by Carolyn | Ask Carolyn
Emergency Preparedness Tips From Someone Who Has Been There!
Greetings, my Friends….
Well, we have had more fires than is believable, with a few earthquakes thrown in, where I now live.
I just read and shared a post on FB about a well-known chef whose home burned down from a chimney fire. They lost everything. Absolutely everything. Even though they were home at the time, they had no time to get upstairs to their offices to save anything — computers, iPads, journals, notepads, records of any kind, or any other keepsakes or artwork that was part of their world.
With all of these disasters, by either Mother Nature, arson or malfunctioning fireplaces, stoves, furnaces and so on, I am once again on the “Be Prepared as Best as You Can” Train.
Tips For Emergency Preparedness
- Have a “To Go Bag” ready. It is recommended to have a kit in your home, your car and your office.
- Get your paperwork protected. Keep an extra copy of your paperwork in a separate location, with your lawyer or a trusted family member.
- Back up your life with thumbdrives with digital photos and other important documents. If you have precious family letters, consider having them digitized.
- Get a safety deposit box, a fireproof safe or both to store your wills, important paperwork to re-start your life if need be, photos and jewelry in the safe or box.
- At night, put your computer, iPad, extra power cords and chargers into a good computer bag with a strap, that is easy to grab. Set it by your bedroom door, in case you have to run.
- Create an inventory of your belongings, especially valuables. Take a photo from every angle of every room, of jewelry, artwork, musical instruments, guns, any and all hunting fishing equipment, scan scrap books and photos, furs and expensive clothing, all vehicles including boats and toys. These will be very useful in filing your insurance claim.
There are guidelines and all kinds of information on being prepared. Research them and choose what will work for you and your family.
BUT, keep in mind…..Crap happens!!! Your plan needs a back-up plan.
What Will You Do in These Scenarios?
1. You can have all of the “To Go Bags” for every member of your family including pets, ready to grab and go, but if you are not home when disaster strikes, what then? (Sadly, we are often told not to leave anything in our cars, especially at beaches, recreation sites, etc)
2. You can put together all of the survival supplies on any one of these lists, and in the beginning, you may very well be disciplined to check it over every 3 months for any foods, liquids, batteries and so on that may have expired, but are you disciplined to continue to check your survival kits every 3 months?
3. Will you be disciplined to change out clothing as the seasons or sizes change?
4. Will you be able to keep keys, combinations, and passwords handy at all times? (it is nice to have a safety deposit box but if you cannot find the key…. What then?)
5. Where will you store your inventory, and how will you keep them updated, if you sell or change out anything in your inventory?
It’s not my intent to throw a wet towel on being prepared, but I want you to really think through being prepared and not think it is a simple, quick fix like purchasing a Go bag off the internet.
Resources for Preparedness
Below is just a small list of websites to help you get started and make some extremely important preparations for surviving any kind of disaster that may come.
1.My Life in a Box, created by Laurie Ecklund Long
I am a Certified Trainer for “My Life in a Box.” Contact me today to learn how to use “My Life in a Box. ”
https://mylifeinabox.com
2. READY, from Homeland Security
https://www.ready.gov/kit
3. SKILLED SURVIVAL
https://www.skilledsurvival.com/go-bag-list/
4. RED CROSS
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/survival-kit-supplies.html
5. INC.
Disaster Prep: The 10 Things You Should Absolutely Have In A Go Bag, by Melanie Curtin
You can put these items together for under $100. They could save your life.
What do you have to lose by not being prepared ….. Possibly Everything!!!
Stay Safe.
Hugs,
Carolyn
by Carolyn | Ask Carolyn
What You Need to Know About Elder Care
One of the serious Life Events that many either do not want to talk about and prepare for or are not emotionally ready to talk about or prepare for, is taking care of Elderly Parents.
Many of us have witnessed, either within our circle friends or within our own family, an elderly person needing the care of their family members.
Why can this not go smoother?
What To Consider When Planning for Elder Care
There are so many reasons to be considered when Adult Children or Adult Grandchildren have to step in and care for an elderly family member:
1. What is the Health status of the elderly parent?
2. Can the parent make logical and coherent responses and decisions?
3. What is the status of the relationship between the parents and the adult children
4. If there is more than one adult child what is the relationship among the siblings?
5. Who will be the primary caregiver?
6. Who will be the primary decision-maker or will it be collective venture?
7. What does the financial picture look like?
8. Who will either help with or completely handle the parent’s financial status?
9. Who will be given Power of Attorney?
10. Can the parent afford Professional Caregivers to help family members with their care?
11. What is the family history and do they get along?
12. Will the elderly parent stay in their home, have to move in with a family member or go to an extended care facility or nursing home?
As you can see, the list of “Need to Know” inquiries can be very long and every question brings forth more questions and numerous variables. However, two primary things can help immensely with the process: Communication and Preplanning. These two thing are of the utmost of importance when parents are entering their golden years.
