Energy Tip, Use Your Nose
Last issue we told you how much drinking water impacts your energy level. Hope you’ve discovered how true that is and have your water bottle handy as you read this. Take a sip while you read on.

Use your senses to increase your energy. Studies on aromatherapy prove that it works. Use your nose. I keep a bottle of peppermint essential oil in my travel kit and on my desk (available at health food stores). When I need a spurt of energy, I open the bottle and take a whiff and a deep breath. It works. (I also know that just taking a pause and a deep breath has a positive impact on your stress and energy levels so there is a double benefit here). Sucking on one of those popular strong mints like Altoids or Fisherman’s Friend has a similar effect.

Books that Have Changed my Life (Kathie)
I just stumbled on a book at our PX bookstore that I just had to have. For the Love of Books by Ronald B. Schwartz, has 115 well-known writers share their answer to the question: What books have left the greatest impression on you and why?

Holly and I thought that would be a good section to add to this newsletter — books that have changed your life. Of course, there are so many. For me, a few immediately stand out.

Women & the Blues by Jennifer James is one that I read in 1988 when I first started my "What will make me happy?" search. I wasn’t unhappy, but I wasn’t happy either. James is a counselor and this was full of just the right thoughts & exercises for me at the time. One that I continue to this day is my annual "birthday review" where I give myself the gift of my day to review my year& my goals, and to come up with a plan for the coming year.

My all-time favorite for life change has to be Barbara Sher’s Wishcraft. That got me started working to create what I want in life. So…what books have changed your life? Write in and share and we’ll send you a free Joyful Living booklet in thanks. And you just might help change someone else’s life.

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Adding Daily Joy — Simple Rituals (Kathie)
I have simple rituals to start my day on a good note. I’ve been doing two things for quite a while now. Simple but they make me happy. I read the daily page in Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance. (Mind you, I have been reading this every day for three — or is it four? — years now). I guess that means I’m a slow learner, but I continue to be inspired. And slowly but surely, I apply the lessons to my life.

I also keep angel cards in a box on my desk. Each day, I pull a card at random and put it in a fun little clip attached to a purple cube — to keep it in front of me. These cards just have one word on each. Words like light, peace, patience. I use them as a bit of a meditation and focus. Today’s was "Sisterhood." Sure seems appropriate as I’m working away on this newsletter for my sisterhood of military spouses.

Joyful Parenting —Notepower (Holly)
My twins just started preschool. I put a note in each of their lunch boxes, "Mommy loves you & misses you & will see you when you get home." I started this when my kids were four, when I first had to be gone from home, traveling to give Joyful Living seminars for spouses dealing with deployment, a group I care deeply about after my own experiences as a "single mom" of infants when my husband deployed to Kosovo for nine months when we lived in Bamberg.

I made up a note a day for each of them.
Simple thoughts like:
- I hope your day is filled with rainbows.
- You are my Sweetie Pie…my Buddy.
- Thank you for helping Grandma & Grandpa.
- I’m so proud of you.
- Can you see Mommy smile when she thinks of you?
You get the idea. I use fun-colored markers
and stickers and draw smiley faces on them. And I end each with "I love you! Mommy!"

Each morning Grandma put one card next to the children's cereal bowls for them to open as soon as they ate breakfast. Thus, starting their days out on a positive note - literally!

Now I get my husband to do the same when he has to be gone TDY. It adds a special moment to each day and helps keep them connected.

Do You Have a Dream?
As part of our research for the Follow Your Dreams While You Follow the Military‘ book, we are collecting stories of women who have done just that — created a life, a program, a business, a career that allows them to pursue their passion as they live this military life. We’ll share some of these stories in future issues. Do you have a dream to share? Either a dream you want help with or a success story to inspire other military spouses?
Email
us at kathie@jumpintolife.net (and you’ll get a free Joyful Living booklet in thanks for writing.)

Copyright 2001 Hightower/Scherer

Contact Us:
Kathie Hightower & Holly Scherer
Follow Your Dream While You Follow the
Military Seminars
kathie@jumpintolife.net
2908 N. Warner Street, Tacoma, Wa 98407;
Tollfree: 866-569-5695;253-761-8161; fax253-759-4009

Or contact Holly directly in Memphis at 901-756-7391 or email her at schererjh@earthlink.net

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