Home alone for Christmas? This blessed Christmas season can be a lonely one for many of us. This becomes especially true as we mature and our children leave home, marry and have their own families and traditions. Not everyone can travel long distances to be together.
If you are going to be alone, why not create some new traditions of your own? Age Esteemers know that when you are reaching out to others, you no longer feel lonely. Why not plan some activities like these?
- Find out if help is needed at the local soup kitchen for the hungry, reading the Christmas Story to people in the hospital, or distributing gifts to the poor. Most churches and communities have programs like these.
- Search out others of all ages who might be alone and organize Carol singing on Christmas eve followed by hot chocolate and conversation, a homemade or white elephant gift exchange, or party to play board games.
- Bake cookies or candy or make candles or decorations that you can wrap and deliver to people who you know will not be able to leave their homes. Your visit when you deliver your gift will be precious. It may prove to be the greatest gift.
- Plan to phone three people each day to wish them Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas or simply to let them know you are thinking of them. Include people who will also be alone as well as family and friends.
Share your vitality and joy for living, your age esteem. Even if you have to pretend to feel happy when you begin to reach out to others, before you know it your happiness will be genuine!
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Holidays Age Esteemers, age-esteem, alone for Christmas, Bonnie Fatio, Christmas Story, lonely
We have been hearing much about beta-carotene these days. What is it exactly? No, it is not a carrot! It is an antioxidant found in foods which seem to reduce cancer development and heart disease. Carrots do contain a large quantity of beta-carotene as do other yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables. One thinks of orange when seeing the word carotene, and yet the antioxidant is found in great quantities in dark green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and Swiss Chard as well.
Studies have shown that for the beta-carotene to be most effective it must be cooked or cut into small pieces. Some fat should be added when preparing the food in order for the beta-carotene to be assimilated in the body. Other foods with high amounts are carrot juice, pumpkin, sweet potato, kale, beet greens, cantaloupe and red peppers.
Beta-carotene is converted in the body into vitamin A, which is necessary for good vision and the immune system. It has an important function in helping to prevent lung cancer. Enjoying these vegetables and fruits will not only provide a delicious meal but will keep you fit and healthy.
Grandma Nature
Bonnie Foods and Flavors, Health Factors Age Esteemers, antioxidant, beta-carotene, Grandma Nature, healthy, heart disease, immune system, reduce cancer, vitamin A
Lessons of Autumn
Why is it that we focus on our skin spots, scars and beauty marks as flaws? So often what we see as beauty in others we identify as a blemish on our own body.
I think this photo of a single leaf gives us the answer. If we examine it carefully looking at each detail, we find brown spots, tears and scars. However, when look at the total leaf, these “flaws” make it even more interesting and pretty. And when we see it on the tree it enhances the overall beauty of the foliage because of it’s particularities.
The leaf offers us an important lesson of beauty. When we wash our face, shave or put on makeup we tend to focus on tiny details. We seek the flaws. – So of course we find them! But when we look at the total picture of who we are, our beauty is very different. Our total is more attractive than each little detail. Our wrinkles, brown spots, scars and blemishes actually enhance our look. And when we add a smile, in the same way that the leaf shines with its color, we take on our own color. Our inner beauty flows to the surface. Oh, yes. The leaf is a wonderful example of what makes us beautiful!
Age esteemers are beautiful people because they shine from within and wear a smile.
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Inner and Outer Beauty Age Esteemers, beautiful people, Bonnie Fatio, enhances beauty, inner beauty, lesson of beauty, shine from within
All Saints Day is a time to remember and honor those who have gone before us. In some countries it is also celebrated as Halloween. Whatever we call it, it is a day to celebrate the lives of those relatives, friends, role models and mentors who are no longer with us. It is a wonderful reminder that we will each live on in multiple ways long after our death.
It also reminds us that how we live our lives and reach out to others is precious. Who are the people you remember and celebrate today? They are most probably those who touched your life through what they said and did rather than what they had.
Age esteemers greet each day as an opportunity to make a positive difference in the life of others. – A smile, encouragement, listening, reaching out a hand… It takes very little to positively affect the life of someone else.
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Holidays Age Esteemers, All Saints Day, Bonnie Fatio, celebrate lives, Halloween, positive difference
Age Esteemers speak to themselves and others with words to encourage. They grow confidence, skills and knowledge in others as part of their legacy. They recognize their role as mentors and support and encourage others of all ages. They share their own expertise and experience of living with openness and love. They are eager to encourage as they help others to develop their qualities.