Additional Resources for Navigating Elder Care
In addition to this list of questions that need to be addressed, please take a look at the links below and allow those in the field of elder care to help you become aware of some of the things to look for.
Caring for Your Parent: An Action Plan for Adult Children, from AgingCare.com
Stephanie Erickson, a clinical social worker in the field of geriatrics, writes:
“When we were young children, we looked to our parents to tell us right from wrong, to make decisions for us and to protect us. As we became young adults, our relationships with our parents changed. We still turned to them often, but more for guidance and support. Never did we imagine or expect that one day we would be caring for Mom and/or Dad. Now we are the ones in the “worry seat.”
Read the full article: https://alzlive.com/tips/caregiving/when-did-i-become-the-parent-and-what-should-i-do/
This excerpt comes from an article by Francine Russo, author of They?re Your Parents, Too! How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents? Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy
“Providing care for your parents can be complicated. When your brothers and sisters are also involved, caregiving can become even more complex. While your siblings can be enormously helpful and your best support, they can also be a source of stress.
In this fact sheet, you will learn how to identify the family dynamics that can impact caregiving, ways your siblings can help, how to increase your chances of getting that help, and how to deal with emotions that arise.”
Read the full article: https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving-with-your-siblings
What to Do When Siblings Can’t Agree on a Parent’s Care Needs by Carol Bradley Bursack
“For some lucky families, having all adult siblings gather around and plan how to take care of Mom and Dad as their parents’ health begins to fail is a great comfort. For other families, things can take a disastrous turn when siblings who never got along as kids and have had little to do with each other as adults are thrown together to make caregiving decisions.”
Read the full article: https://www.agingcare.com/articles/sibling-disputes-about-elderly-parents-care-134376.htm
Hopefully, all these resources will help you open a conversation with your loved ones, whether you are the aging parent yourself or the adult child helping a parent navigate elder care.
Hugs,
Carolyn
by Carolyn | Ask Carolyn
Is Loss Aversion Holding You Back?
Greetings, my Friends
Well, I am at it again. Decluttering, what little I do have, and pairing down to minimal belongings. Why? Because I have been in my new location 3 years and if I have not used what I still have packed in a few containers in my closet and, they are not holiday or season directed, then I am pretty sure they can go.
For me, it is important that at my stage in life, when that day comes that I am called to my next assignment in the great beyond, that my kids do not have a crapload of stuff to go through and get rid of.
I out and out asked my adult children and my Grands to do us all a favor and tell me what they wanted me to hang onto and what they did not have an interest in. We, together, have already decided and labeled what they would actually want and, trust me, it is not much. It has become far more important to experience life and have fun together than spend time caring for, organizing, and reorganizing stuff and things. We have spent the last 5 years having interesting and fun experiences and making wonderful memories.
Fortunately, my son and his family are natural minimalists which makes it much easier to not only get rid of anything not being used in the present but to also not buy more “stuff.”
It is amazing how simple we can live, how much more time we have to play, and how peaceful it is to not have so much to clean/dust and constantly arrange or rearrange in our garage, house, sheds and storage units that can be full of stuff no longer being used.
And I can tell you, that in the end, you will not take anything material with you.
Loss Aversion
One evening after my husband passed away I was sitting in my favorite “contemplation chair” thinking about the huge task ahead of me in taking care of my husband’s belongings. Then the realization hit me that not only did I need to let go of his belongings but mine as well. We had lived in this house for 25 years and although we had continually cleared out closets, sheds, and storage bins, we still had a lot of “stuff.”
I also decided to sell my home, and take a big “Leap of Faith” to move across the country. Lord have mercy, the getting rid of “stuff” became a huge reality.
I grew up with very little and I thought I had a hard time getting rid of or letting go of my “stuff” because of the money I had spent on it, or maybe, just maybe my kids would want some of what I considered keepsakes or because it held some memory of importance or someone special to me had given it to me.
While packing up to move, I made piles of what I considered keepsakes to take photos of and log into a folder labeled “Memories” on my external hard drive. The point was to then give away that pile, However, as good as my intentions were to minimize there were still a few things I would put right back into a storage container to think more about before letting go of it.
About a month ago, my son and I, had a discussion about simplifying and the difficulty of letting go of belongings, stuff, and things we really no longer needed. I told him I had decided to let go of a few more things. I have about four storage totes of various things I thought I should keep as I might use them in my new surroundings, however, I had not even opened them since I put them in my closet. I just couldn’t for the life of me figure out why letting go of things I no longer need or use always seemed so difficult. He brought up the subject that perhaps it is due more to “Loss Aversion” than emotional attachment.
“Loss Aversion,” what ????….. I had never heard of it!
I dove right into researching this interesting possibility and possible excuse for not letting go of my stuff and things and of learning another reason we have so much difficulty simplifying our lives. Much to my relief, we not only have emotional attachments to our stuff and things but we also can have a very strong aversion to what we consider a loss.
I invite you to check out the links below and to further research to find other links to help give yourself permission to simplify your life and let go of those things that are cluttering or stacking up unused.
