it - I'm guessing NOT. AND on top of those listed above  lack of sleep also contributes to WEIGHT GAIN which is a number one issue in our culture today. 

A FEW IDEAS:

*  TRY DEEP BREATHING BY CLOSING YOUR EYES TAKE 15 DEEP SLOW BREATHS IN AND OUT

*  NOT EATING TWO HOURS BEFORE GOING TO BED 

*  TRY A SERIES OF STRETCHING EXERCISES DURING THE DAY OR BEFORE GOING TO BED WHETHER IT BE YOGA OR YOUR OWN ROUTINE.

*  TURN OFF TECHNOLOGY AT LEAST 30-60 MINUTES BEFORE GOING TO BED AT NIGHT.

*  TRY ONE OR TWO ESSENTIAL OILS:

LAVENDER:  http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/essentialoils/eo-lavender.html

DREAM BLEND: http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/eo-blends/dream-sleep-blend.html

USE MY DISCOUNT CODE IF YOUR SELECT TO ORDER: SUNSHINE818

LET THEM TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO WORK AFTER RUBBING THEM ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FEET. LET THEM ABSORB INTO YOUR FEET BEFORE WALKING OR USE FLIP FLOPS. YOUR SLEEP WILL BE BETTER THAN YOU EXPECTED. 

RELATIONSHIPS - EMBRACE THEM

RENEWING GREAT RELATIONSHIPS

Whether this act of "renewing" is with your spouse, a sister, a parent, or a friend it can be joyous. Without some of these individuals in our lives no joy or sorrow would have meaning. 
Life is just too
short to hold a grudge or a resentment. 

Awwww, you say, "What if my extension of 'renewing' is not accepted, then what?" Then as the song in one new animated movie, Frozen, says, "Let It Go, Let It Go".  Basically, you have done your

part. It's a great release of energy and then, guess what?  You are filled with energy. It doesn't have to be bad feelings between old relationships to re-make the connection. It can be just a reuniting if only for a moment. 

Life is all about    

RELATIONSHIPS. Sometimes we have spent time in euphoria and despair with someone, or we have survived an illness with someone or been through the curing of an addiction with

someone. It doesn't  matter....sometimes it's just a prior college friend. It's a sense of "partnership"that is healthy for us because it gives us perspective. 

There are many things that help give us a clarity to be brave enough to reconnect with someone. It's meditation, deep breathing, healthy whole food living, using natural products, yes, even essential oils.

I interchange several essential oils like Tangerine oil, Peppermint oil and  Lemon oil to help me feel invigorated. I feel that using a product that is non-addicting when coupled with good health both mentally and physically habits is the key. One key ingredient for me is my relationships with others. 

My husband and I were visited a couple Friday night and while our guys were watching March Madness.  Colleen and I were in her living room "catching" up. At exactly 9:09 pm we had one of our California earthquakes. It registered a 5.1 and lasted 31 seconds but felt like a rolling and shaking hour. After the first 10 seconds she took her hands and placed them on mine to ride it out and wait and see what was going to happen. It was comforting, loving, and bonding. In that little way I felt safe in her friendship. 

I use Spark Naturals Essential Oils because they are not an multi-level marketing company and they are affordable. I do not purchase oils off the shelf at health food stores because I do not know how old they are and that affects their effectiveness.  If you select to order from Spark Naturals try using my discount code: sunshine818.  
http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/essentialoils.html?SID=tgdfms6e883754j7hondldk1o4&p=1

If you are wondering what that code is a combination of what I want to feel each day "sunshine" rain or shine AND my wedding day, August 18th. That was a day that brought me great joy with a wonderful man who is walking through this life with  me and says, "I'm happy wherever you are". 
Life is good and relationships are worth it. 

FEAR TURNS INTO SUFFERING

YODA SAID IT...

"Fear is the path to 

the dark side. 

Fear leads to anger. 

Anger leads to hate. 

Hate leads to suffering"

FEAR IS WHAT MAKES US NOT WANT TO CHANGE AND CHANGE IS THE CONSTANT IN THIS LIFE THAT HELPS US GROW, LEARN & BE HAPPIER. WE LEARN FROM CHANGE.

Fear makes us unfriendly. Fear turns our thoughts to ourselves. Fear prevents us from making someone else feel better because we just can't "get out of ourselves'. Fear is crippling in our most important relationships. 

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING 
TO REMEMBER IS: 

WE'VE ALL BEEN AFRAID 'AT FIRST' WHEN WE ARE TRYING ANYTHING NEW. 
IT'S OUR MOTIVATOR TO IMPROVE.

Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars said, "Trust your feelings, Luke." 

WE need to trust our feelings to GET OUT OF OURSELVES.

LOOKS LIKE OBI-WAN KENOBI FOUND HE HAD TO FIGHT HIS FEARS WITH A LIGHT-SABER

WE JUST HAVE TO FIND OUR OWN TYPE OF LIGHT SABER -

COURAGE  

Fear LEADING to anger is a huge turn off to me. So how can we avoid it?

FOCUS on the good stuff in life is just so much more appealing, right? 

