HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER AND PASSOVER

Bonnie Fatio, founder of AgeEsteem & Isabel Contreras, Louise Hay trainer

People who have participated in Louise Hay workshops, Heal Your Life, or AgeEsteem programs have a major value in common. – They love themselves as they are at the age they are.

On April 14, Bonnie Fatio was invited to offer “A Taste of Age Esteem” at Life Motivations Center in Bellevue, Switzerland.  The evening was magic, filled with wonderful information, thought-provoking exercises and stimulating discussion.

Isabel Contreras, founder of Life Motivations and trainer of the Louise Hay method, said “The taste of Age Esteem was delightful, inspirational and educational.  The participants thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot.  Bonnie’s great energy came out in absolutely infectious positive energy.”

Among the definitions of Age Esteem given by the participants who ranged in age from the 30′s to 60′s:

• Feeling great no matter what my age.
• Love and respect for self and others no matter where we are on the time line.
• Getting the most out of life no matter what the number of years.
• Loving the age I am now.
• Having more respect for older people and being more thankful for them and giving them more respect for age and wisdom.

Today you are honored as a woman!  This is the 100th anniversary of the first International Women’s Day, a perfect opportunity to honor women and girls of all ages.

This is a day to celebrate womanhood, sisterhood, and friendships.  It is a day to pay tribute to those who have gone before us and have helped pave the way, rejoice in those who are near to us and encourage the women and girls who follow.

In a recent speech, First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama said  “We should always have three friends in our lives – one who walks ahead who we look up to and follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one who we reach back for and bring along after we’ve cleared the way. “   This is what International Women’s Day is all about.

Happy 100th International Women’s Day!

Bonnie Fatio

Bonnie Fatio and Hendrica Okondo, World YWCA

Women’s issues are also the issues facing aging.  As I arrived at the United Nations in New York today to register for the Commission on the Status of Women, I was struck by how strongly these same concerns are pertinent to all of us.

This year the Commission on the Status of Women (22 Feb. – 4 March 2011) is focusing on the issues of access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, and access to full employment and decent work.  All of these concern older people as well.  People of all ages are touched by these issues.  As we work to enhance the gender equality, we also work to enhance the lives of older people. – All people.

Women’s issues are aging issues.

Bonnie Fatio

Age Esteem is participating at the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York with the World YWCA.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), established in 1946, influences the lives of people of all ages, including children and men.  It is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) dedicated to gender equality and advancement of women. Each year it draws women from around the globe to the United Nations in New York to evaluate progress, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.

This is also important for you men!  It has been shown time and again that when women are empowered the family and the whole community also improve.

Age Esteem will present an Intergenerational Dialogue on February 28.

Bonnie Fatio

My wish to you on this Valentine’s Day is that you be your own Valentine and love yourself as much as you love others.  Be your own Valentine this year!

Bonnie Fatio

People of all ages enjoy receiving Valentines. In order of popularity, Valentine’s Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.

In Medieval times people who couldn’t write their names, signed with an X in front of a witness.   The person then kissed the X to show they were sincere.   This is why many think that the X has been associated with the kiss when people write X and O for kisses and hugs.

The city of Verona, Italy, which is where Shakespear’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived,  receives 1000 letters addressed to Juliet each Valentine’s Day.  This inspired the movie, Letters to Juliet.

The oldest existing love poem is written on a clay tablet and dates from the time of the Sumarians who invented writing around 3500 B.C.

Candies were among the earliest Valentine gifts, the most common being chocolates in heart-shaped boxes.  More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold this year.

About 3% of pet owners will give a Valentine’s Day gift to their pet.

Who are your Valentines?  Who do you love?  Who is important to you?

Valentine’s Day offers a unique occasion to take stock of who matters to you. -  And what a joyous opportunity to express your feelings.

Whether you purchase cards or create your own personalized messages specific to each of your Valentines, they are certain to be appreciated.

• Make a list of the people who matter to you and perhaps some who you may know less well but who need a lift.  Include people of all ages.  Many are lonely.
• Select your Valentine cards or simply cut out a heart in colored paper and write a message on it, or make a collage like the one above.
• Add your own special message expressing why the person is special to you.
• If you don’t have enough time to prepare Valentines, why not phone each person and let them hear the message directly from you.

It may surprise you to discover what a boost it can be to your own age esteem and positive attitude as you do this to make others feel good.

Bonnie Fatio

My wish for you at every age is to

• Live each day fully.
• Stretch your body, mind and spirit.
• Embrace new experiences.
• Share your talents with others of all ages.
• Learn something new each day.
• Celebrate frequently.
• Seek the positive in each person and experience.
• Give thanks for the blessings of your life.
• Meet new challenges with a sense of adventure.
• Greet each new day with anticipation and zest.
• Become a living model of AgeEsteem for those who meet you!

Bonnie Fatio

This year instead of making New Year’s resolutions, why not make a promise to yourself?

A promise is so much more powerful than a resolution.  Resolutions are usually statements about what we will not do.  We look back and try to correct our behaviors.  A promise is focused on realizing something that we want to do.  It is proactive and positive.

I challenge you to set a date with yourself with the goal of focusing on your dreams and passions.  What would you like to do in 2011?

• Is there a dream that you have tucked away and tried to forget?  Allow it to surface in your thinking and promise yourself to realize it in 2011.
• Do you have a passion that you have been smothering?  Release that passion and promise yourself to act on it in 2011.
• Are you wondering what your passion or dream is?  Ask yourself this question.  “If I knew I could not fail, if I could only succeed, what would I be doing now?”  Listen closely to your answer and promise yourself to bravely embrace that passion or dream and make it real.

2011 will become the year that you make it become.  Promise yourself to live your passion and realize your dream.  It is never too late, but only you can make it happen.  Start today and shine with Age Esteem in 2011!

Bonnie Fatio