DAY 6

Say This: 

 “One person can make a difference in the world. I make a difference for the good.”

Remember the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, with Jimmy Stewart? He found out what life would have been like had he not been born. He discovered all the ways he changed people’s lives for the better. Each little kindness or positive action we take sends waves of goodness into other people’s lives, and the waves grow more than we can imagine. Be proud that you make a difference in this world.

Do This: 
Uncross your legs and practice better posture. Keep both feet on the floor. Sit up straight. Don’t slouch forward. I might sound like your fourth grade teacher, but you know, Mrs. Brown was right. If you sit straight, you not only look more alert and confident, you’ll feel that way too. Pull your shoulders back, elongate your spine and give your body two minutes of healthy stretching. Breathe deeply. Ooh, that feels good.

Write This:
Reminder: Take out the garbage before bed.

Won’t it be nice to get up in the morning to a cleaner house? What? An empty garbage can makes a clean house? Well, it’s a beginning. An overflowing garbage shows your life is out of control. Start taking control back by trashing the trash.

Try This: 
Do the Twist - Stand up from your chair now. Throw your right hip out, then your left hip out, while you move the sole of your right foot to “grind a bug into the floor.” Do that eight times. Then lean back onto your right foot, and throw your left hip out, then your right hip out, while you move the sole of your left foot to “grind a bug into the floor.” Keep switching. Keep your hands at a 90 degree angle at your waist and move them along with the twist. Twist in place, twice all around. Two minutes of dance. You'll feel great.
Ask This: 
(Ask Yourself) What does my name mean to me?

Each person has a special name. In fact, your parents were divinely inspired when they named you. Think about the uniqueness of your name, and think of ways to live up to your name.

Watch This: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h-aE8d-ZC4

Hurricane Isaac is threatening the Florida Keys.  We hope everything there will be safe. Here’s a link to a hurricane that’s fun to welcome into your house.

DAY 5

Do This: 
Be silly. Put on something nutty. Make funny faces. Don a silly hat. Twirl in a circle.

Life can be so heavy and serious sometimes. Troubles abound in all our lives. Once in a while we need to be silly, to lighten the atmosphere around us, to cheer up a sick friend, to have fun with your child or just to give yourself a deserved break from the real world for two minutes. Be silly. Laugh at yourself. You’ll feel great.

Today, as I was acting silly with my grandbabies, the doorbell rang, and without changing my attire, I answered. Imagine my surprise at the quizzical face of National Home Knesset Party Candidate Jeremy Gimpel that greeted me outside my door. When my unexpected guest Jeremy saw me looking quite odd, he tried pretty well to keep his composure. I told him that I was "being silly" with my grandchildren. He smiled understandingly, but he was probably silently humming the music to the Twilight Zone. Dee dah da dee dee dah da.

Say This:

”I will be myself!”

We spend so much time trying to please others, trying to live up to others’ expectations, or trying to impress others. We’ve got to stop. We’ve got to be ourselves, the best ourselves we can be, and let folks realize how special the genuine-we really are.

Write This:
Write out a dinner menu for next week.

It’s so much easier to make dinner every night when you know what you’ll be serving. Save yourself from the last minute kitchen-hysterias by planning out next week’s meals, so you can shop for next week’s food, and schedule time to cook next week’s dinners.

Try This:
Climb under your computer desk. Do your computer cables look like a backdrop for some horror film? Gather together all those zillions of cords behind your computer and pass them through an empty toilet paper or paper towel tube. This will keep them organized, neat, and easier to find when you need them.
Ask This:
”What public person would I want to emulate?” What are the characteristics of that person that attract me? When you figure out what you find special about that role model, try to adopt some of those characteristics.

Watch This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz_3uMySAUs

With school about to begin, summer is more or less over. Sigh. We can’t let our beloved summer end without a proper send-off. This link leads to Carmen Miranda and the Andrew Sisters singing the hit “Cuanto le Gusta” – What a Happy Time.

This is my family's official travel song. Everyone from our youngest to our oldest sings this song at the start of every trip. Before we say good-bye to the summer, let’s hear it again.