- Catch someone doing something new, challenging or difficult and support and encourage them.
- Revise and devise your vocabulary to give others a boost in confidence and to help them recognize what they do well.
- Look on encouragement as an opportunity to reach out to others as a mentor and guide. You, too, will learn in the process.
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Secrets to AgeEsteem Age Esteemers, Bonnie Fatio, encouragement, grow confidence, legacy, mentors, words to encourage
Age Esteemers take responsibility for their own happiness. They know that no one else can make you happy. Riches cannot make you happy. You are responsible for your happiness.
There is a lovely saying, « If you want to be happy, just be happy! » It is as easy as that. Happiness depends on you. If you want to be happy, decide to be happy. Curl up the corners of your mouth. Put a smile on your face and look up. It will change your whole perspective.
- Practice smiling. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Smile at people you meet. Smile just for the pleasure of smiling, and see what happens.
- Smile when you wake up in the morning, even before you open your eyes; and make it the last thing you do at night before you drift off to sleep.
- Look for the happiness around you; look for the humor in the day.
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Happiness at Every Age, Secrets to AgeEsteem Age Esteemers, Bonnie Fatio, happiness, humor, just be happy, practice smiling, smile
People with age esteem recognize that they have choices, that they are masters of their own life. They may not be able to control what happens to them all of the time or even most of the time, but they take control over how they act or react to what happens.
Age esteemers know they can choose to see what happens as an opportunity or as a catastrophe. They can choose to be a victim, or they can choose to take action to move beyond the problem, to learn from it and benefit from it.
- Decide that you will become a can do, will do person who takes control.
- Look for the opportunity inside a difficulty.
- Remind yourself that you are in control.
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Attitude, reaching out, Secrets to AgeEsteem Age Esteemers, age-esteem, Bonnie Fatio, can do, choices, control, masters of own life, opportunity or catastrophe, will do
Do you have an attitude of gratitude?
People with Age Esteem express gratitude. Age Esteemers know the importance of not only feeling thankful, but also expressing appreciation and gratitude for what they have and what others do for them. They choose to recognize the blessings of each day, no matter how great or small.
- Keep a gratitude diary where you record the highlights of each day for which you are grateful.
- Count your blessings when things seem difficult. Remind yourself of all the good that surrounds you while you deal with a problem.
- Express openly to others your gratitude for what they mean to you.
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Attitude, Secrets to AgeEsteem Age Esteemers, age-esteem, attitude of gratitude, Bonnie Fatio, expressing appreciation, feeling thankful, gratitude diary, recognize blessings
People with age esteem have a positive attitude. Studies show that people who enjoy life with a positive attitude live longer and happier lives. This is not to say that they don’t have aches and pains like anyone else. They simple choose to take a different view of life. Rather than focus on their pains, they chose to concentrate on what goes well and to develop their interests. They are engaged in living.
Age Esteemers know that when we focus on the brighter side of life, we draw other positive people and opportunities to us.
- Become aware of your thoughts and words. Are they positive or negative.?
- Turn negatives into positives. When you catch yourself complaining or discouraging yourself, change your phrase to make it positive and encouraging.
- Surround yourself with positive people. Drop those who hold you back or put you down. They don’t deserve your time.
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers, Attitude, Health Factors, Secrets to AgeEsteem aches and pains, Age Esteemers, age-esteem, Bonnie Fatio, engaged, happier, live longer, opportunities, positive attitude, positive people
Acknowledge your age. Age is positive and natural. We have been aging since the moment of birth. If we are breathing we are aging. To age is to be alive. Age is a gift, a gift that not everyone receives. Rejoice and be glad that you are alive and aging.
Why should you acknowledge your age? Why not just ignore it? After all, today is just another day.
Is it? You’ve experienced and learned every instant on your journey to reach the age you are now. To look on today as just another day is ignore all you’ve gained by living. It is to miss out on living this moment. Today you are the youngest you will ever be. To waste it is to miss out on the present.
Age esteemers acknowledge their age and focus on the advantages it brings.
Bonnie Fatio
Bonnie AgeEsteemers Age Esteemers, age is positive, aging, Bonnie Fatio, focus on advantages, look on today, youngest
