HealthandHappiness

It doesn’t take much to give yourself a break from the everyday hustle and bustle of life. Everyone should try to have fun and unwind ever now and then.

This past weekend my husband had to go to Nashville for his class. He has to go every month except November. Anyway, this time we decided to stay an extra day. Not only did this allow us time to do something together as a family…we went and saw a movie…but it also made the trip easier on me health wise.

When we go up on Friday night and come right back Saturday after his class, I hurt terribly. Riding in the car for four hours is tough on someone with fibromyalgia. I always want to go though because otherwise I lose almost two days of the weekend with my husband.

Staying the extra day gave me time to recuperate a little. It was fun just being away from home also. A weekend getaway isn’t much, but it’s enough to give a little downtime that is certainly needed.

If you get the chance, go for an overnight trip. It will brighten your outlook!

I am honored to announce my publication on the Unsent Letters blog. All writers should check the blog out. They are accepting submissions for blog posts and anthology consideration. Authors are paid for their work, and receive a byline and link to the website of their choice when chosen for the blog.

You can write letters to other people, pets, or yourself. I chose to write to myself this time. I really needed a pep talk, and it turns out this one helped in more ways than one!

Click here to see all about submitting to Unsent Letters. And click here if you’d like to read my letter, Never Give Up.

We recently purchased a Wii game system. It looked like fun on television; friends said it was fun, so we gave in to peer pressure. Well, it IS fun!

We haven’t bought any more games for the system yet. We are still getting used to the sports games that came with the Wii.

Let me tell you, playing some of these games really will give you a workout. Tennis and boxing are the ones that make me work up a sweat. If you do thirty minutes of either game, you will definitely burn some calories!

Golf and bowling are fun to play, but aren’t as active. It’s still better than other game systems where you sit on your bottom the whole time vegging.

If you are thinking of buying a Wii game system, go for it. You will have loads of fun and get some exercise in the process!

How are y’all doing on your New Year’s weight loss resolutions? Are you sticking with your goals and seeing good results? Or, have you fell off the wagon already?

I have lost 7 pounds so far. Would have probably been a few more, but I slipped a little the middle of January. Did great at the beginning and end, and good for February so far though.

I have been doing well on my eating, but not as good with the exercise. I plan to rectify this. Starting tomorrow, I have a new plan to fit more exercise into my day. It will also be beneficial in organizing the rest of my life! Nothing better than some organization to make things run smoother.

I hope to show a 10-pound loss by the end of February. If I make it, I’ll be right on track!

I would like to give a shout out to my friends from the Accentuate Writers Forum who made the Top 100 CP’s of 2008 list on Associated Content! Way to go guys! If you’d like to see the list of forum members who made it, click here.

More than one of these authors credit the Accentuate Writers Forum, and Michy, with helping them accomplish this feat. If this doesn’t tell you how great it is to be a part of the forum, I don’t know what will.

Come on over and join us. Who knows what you’ll be able to accomplish with all the encouragement, advice, and support offered on the forum. Certainly Associated Content is benefiting from the help provide there!

Any poets out there should drop by Kathleen Hansen’s blog. She is hosting a poetry contest. The theme is nature related, and the prize is an original piece of artwork valued at 100.00. There is no entry fee, and you can enter as many times as you like.

Kathleen is the sole judge of the contest. Give her your best work and you just might win! If you know anyone who loves wolves, pass on the information about the contest!

Here’s the link: http://kathansen.com/blog

Check out her other artwork while you’re there. She has some really nice stuff on the site.

Good luck to any of you who enter!

Call it karma, or whatever you wish, but you really will be rewarded if you pay kindness forward.

Being nice to others is rewarding in so many different ways. Your heart will feel lighter knowing you’ve helped a fellow human being. Your mind will be rest because you are being the best person you can be. Your soul will sing, because you have made the burdens of another lighter.

Help people, offer a kind word, and compliment someone today. Any little gesture is appreciated on a bad day. You never know when you might be the one to turn a person’s whole life around!

Pay it forward. Remember the smile, or help you received, and offer the same to someone else. Make today a blessed day!

Susan, at http://dementia.today.com, recently nominated me for the Lemonade Award. Thank you very much for the nomination, Susan, I really appreciate it. The Lemonade Award is for sites that show gratitude and a wonderful attitude. I think that’s a good group to belong to!

Now for the blogs that I wish to pass this award on to:

http://dementia.today.comhttp://alzact.today.com

http://mentalhealthhumor.today.com/

http://sillymomthoughts.today.com/

http://www.zemeks.blogspot.com/

http://www.evstory.blogspot.com/

http://chronicchicktalk.com/

http://recoveryrocks.today.com/

http://healthmysteries.today.com

http://ofsomethingsomething.blogspot.com/

There are my ten nominations. These blogs offer laughter, hope, and understanding. There is creativity, sentimentality, and humor. I hope you enjoy them! 

With so many people using the Internet, the World Wide Web so easily assessable, not to mention a popular place to hang out, making online friends is a breeze! And no matter what you’ve heard, lasting, true friendships are possible.

I am part of an email loop with some online friends I met nine years ago. We talk almost daily. We share important events in our lives, weight loss successes and failures, family matters, and everything else under the sun.

The women in this group are true friends! I don’t know what I would have done without them during some hard times the past few years. Online friendships can be just as real as friendships in the “real” world. Any friendship is only as good as the people who are part of it!

If you actually get to meet your online friends, you are even luckier. I have had the pleasure of meeting a few in my email loop, and they are absolutely wonderful! We are trying to set up another meeting for next year to celebrate our 10 years together. I’m hoping we can all make this one!

Treasure whatever friendships you have, online or off. Nourish them and help them grow. True friends are hard to find, so hold on to them when you do!

I wanted to say Happy Birthday to a very special woman today. Michelle L. Devon is the creator of the Accentuate Writers Forum, a published author, and a wonderful person.

The forum is simply the best place to hang out. Writers, readers, and everyone else is welcome. You’ll find friendship, encouragement, and support. It’s not only about writing either. We help each other through hard times, pray for each other, and provide entertainment. If you haven’t checked the forum out yet, you really should.

I don’t know how she does it, but Michy keeps the Accentuate Writers Forum free from chaos and bickering. Many online forums are full of mean-spirited people who only want to cause trouble. That’s definitely not the case with Accentuate.

If you want a cool place to hang out, that just might help your writing career, come on over to the Accentuate Writers forum and meet Michy!