5 Common Mental Errors That Sway You From Making Good Decisions by James Clear
Loss Aversion-Why do we hang on to things for no reason? from Psychology Today
Take care of yourself and stay safe.
And if you have a mind to get more simplified in your living, no better time than during this virus crisis.
Your turn: Tell me what you’ve been letting go of these, and how you feel about it! Leave a comment below, or visit me on Facebook.
by Carolyn | Mindset
Greetings, my Friends
I am about to thinly embark on a subject that has fascinated me since I first heard the term… “Choice Architecture, ” also known as the “Nudge Theory.”
I say “Thinly” because in my research I, as usual, have found a plethora of information, explanations and examples of how “Choice Architecture” is practiced when we, the consumers, are buying food, buying a car, buying a TV, buying a house, buying clothes, joining a gym, trying to stay on a specific eating plan and on and on and on.
Have you heard of these terms and do you know how they play a part in your life?
This term coined by Thaler and Sunstein (2008) refers to the practice of influencing choice by “organizing the context in which people make decisions” (Thaler et al., 2013, p. 428; see also nudge). A frequently mentioned example is how food is displayed in cafeterias, where offering healthy food at the beginning of the line or at eye level can contribute to healthier choices. Choice Architecture includes many other behavioral tools that affect decisions, such as defaults, framing, or decoyoptions. Source
The terms were new to me. However, I liked the ability to put a name to what I often realize are marketing ploys to direct me to what the advertisers want me to purchase, whether for not it is affordable for me, or in my best interest and unravel how we are influenced in making the choices we make.
I first heard this term while in a discussion about the best way to be successful in changing ones eating habits. Now the meaning and theory of “Choice Architecture” is not new to me. I just did not know it had a name, a scientific study, a book about it and that the study won the Nobel Prize.
Many of the businesses in the diet industry have suggested “Choice Architecture” without defining it as “Choice Architecture.” Most will suggest that before you begin a new eating plan/diet plan, that you remove everything from your cupboards, pantry, and refrigerator that is not on your new eating/dieting plan. By doing this, you will not be tempted to eat foods that do not support your loss of weight or maintaining a healthy weight. This is, I now know, “Choice Architecture” and by removing all foods you cannot or should not eat on your new eating/diet plan you have become a “Choice Architect.”
Would you agree this is a plan for success? I know for me, this is the best way to be successful in embarking on and practicing a new eating plan to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Therefore, I have no issue with using “Choice Architecture” in designing my pantry, refrigerator, and cupboards to help me be successful.
However, when I was discussing this action of removing all temptations from the kitchen and candy jars, the question came up about “what if only one person in the household is on a new eating plan or dieting plan and others who live in the household are not dieting?” This is when the term “Choice Architecture” came up. I would be practicing “Choice Architecture” for my success but is it fair to limit the choices of others in the household….. Say What????
Well, Dang… now I needed to research how I could practice “Choice Architecture” without infringing on the rest of the family. Can this even be accomplished? Do I pick cupboards that specifically have only my food in them? Do I buy a small refrigerator just for myself? Do I fix my foods when no one else is around and eat in a separate room? Not very likely that this would be a long-term arrangement if I am to keep living in a multigenerational household. Now what?
So far what I have found is that either “Everyone is In or Nobody Wins”…..
Hopefully, in your household, everyone will come on board and everyone will subscribe to eat a healthy and balanced plan to help the one who is needing to lose weight. What about the goodies and snacks? I guess those who do not have a weight or health issue can find creative ways to have their snacks outside of the home.
How does choice architecture play out in your own life? Leave a comment below or come visit me on Facebook to share!
by Carolyn | Carolyn's Corner
Life Lessons from a 70-Something
Greetings, my Beautiful, Wonderful, Talented, and Magnificent Family and Friends.
So here comes another Birthday I am so Grateful for having. Yep… I am Blessed to be 73 years young this Birthday. I have made a list of life lessons I’ve learned… and of course, there are so many that I decided for now to list only a few….. I know…. You’re welcome. LOL
We, who are over 70, are often referred to as;
Senior Citizens…
Golden Oldies….
The Downhill Sliders…. Yikes!
The truth of being over 70 in today’s world is much different than any other time in history.
I never suggest that any insight I offer on life skills be taken on an “instead basis.” I NEVER give Advice. I do provide Learned Guidance, and I suggest that one take what they can use from my Sage offerings and make it their own or add to their personal experience for enhancement, the rest, toss aside. In other words, if what I offer does not fit, don’t try to wear it. That’s one life lesson for you!
Living to 100 or older, we have earned the right to impart our wisdom. Read this story: 100-year-old woman shares her biggest lessons for a long and happy life
Below, I offer you 25 of the many things I have learned from my life experiences. Life Lessons, if you will.
- It is crucial to be a Forever Learner.
- It is essential to make Music a part of your daily/nightlife.
- Make Play, Laughter, and Dreaming a daily practice.
- Get out into nature, walk barefoot through the grass, sand, and dirt.