And it gets us all get out of our fears. 

The practice of moment-to-moment, nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, feelings, and surroundings darts in and out of all of us - so keeping the focus is the cure. At the least - ALWAYS WORKING TOWARDS KEEPING FOCUS IS THE SAME AS BEING MINDFUL

The key is "staying in the moment" and holding on to the good of it. 

One of the methods helping us to focus is YOGA 

focusing on the motions we are making 

and then releasing some of our tension. 

Even if we sit in our chair with good posture 

and place our hands on our knees, close our eyes and breathe. 

ADD lifting your arms and hold for 5-30 seconds. 

One other method is MEDITATION

Sitting comfortably 

(not so comfy that we fall asleep) 

and take 5-15 large breaths 

with our eyes closed. 

This is said to lower 

our blood pressure better 

than any other single 

thing we can do. 

Using an essential oil called JEDDY'S BLEND

stimulates the mind and helping us to focus. 

The method is simple - 

place a few drops on the bottom of our feet, 

let it absorb or wear rubberized flip flops. 

And placing another few drops on our 

neck before dressing for the day. You can order using my discount code: sunshine818 on this link: 

http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/eob/jeddy-s-blend.html

All three of these suggestions will lengthen your life, increase the quality of your life, improve your career because you will be more focused and even improve your relationships.

May the force be with you.....

I just couldn't WAIT to say that phrase at the close of this blog! 

Hugs to all of you!

SMART BODY OR NOT?

There are all kinds of Smart Products: Smart Phones, Smart Cars, Smart Shirts (these check your heart rate), Smart Computers, Smart TVs, Smart Tuition, so how about a SMART BODY?

Clearly these "smart products" are trying to duplicate, to a point, the human mind. Products are not smart - the word "smart" refers to the human mind. The "products" cannot compare to the divinely created human mind and what each of us are capable of accomplishing.

We can accomplish amazing goals. We can change our behaviors and by so doing we can change the course of our lives. Change is the only constant in this life. I have been reaching for .... changing the course of my life in terms of health and wellness MIND BODY HEAL. I want to make a difference in yours. 

We can't change our GENES but we can change our habits. My parents have both experienced different type of heart problems. My mom suffers with arterial fibrillation. My father lost his fight in 2002 with heart disease when he was 76 years old. He had two-open heart surgeries at 48 & one at 60 plus a state of the art pacemaker 3-years before he passed. He died of a major heart attack in ER with his doctors present. He hadn't changed his habits - I was there that night and I miss him to this day.  

I've been changing that course in my own life. It begins with knowing your life is worth it and changing habits. I've made that leap several

times and it's worth it. Have I been perfect at this, NO. Do I fail, YES. Is this normal, YES. I  make new goals and change again.

Change is the dependable factor while we are alive. I won't give up on reaching for the goal of realizing I too can have a SMART BODY. Even if it means changing my surroundings for the better..

A SMART BODY begins with eating whole foods (not processed or fast foods) PLUS getting 7-8 hours of sleep for WEIGHT CONTROL blended with a daily exercise

program of your choice FOR A YOUNGER MORE ENERGETIC BODY. 

I select to use essential oils as part of my daily health routine. My favorite is: Peppermint for "energy and alertness", Lavender for the end of the day "relaxation", Melalueca for "improved immune system", and Lemon for "muscle issues". IF THAT IS YOUR CHOICE ALSO OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRY THEM USE MY DISCOUNT CODE: SUNSHINE818 WHEN YOU CLICK ON THIS LINK: 

http://sparknaturals.com/index.php/kits/essential-4-pack.html

COLDS & FLU B-GONE

COUGHING UNTIL YOUR RIBS HURT? OUCH!  

IT'S GOING AROUND LIKE WILDFIRE!!!

A cold virus with a horrible cough that seems to last forever! My mom came home from the hospital 3-days after she had a stroke and then two days later she started to cough. 
It lasted two weeks! Her sides hurt, (Ulg) she couldn't sleep all the way through the night, and well it was frustrating to her as she recuperated. A ton of people are getting this same virus. It's hard to get over and it's so irritating, frustrating, and energy draining. 

Build up your immune system high fast before it hits by using:   SHIELD PROTECTIVE BLEND 

It's SPARK NATURALS blend of essential oils that the 

horrible career of a Grave Robber would use in the 15th century in England to take the shoes, cloaks, clothing, or jewelry off those who have passed on. It kept them healthy

but those guys were still up to no good! :) What kind of people steal from those that have passed on anyway?  But the blend was ALSO called the robber's blend, the thieves blend or grave robber's blend

Next, eat up those green veggies and exercise once a day = both build your immune system. I have not "caught" that virus from mom as I have cared for her. But I've also

washed my hands often also since I'm the caregiver. Call me crazy but I also wipe off the cardio machine I use at the gym before I "go for it" in the early mornings. They have disinfectants available at gyms now - if they didn't I would bring my own. Who wants to get sick or get your hands full of some else's sweat? Ewww....

Use my discount coupon code to order:

sunshine818