DAY 4

Do This: 
Walk outside. Go out into the fresh air. Leave your office, the laundry, your dishes behind for two minutes. Walk through your garden.
Say This:
"Trees, you are beautiful. Flowers, you are so colorful and bright." 
I don't only talk to my flowers and trees. I even touch their leaves and admire them. Folks say I have an extraordinarily lovely garden. They constantly ask about Josh Hyman, our gardener. I tell them that Josh is great! In addition, our secret ingredient is my husband's care, plus our sincere love of our garden, and the fact that I talk to our plants.
No, my shoes are not tied too loosely. My grandmother, may she rest in peace, was a plant whisperer, and I inherited her talent in that respect. I'm telling you. Talk to your plants, and let me know if you see a positive difference in a few weeks.
Write This:
(On your weekly shopping list): ABC - African, Brazilian and Columbian coffee. Try a different flavor every day. Just a little change like this adds a bit of zing into your day.
Try This:
Take off your shoes. Rub your toes. Rub the bottoms of your feet. You don't need a session with a reflexologist to feel great. When no one is watching, :) rub your toes and treat yourself to two minutes of easy relaxation.
Ask This:
Is my child ready for the new school year? 
If you feel s/he's not, then do everything you can to make sure you help him/her start the new year on the best possible foot.
Watch This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDtdQ8bTvRc
You'd be surprised what information you can learn if you can make it fun. Yael and Dan Goldstein's CD Tremendous Earth is another example of learning anything if you sing about it.

DAY 3

Say This: 

“You're the best.”

You ARE the best!! 

Remember the song, "You've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative, and don't mess with Mr. In-Between."

Show your approval to your spouse/ friend/ child/ parent. Your positivity will pay off. Call them good, they will be good and even better. Whether "John" has just walked the dog, come home from school or work, picked something up at the supermarket or folded the laundry, a smiley and sincere "You're the best!" will raise his self-esteem, and encourage him to live up to your expectations.

Do This: 

Taste something new. Whether it's a new flavor of Arizona Tea, boiled beets, or roasted eggplant, tasting something new doesn't just introduce you to a new food, it adds a bit of variety and excitement to your life. You might not like whatever it is, but at least you showed courage and a bit of imagination.

Write This:

(On your weekly shopping list): Chocolate.

Everyone loves chocolate for: family fun, celebrating anything, calming our nerves. Well, a piece of chocolate really does pep you up.  Buy chocolate - 60%, 70%, as high as your taste buds will allow - and enjoy a cube a day. Dark chocolate has anti-oxidants and calming lactones. Milk chocolate triggers good-feeling serotonin.

Try This: 

A Computer dance 3 - Stand up from your chair now. Do 4 heel digs (that means instead of tapping your toe, tap your heel on to the floor). Right heel - step back again, left heel - step back again, right heel - step back again, left heel - step back again. Lift your knees 4 times ("the higher the better" - that's what our Efrat Women's Health Center exercise teacher Lainie Richler said yesterday). Lift right knee, left knee, right knee left knee. Do 3 shimmies. Shimmy to the left, clap, shimmy to the right clap, shimmy to the left clap. SMILE. Speed it up. Two minutes of dance. You're the best!

Ask This: 
(Ask Yourself or anyone else) Is there anything at which I/you can try harder?

Then try.
Watch This: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mRK5A45Qrc

In memory of Phyllis Diller, who recently passed away at age 95. Phyllis made everyone laugh, but she was always ready to try something new, and work hard at it.

DAY 2

Say This:
“Anything can happen today. May it be for the good.” 
You see, anything CAN happen today. Let’s be optimistic about it. It might be 100% good, or we might only understand a long time from now that it really was for our own good. 
Do This: 
Hug someone. 
Hug your spouse/ parent/ child/ best friend/ someone who just complimented your shoes :). Everyone needs a hug once in a while - little babies, teenagers, busy professionals, grandparents. Hugs not only feel great, but they'll help you live longer. No kidding. (I just looked it up - More info: http://goodrelaxation.com/2012/03/the-health-benefits-of-hugging/.)
Write This: 
(On your weekly shopping list): Carrots, cucumbers, celery.
You’ll be prepared for those moments when you want to grab something other than a cookie. 
Try This: 
Computer Dance 2 - Stand up from your chair now. Walk 3 steps right and then clap. Right left right clap. Walk 3 steps left and then clap. Left right left clap. Do that at least twice, and then go for the chorus…Stamp clap on your right (like at a hoe down). Stamp clap stamp clap stamp clap clap. Two minutes of dance. You'll feel great. 
Ask This: 
(Ask Yourself) How can I brighten someone else’s day today?
It will brighten yours too. 