- Do Not allow others’ opinions of you, your talents, your successes or goals, and your dreams to affect or change the journey you believe is right for you.
- Do not blindly accept other’s opinions, definitions, and explanations without researching for answers for yourself.
- Know yourself inside and outside, know your Values, your Capabilities, Talent, Likes, and Dislikes, What you will settle for, and what you won’t. Never Compromise yourself.
- We cannot un-ring a bell, take back words spoken, un-see displayed anger or actions.
- Know that Children will do what they See way before they do what they Hear.
- Everyone knows how to fail, but we do not often know how to recognize our successes.
- If you want peace and joy, let go of Expectations, Self-imposed Outcomes, and limit your “Stuff and Things” to remain as mobile as possible, which equates to freedom, not “poor-dom.”
- You are the only one who can make you happy…Period!
- When a negative thought comes to you, ask yourself if that thought is True? If the thought is not true, why are you wasting your life minutes thinking about it? If the negative thought is true, what can you do to turn it around?
- Power naps are health-promoting and rejuvenating.
- Don’t be so busy that you put things off…..Know when a do-over is possible and when a do-over can never be, especially with children, and take appropriate action. One can see a movie again, but your children’s play or dance recital is a whole different story.
- Keep the Life Wheel in a prominent place and check it often to help keep you in balance.
- Whether you worry or think in possibilities, both are affirmations.
- Take your time to get to know the person you think you want to spend the rest of your life with. Ask each other the most pertinent questions concerning Values, Beliefs, What Love means to them, What the words Husband and Wife mean to them, What is their belief and philosophy on raising children, What are their expectations of the Mate they want for life?
- Learn the art of Communication, Learn how to argue for a win-win outcome.
- Be and stay in Love with Life. Find your Blessings and Gratitude’s every day.
- Never go to bed angry with anyone or anything. Resolve anger by addressing what is making you angry, then fix it or forgive it right there.
- Make time for Family. Make time for your Tribe of close Friends.
- Learn something new every day
- Don’t stay with a job that you dislike. No job is forever; keep looking for the job that can become your passion.
- How you react to any given event or situation will be a big decision maker for the outcome.
Some “Bonus” Life Lessons
I know I said I had 25 life lessons, but I can’t not include some of these as well!
One of The most important lessons I have learned is that our Expectations can and will cause us some of the biggest disappointments and heartaches we can experience in our life. No one can fully live up to the Expectations of another!
Never give another permission to make you over to their specifications.
Never compromise your Values or your Gut Instincts for anyone.
If you think you truly know another, no matter who they are within your life… You Do Not!
Make it a habit to find a minimum of 5 things to be Grateful every day of your life!
Blessings to you,
Carolyn
PS Many of my life lessons have come from the wisdom of others. Check out my library!
by Carolyn | Ask Carolyn
Reframing Chores:
What does the Word Chore mean to You?
What do you think of when you hear the word “Chore”?
For me, “Chore” or “Chores” means Work. Work that has to be done in order to live a fairly normal, clean, and organized life. The thought of doing “Chores,” conjures up a feeling of drudgery, a feeling of “I want to do something fun instead of that list of Chores.” Of course, there are those who will say; “Yes, you have chores and you need to be glad you do, it means you have a roof over your head,” and this is absolutely true… I am grateful I have a roof over my head, however, taking care of it does not have to be chore-based.
What I hear quite a bit from my clients and friends is:
“It’s been a busy week at work… or there has been a lot of stress this week,” but I have so many “Chores” to do,
I have to spend the weekend getting caught up with my “Chores” instead of going camping, or going out with my friends, and heaven forbid spend a day shopping and having lunch out with a friend”
Have you said any of these or something similar?
From the age of 6 until I left home at 18, I had a list of “Chores” …. Ugh…. My chores consisted of cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, ironing, (yes, back when I was a kid, we ironed once a week all iron-able clothing), and watching my siblings.
We had our daily chores, our weekend chores, our monthly chores, and finally, our seasonal chores.
Little did I know that when I got married, not only did my chores increase but so did the responsibility of making that Chore list. I was already trained in doing all household chores and a few yard chores, so it wasn’t a big leap. However, I did notice that while I had “Chores, ” my husband had a “Honey-Do List.”
What!!!!!!
I asked my husband why he got to have a “Honey-Do List,” and I had a “Chore List” to which he replied, with humor, that since he was considered The Honey, it meant that if Honey did not want to do what was on his list, he did not have to… or at the very least he could perform the items on his Honey-Do list as he wanted to ….. While we had a laugh about his description of a “Honey-Do List,” he quickly added that he would gladly help me with my “Chore List” if I was overwhelmed at all. So, I immediately handed him my list and said “Thank you, Honey, then I picked up a book and sat down in my favorite chair. All he said was “Really?” LOL
The subject came up recently about everyone in our home having chores that they are expected to do. The word “Chore” kept coming into my thought processes, so once again, I decided to research the word and its precise meaning. And sure enough, according to several dictionaries, the word “Chore” means exactly what I felt it meant — “Work, Unpleasant tasks, Disagreeable task.” (see below a couple of the definitions)
Definitions of Chore
Dictionary.com
a small or odd job; routine task.
chores, the everyday work around a house or farm.
a hard or unpleasant task:
Solving the problem was quite a chore.
Merriam-Webster
chores plural : the regular or daily light work of a household or farm
a routine task or job
The children were each assigned household chores.
a difficult or disagreeable task
doing taxes can be a real chore
Choose the Right Synonym for chore
TASK, DUTY, JOB, CHORE, STINT, ASSIGNMENT mean a piece of work to be done. TASK implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance. Charged with a variety of tasks
Cambridge Dictionary
a job or piece of work that is often boring or unpleasant but needs to be done regularly:
I’ll go shopping when I’ve done my chores (= done the jobs in or around the house).
I find writing reports a real chore (= very boring).
His work is a chore to be suffered and is hard to come to terms with.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
This is why I have decided to change the word “Chore” for my list of things I need to do to keep a tidy, clean, and welcoming atmosphere at my home. Does it really make a difference? Probably not for many, but to me, at my stage in life, I want to have more fun therefore, my “Chore List” needs to become more positive and fun. I play music, dance with my vacuum cleaner and mop, toss my clothes into the washer like I am making baskets and “Rumba” my way around making the bed.
I was thinking all “Chore” lists should just be called “Honey-Do” projects. Or “Home Projects,” I always feel accomplished when I say I have completed many “Projects”. LOL
Giving household responsibilities (mostly known as “Chores”), to children does teach them to be responsible for living within a family society and to know how to survive fairly well on their own. Therefore, I do support everyone in the family having their own “Home Projects” they are responsible for.
In our household we all pitch in, everyone cleans and vacuums their own bedrooms, we each put our dishes into the dishwasher or wash them, dry them, and puts them away, we take turns vacuuming the bigger areas and bathrooms. Weekends are free for play. For the bigger “Projects” we turn up the music and all help. We live a “One for all and All for One” lifestyle. It works for us and provides us the freedom to do the things we really love doing.
More Reading on Chores
In my research, I came across a couple of Household “Chore Lists” that may be very helpful. Whether you rename your lists of responsibilities or not, it all works out to a positive ending if everyone chips in and helps, freeing up the weekends for play, for the whole family.
The Ultimate household chore list.
All of the Household Chores You Should Be Doing Every Day : Home maintenance needs a plan of action to create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Use this list of daily household chores to develop your game plan.
Check out these age-appropriate chore lists from The Spruce for ideas for every age in your house.
So, my friends, whatever you call your list of “things that need to get done” make it fun. We only get one chance to make this trip through life meaningful and I, for one, do not want to realize in the end that I spent more life minutes doing “Chores,” than living life.
Hugs
by Carolyn | Mindset
Getting Started with Vision Boards
Setting Intentions, Daily Visualization, and Daydreaming are part of most success strategies, and Vision Boards/Dream Boards/Intention Boards are the visual tools that will help to ensure you get to your Life Goal Destinations.
For some reason, I cannot even fathom why now, my existing Vision Boards did not make it to my present life and destination. Therefore, I am in the process of putting together a new Vision Board and thought it a good time to share the Who, What, Why, When, and How of making a Vision Board.
Vision Boards Are What You Make It
I have taught Vision Boards for over 20 years and before I left my last known place of corporate employment I gave a class to my co-workers on how to do Vision Boards.
Everyone used a different backdrop for their board. Some used the 3-panel presentation boards, one used a poster that had a beautiful photo and saying already on it, one used a notebook with dividers for every aspect of her life she had goals for. (She was the Queen of organization!)
One gentleman used a pocket folder. He opened the folder and laid it out flat and used the colorful side for his visual guides, by gluing and taping photos and sticky notes on it. Then for the inside, he used the pockets for articles that supported his goals, travel schedules, and advertised events that also supported his visions and dreams that he had pasted on the front. Everyone got really clever with the backdrops they used for putting their Dreams, Life Intentions, Wants, and Needs into the Universe.
It is best to put your Vision Board where you can see it every day but it still works if packed away and not looked at for a while.
In fact, I had a recent conversation with a former co-worker who just found her Vision board while clearing out her existing office. Looking it over, she realized she had accomplished everything she had put on it…. Big Win for what she hoped to have, to do, to be.
The Who …
Everyone!!!…. Literally Everyone!!!…. can benefit from putting together a Vision Board. From the time a child understands they want things, they can begin to have a Vision Board/Dream Board.
Those who have retired and think a Vision Board no longer is viable, especially if they are on a fixed income, Think again…. We should never stop having Dreams and Visions of how we would like our life to be and it is important to keep striving for the things we want to do, there should there never be an age limit on having Dreams, Visions, and Intentions. Think of it as a visual “Bucket List” if you will.
The What….
• Tri-fold presentation boards…… these come in 3 or more sizes. I am putting together a small one and a large one to support the direction I want to go towards.