Watch This: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOc2sQpw-Rg 

DAY 1

Friends, I know you're busy. I am too. I know that you don't have time to pamper yourself. Neither do I. But even you, even I, have two minutes to be good to ourselves.
Every day I will try to send out some ideas for you. They're just things I've thought of, things I do myself, things I've read about. And if they need any medical or psychological advice, I'll try to find it.
IF YOU'VE GOT ANY GOOD 2 MINUTE IDEAS, YOU'RE INVITED TO SEND THEM IN AND I'LL TRY TO PRINT THEM.

Take 2 minutes for you!!! Let's begin:

Pick One or As Many As You Like:
Say This: 
Start your first morning with these words. "Thank you, G-d, for giving me life. Thank you for my mother/ father/ sister/ brother/ husband/ daughter/ son. Please watch over us all and bless us. Thank you."
Do This: 
Look in the mirror. Make a giant smile. It will give you a positive outlook for the rest of the day.
Write This:
Write a friend a note. If you're on Facebook, then show at least one person on your list that you're a real friend, not just a FBF. Just say, "Hi, I hope you're well. Just wanted to stay in touch. Have a great end of summer." You might even take a photo with your phone, and send it. 
If you don't have Facebook, write an email to a friend in your Address Book. Friends are important. They share your thoughts, keep you young, and are folks who care about you. Show them you care too.
Try This: 
A Computer dance - Stand up from your chair now. Put your right foot forward. Tap the ball of your foot. Step back in place. Put your left foot forward. Tap the ball of your foot. Step back in place. Keep going. Do it faster. Do it slower. Two minutes of dance. You'll feel great.
Ask This: 
(Ask Yourself) What's the best thing that happened to me yesterday?
Watch This: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxPgplMujzQ (you can start at :20 if you've only got exactly 2 minutes)

Welcome to 2 for U

Last week at the Efrat Women's Health Center, we discussed our health accomplishments from the week before. I told our group that while I was on vacation with my family, I decided to get up early every day, and go walking/running.
I told the gang that I wanted to do something for myself.
Our social worker Alizah Shapiro jumped in, "Wow!!! I can't believe it. I remember when you used to say that you couldn't do this or that, because you had to worry about everyone else."
Our nutritionist Judy Kizer added, "This is amazing, Sharon. You did something for yourself!! Yay."
So, it made me think of all of you - all of you women, who like me, do everything for everyone else, ahead of yourself.
From the time we're children, our default position is that of a nurturer. We care for others, we care about others. Well, we've got to care about ourselves as well.
Most of us are so busy, we won't take time to pamper ourselves. And our answer to doing anything creative, fun, spiritual, relaxing for ourselves is...."I don't have time."

2 MINUTES FOR YOU
Well, everyone's got 2 minutes - even you.
So, because I understand that life is hectic, and you're always on overload, I would like to give you some ideas to give you two minutes for yourself.
Please take them. Actually, I'll give you a list. So, if you've really got only two minutes, pick one from the list.
And if you've got more time...treat yourself to whichever suits your fancy.
They might be simple, funny, silly, spiritual, out-of-the-box. They're just ideas from me to you.
Advice from One Friend to Another
I am not a doctor or a social worker or a nutritionist or an exercise instructor. I am a regular person, who is trying to do her best to have a healthier, happier, more fulfilled life. And I want you to join me. (And if there's something technical or medical, etc., I'll ask an expert.)

DAY 1
Pick One or As Many As You Like:
Say This: 
Start your first morning with these words. "Thank you, G-d, for giving me life. Thank you for my mother/father/sister/brother/husband/daughter/son. Please watch over us all and bless us. Thank you."
Do This: 
Look in the mirror. Make a giant smile. It will give you a positive outlook for the rest of the day.
Write This:
Write a friend a note. If you're on Facebook, then show at least one person on your list that you're a real friend, not just a FBF. Just say, "Hi, I hope you're well. Just wanted to stay in touch. Have a great end of summer." You might even take a photo with your phone, and send it.
If you don't have Facebook, write an email to a friend in your Address Book. Friends are important. They share your thoughts, keep you young, and are folks who care about you. Show them you care too.
Try This: 
A Computer dance - Stand up from your chair now. Put your right foot forward. Tap the ball of your foot. Step back in place. Put your left foot forward. Tap the ball of your foot. Step back in place. Keep going. Do it faster. Do it slower. Two minutes of dance. You'll feel great.
Ask This: 
(Ask Yourself) What's the best thing that happened to me yesterday?
Watch This: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxPgplMujzQ (you can start at :20 if you've only got exactly 2 minutes)