• Pocket Folders
• Notebooks
• Posters…with or without sayings on them
• Photo Albums
• Picture Frames
• Photo display boxes
• Cork Boards
• Mural paper strung across a wall, Kids really like this one. If you have a Family Vision Board this is easy to give each family member their own section to work on and keep the collective vision in its own section for everyone to work on and add to; such as a Trip to Disney, Disney World, Harry Potter, Universal Studios, the Grand Canyon, Redwood Forest and so on.
• Doors
• Mirrors
• Refrigerators
• Hang up a colorful piece of fabric and staple and pin your pictures, sticky notes, and sayings to it.
• All of these boxes we are receiving from Amazon, cut the sides off, and use them.
More Supplies…..
• Magic markers, color markers, colored high-liters
• Tape, double sided tape, decorative tape, scrapbooking tape
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Push pins
• Sticky notes
• Pens
• Pencils
• Magazines
• Glue, glue stick
• Any Scrapbooking supplies are fun to add in as well…(for example, I went to one of the craft stores and purchased an embellishment that looked like a real Diploma and wrote in the degree I wanted of which I have obtained)
Be Creative… Make it fun….. Have a Vision Board Party …
Yes, it is a “Thing” LOL If we are still social distancing do a Vision Board party online and invite all your family and friends from everywhere.
The Why…
We all have Visions/Dreams/Intentions/Perceptions of how we would like our life to be, what direction we want to go, and how we want to get there. The more of our “5 senses” we get involved the more successful we are. Vision/Dream and Intention Boards keep us on a positive path for moving forward and not waking up one day saying I wish I would have, I should have and wish I could have.
Kids do well with a Vision Board of goals …. for example, …. School… put each subject down and put an A+ next to them. Have fun writing some of their hardest math formulas down and put an A+ over them. List all of their subjects and put an A+ over them…. Just seeing these will give them the encouragement of striving for their best work in school.
One of the most fun things for kids is to do is cut out and paste pictures of things they want for Birthdays, Christmas, and Vacations. This also works well for parents to know what to buy their children for those gift-giving occasions.
The When…
Anytime!!!!….. Right Now!!!!…. No better time than right now while we have more time at home than ever before. Our Life has been somewhat simplified for us so take advantage of it while you can. Learn to really Play and Plan.
The How….
• You can start with sticky notes
• Bucket lists
• Photos from advertising mailers
• Product books like Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond, Jewelry advertisements
• Travel Advertisements and brochures
• Home building, remodeling and furniture magazines
• Car advertisements and magazines
• Golf Magazines
• No matter where you are you can start.
• Go to the Internet, research and print out what you know you want in your life, and are determined to obtain.
• If losing weight is one goal, then print out a photo of you at the weight you most liked and put it on your board.
• Pinterest has hundreds of examples and prompts to wet your creative appetite.
• If you are not one for cutting out pictures then just write out all of your wants, dreams, goals, and plans.
My Proof it Works……. I did a large 3 panel Vision Board and as I look back, I have accomplished everything I put on my board including writing and publishing a book.
I made copies of pictures of books and made a copy of a Kindle reader. I then pasted my working book titles on the books and pasted an excerpt of one of my proposed books onto the kindle so it looked like it had been downloaded…. I put that I won an award for my published book and I have.
I also added pictures of relationship examples of happy couples doing all sorts of fun activities, such as hiking, traveling, biking, dancing, dinners out, and so on.
I pasted pictures of all kinds of stacks of money and wrote the amount I thought would be wonderful to have in my bank account all over my Vision Board (I can say I should not have put a limit on it as I received the exact amount I wrote down )
I pasted positive sayings, things I was grateful for and mantras to keep me moving forward, and
I put the degree I wanted and the date I wanted it by, as well as my Certifications for Life Coaching and Angel Card Reading.
Before my husband passed away he saw my board…. He was sold on the effects of my board and said he had no doubt my book would be published….. And it has been.
My husband and I started a collective board….. It was divided into thirds… “My” part, “His” part, and “Our” part down the middle. Of course, his part had way more power tools on it than I thought possible to want.. And so much Indoor Golf equipment that we would need a mansion to put it in…LOL Before he passed away he did turn our garage into a small scale indoor golf gaming place and I think he had more power tools than the local hardware store.
The point is that Vision Boards work and this kind of positive project can be part of a Family thing, A Couple thing or Individual.
I have listed below a couple of websites that may help you get started. The 51 Vision Board Ideas are terrific for ideas.
The Reason Visions Work And How To Make One
51 Vision Board Ideas For Your Important Goals
by Carolyn | Ask Carolyn
The Magic of Research… Maybe this “New Math” isn’t so scary after all?
I was watching a televised music concert and in between songs the lead singer was sharing about being home much more and taking on the homeschooling process due to the “virus crisis.” One of the issues he spoke on was about the “New Math.” His comments caught my interest as I have had several clients share their frustrations about trying to help their students with math and I have had my own experience with the “New Math.”
Now, this “New Math” seems to be a consistent source of trepidation for many parents and grandparents. A couple of years ago, I was helping my Grands with their homework and to my dismay, I was unable to help them with their math. Keep in mind, I could solve the math equations, just not the way they were being taught to solve them. I had never been exposed to this “New Math” before, as my Son was out of school and in the military before it hit the schools.
I decided it is time for me to do my own research into the “What, Why, When, Where, How and the Who” of “Common Core Math.” I was already researching for tips on “Notetaking and Effective ways to Study,” for today’s students and how best we, parents and grandparents, can help. Especially when fall classes begin.
Interesting piece I found on this “New Math,” from The Conversation: The Common Core is today’s New Math – which is actually a good thing
And The Understood Team offers 9 “New Math” Problems and Methods
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Tips for Homeschooling or Distance Learning
One important warning about homeschooling I found in my research is, do not go out and buy or order some big homeschool package you may not even need. In the case of studying, the rule of “Too much is too much” does pertain.
With summer break beginning soon, this is a good time to get prepared and find new ways of taking notes, studying and to learn more about this “New Math” to ease possible frustrations with helping our students.
Here are a few suggestions from homeschool sites that may be of interest:
1. The First and most important priority is to know what your child’s learning style is!
Not knowing how your child learns and retains information, especially math,
Does NOT make you a bad parent!!! Please do not allow ego to keep you from
Finding out what style of learning allows your child to excel at his or her studies especially taking tests. I have shared a link below on this subject.
And please do not say to your child….”Why don’t you know this?” “You had this last year!” Or …. “How many times do we have to go over this?”
The answer is: as many times as, it takes for them to “get” it. As many times as needed for the child to connect with the information. We are always looking for the proverbial “Ah-Hah” moments in life and homework for students should be one “Ah-Hah” moment after another.
2. It is helpful to have a designated space for your child to do their studies.
3. Set specific goals for them to achieve for each subject.
4. Get a planner and make a home school schedule, one your student can put a checkmark on for the goals they have accomplished..
5. Set a timer for them to work alone, and when the timer goes off, they know they are to check in with you, or you will check in with them to see how they are doing.
6. Make use of a whiteboard for visual help in solving a math problem. Writing out formulas for math will also help your student feel like they are being taught and have your full attention.
7. Make a designated time for this interaction just as you do if you have a meeting at your workplace.
These tips alone will help diminish frustrations on both sides and keep interruptions to a minimum.
It is also important that your student be given breaks that include snacks and a little exercise. Just like school, they get two breaks and recess.
It has also been found that most students work better when there is some form of a schedule to follow and knowing what the expectations are for the tasks at hand. It may be helpful for your student to make use of YouTube tutorials. I know that since I am a visual learner that watching a how-to video is easier for me to “get it” than reading a manual.
One of the most exciting things I have learned, because I love music so much and have seen how it can be used as a successful treatment in areas of mental health, is how music can help some students be more effective in their studying. I find background music is very helpful for my concentration. There are studies done on types of music that help in all forms of studies.
Check out study music on YouTube. Use the terms “Study Music for Kids,” “Study Music for Teens,” and “Study Music for Adults” to find more music.
Below are a couple sites I found useful for notetaking and studying:
Academic Reading and Notetaking. (I certainly did not know this little tidbit about successfully reading an academic chapter)
A few tips I learned from this website:
- Look through the chapter
- Look at the headings and subheadings
- Look at the pictures and captions, charts, or graphs.
- Read any bold or italicized words and look up those you do not understand
- Go to the back of the chapter and read the summary, review questions, and notes. (these are generally the essential facts to learn in the chapter)
- Then read the chapter. You will find you are more aware of what you need to learn from the chapter.
The best notetaking apps of 2020
https://zapier.com/blog/best-note-taking-apps/
How to take notes on a computer like a pro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njstk6xlrh0
The Best Notetaking Methods
For college students & serious note-takers
https://medium.goodnotes.com/the-best-note-taking-methods-for-college-students-451f412e264e
HOW TO TAKE STUDY NOTES: 5 EFFECTIVE NOTE TAKING METHODS
https://www.oxfordlearning.com/5-effective-note-taking-methods/
My research Concerning the Struggles with Today’s “New Math.”
The struggle is real and, not because parents do not have experience with math, but primarily because they do not know “The New Math.”
I do understand that this New Math is much more of an intricate, in-depth, and involved way to solve a math problem, however, I have also learned that other methods are supposed to be available to a child if they are really struggling with this style of math.
Once again, it is all in the approach. If something does not make sense, take the time to research it, and if it still isn’t making sense, find someone who can help explain it in a way it does make sense or take a different direction to come to the right solution. As the new saying goes…. “There is more than one way to grow a garden.”
In my experience: ……. if someone has been provided detailed information on how to perform a task, they can generally accomplish the task with success and less stress.
There are many helpful math notetaking ideas available. I also found the following tidbit for taking math notes concerning formulas:
- Get a notebook designated for Math only.
- Write the name of the book, the chapter, and the page number for each formula.
- Write down the name of the formula and the formula itself.
- Underneath that, write out the example given for that formula.
- Underneath that, write your math problem you now need to solve using the formula.
These steps can become your reference and guide for future math problems and taking your tests.
Here is a link I found that may be of interest to anyone wanting a refresher course, from Mr. Barton Maths.
I encourage everyone who is frustrated with their children’s new math to take the time to research the style of math they are doing. I found more “How To” math videos than I ever expected.
It is essential to fully understand “HOW” your student learns best and make sure they get the detailed help that fits their learning style and will help them be successful.
Find out if they are Analytical thinkers, Creative thinkers, Abstract thinkers, and so on. This article from MindValley describes 7 common types of thinking, and how to identify them in yourself or your child.
This “Stay in Place” scenario gives us plenty of time to ensure we are making educated decisions about what our children are experiencing and how best to help them…… Please… I encourage you to find the answers that work for you and your student. If you need support, come follow me on Facebook.
Hugs to all and happy successful studying! <3 <3 <3
by Carolyn | Mindset
Using “Sheltering in Place” for Making Change
Sometime around March 19, 2020
Most of us have been obeying the “Sheltering in Place” orders of our Government. None of us are too sure that we have obeyed by choice or by fear. However, any of us who have decided that we are to comply to this virus crisis can be assured it is bringing changes to our lives none of us thought of or imagined.
This time of “Sheltering in Place” and not interacting with others is a good time to get to know ourselves and those we live with. It is an opportunity for making change, whatever change that needs to be.
It is a good time to visit anything in our past that seems to be living and taking up space in our present, in our soul and in our hearts and get that which seems to always be hanging over our heads, and in our hearts settled and dissolved once and for all.
This is not to relive the pains and infractions of others or even ourselves and it is definitely not meant for any of us to unpack and stay there.
One of the best ways to do this with a good degree of clarity is to write down every event that still causes hurt and pain and give it a solid detailed “20/20” microscopic hindsight perspective.
To understand, and this is the important part, that what was is done, gone, over and can never be changed, or redone, and the only revisiting is within one’s own mind, heart and soul.
To take each bothersome event and Forgive ourselves for any negative actions or reactions put forth, for taking part in or allowing the event to affect us at all.
Knowing that each of us did our best at the time, for the circumstances we were in and reacted from what we knew at the time.
And that each of us reacted from what we had learned and knew from our collective experiences up to the point of the life or relationship event that took place.
The events of our lives came to teach us, make us wiser, give us a wake-up call, or to move us into a totally different direction.
The only sure thing one truly has is right NOW, and the only direction we can go is forward with the intentions of being the best we can be.
We need to emerge from this time of “Sheltering in Place” Healed, Whole and Renewed as we are all entering a very different time, world, daily life, and a renewed appreciation for everyone and everything around us.
We also need to understand that everyone involved in our hurt and pain had their own lessons, pains, hurts and insecurities they were dealing with that had nothing to do with us.
The reality is that many times we allowed ourselves to be the recipient of others actions and reactions.
We deserve peace, happiness and fulfillment at every stage of life. The one thing that research shows is that the only one who can give that peace, happiness and fulfillment to ourselves is us.
It is my hope that many will do this work for the sake of growth and positive personal change. Our world has changed, we have changed and we must decide how this change looks for us. We must decide what making change looks like for ourselves.
This Life is a Gift to each and every one of us… It is a Choice how we react to it and it is definitely our choice as to what we Allow.
Stay Safe…. Stay Well…. Stay Focused…. Stay in the Know!!!
Please stop by and let me know how you’re doing, or leave a comment below.
Hugs,
Carolyn
PS Looking for more resources? Check out my library!
by Carolyn | Carolyn's Corner
Try This Mindset Shift
Pay attention to the words you use, and notice whether they are affirming or holding you back. Words have power! A mindset shift will help you harness that power to a positive end.
Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.
Your words, Your dreams, Your Thoughts, have power to create conditions in your life.
What you speak about, You can bring about.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your job, you might lose your job.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your body, your body can become sick.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your car, your car could be stolen or just stop operating.
If you keep saying you’re always broke, Guess what? You’ll always be broke
If you keep saying you can’t trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find someone in your life to hurt or betray you.
If you keep saying you can’t find a job, you will remain unemployed.
If you keep saying you can’t find someone to love you or believe in you, your very thoughts will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
Turn your Thoughts and Conversations around to be more positive and power packed with faith, hope and action.
Don’t be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.
Watch your “THOUGHTS,” they become words.
Watch your “WORDS,” They become actions.
Watch your “ACTIONS,” they become habits.
Watch your “HABITS,” they become character.
Watch your “CHARACTER,” for it becomes your “DESTINY.”
GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY!!!
Lao Tzu
Your turn: Think about a CAN’T phrase that you use often, and turn it into a CAN phrase. Share the power of your words in the comments below or come to my Facebook page.
Looking for more mindset support? Visit the library!
