If Pictures Are Worth 1,000 Words Then Experience Must Be Priceless

(Photo has been enhanced to add brightness)

Coming to the end of our street this morning I scanned from right to left to make my turn. This is what I saw, but this is NOT what I felt.

Snow laden trees in winter are one of my favorite images in Ohio.

Constant rain drizzles over the trees like honey and as the rain transforms to ice and a fresh layer of powder drifts over everything - a magical white wonderland appears.

I turned to my son and said, "How Beautiful!" he agreed and he said we needed to take a picture.

Here is the picture we took:



All I saw was GREY as I showed the kids. We snapped a couple of more pictures realizing the same thing...we couldn't capture the feeling with the camera.

We all ooo'd and ahhh'd before remembering we were going to be late...

I need a better camera? Maybe. I should take a few photography lessons? Probably. I should enjoy each and every moment? Definitely!

Go enjoy the day!
Kym Lamb

Why Life Is Like The Iphone App DoodleJump

I recently upgraded my mobile phone to an iPhone. This is my first smart phone and I have been enjoying learning about the new options.

My children were also thrilled with the purchase! They have been educating me on the best Apps and as part of their reward system last week they were allowed to purchase one.

My oldest went for Scribblenauts, my youngest - Streetbike and my girlie in the middle chose DoodleJump.

My daughter gave me a tutorial and explained all the things I needed to know:

1. You can choose your theme - Today was jungle.
2. No controller is needed. The Doodle moves jumps forward and you move the phone from side to side to go to the next platform. (Until you need to shoot the monsters!)
3. You get tools. Use the springs and trampolines to skip platforms. You can also get jumpie boots and jetpacks if you really want reach higher, but be careful, it is hard to guess where and when you will drop.
4. Watch Out for the Rain. In the jungle in rains and makes it harder to see the platforms.Beware of the broken platforms.
5. Watch out for the monster! Avoid them, shoot them or jump on them but don't let them knock you out, you will see stars and have to start over.

I thought, what if life where like DoodleJump? or Maybe It Is

1. I could choose my theme. What would my environment be like? Would I live on a sandy beach or lush mountain top? Do I choose to work inside or out? Alone or with a group. . .
   
2. No controller is needed.Life moves forward with or without me. There is no joystick I can use to guarantee the next move but I can continually look for the next step to take. Have the courage to take it. And know when it feels like I am going too fast I just bounce on that platform until I am ready to move on...It also helps that I know and trust my platform.
   
3. Tools. Springs, trampolines, jumpie boots and jetpacks. Family, friends,encouragement. Innovation. . .education. . .opportunity.
4. Rain. The days when the ran is falling, the windshield washer is broken and you can't see the road ahead, but rain doesn't last the whole game!
   
5. Monsters. Life's difficulties and road blocks. The objective is the same - Don't let them knock you out. If they do. . .choose to play again.

Disclaimer: No Doodle or child was injured during the playing of these games. We play responsibly and remember that real life can never be replaced by a virtual one.

Enjoy Life!
Kym Lamb
The Wellness Mommy

Don't Forget To Breathe

If you have ever taken a Yoga class you have probably been told,

"Don't forget to breathe."

And if you were like me. . .you needed the reminder.

You were so focused on the position you were in (or trying to get in) that you actually stopped breathing!

According to Answer.com, "depending on the person, after 4-5 minutes the brain begins to die without oxygen."

Most of us do not forget to breath for so long that we do damage to our brain, but wouldn't it be nice if we had a reminder every time we forget to breath? If every time we are more focused on the position we are in a bell would go off and say. . .BREATHE

How To Breath

Here is a simple breathing technique to help you relax and "de-stress":

Draw a breath in through your nose to a 5 count. 1-2-3-4-5
Then exhale through your nose for the same 5 count. 1-2-3-4-5

Do this 3-5 times, or however long it takes for you to relax.

You can count to your natural rhythm, although I find when I am stressed if I count "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi. . ." it helps bring me into a more natural rhythm.

Most of us either never learned how to breath or never learned how to take the time to breath. In either case, we can't deny without it nothing else will matter.

Now stop and Breathe and then seize the day!

Be Well,
Kym

How Heavy Is Your Backpack?

Sharing with a confidant last week, the statement was made. . .

"Kym, that must be a heavy backpack to carry."

Like everyone, I have some "HEAVY" items in my history.

• Some items you can pull out of the backpack, put on the shelf and leave there.
  
  
• Other items seem to find their way back in to the backpack when you are not watching.
  
  
• Then there are the items that we choose to leave in. The remnants that we keep, almost like a badge of honor or "award" for surviving.
  
  
• Finally, there are the items that you put on the shelves, but other people think you should keep in your sack at all times.

My friend's statement reminded me;

1) I pack my bag. No one has the right to put something in it I do not allow to be there.
2) I do not have to carry everything, all day, everyday, FOREVER.
3) I am responsible for choosing "backpack watchers". The trusted people who will remind me my pack is getting too full and they will help me unload it.

As you pack your bag for this day my hope for you is that your load is light your heart is full and your dreams guide your way!

Be Well,
Kym Lamb

Revelations Should Create Resolutions Not Excuses

Happy New Year! Out with the old in with the New! Well, maybe...If I feel like...and it works for me and I don't have to change anything...and if it doesn't make me uncomfortable...and if it's not too hard and I don't have to be committed to it for too long. . .

This sounds like keeping the OLD to me!

If you know or have learned something that can improve your life (I call these things revelations) doesn't it make sense to start using them?

Especially things you can not refute like:

Exercise is good for you.

But I hear all of the excuses already...you started making them the second you read the word exercise.

But too much exercise is dangerous? How much is too much? And I am not a trainer? And A gym membership is expensive...

You turned the revelation of the benefits of exercise in to the burden of movement, your pocketbook and your time. Instead of thinking I am willing to do some sort of exercise to improve my day. You decide Exercise = Bad, not because of facts, but because you didn't want to change.

How many times a day do we do this? Someone shares a new food, or book or fitness tip and we internally plug our ears and say, "I'm not listening...lalalalalalala." Not because they are wrong but because we don't want to feel forced to change.

Now I am not writing this to you from my ivory tower of perfection. I am sharing this with you because I am a person who also struggles with making Excuses instead of Resolutions.

The end of the year I packed on the pounds and lost my stretch DVD (on purpose.)

I know the excuses because I have made them. I do not want 2012 to be like other years and I don't believe you do either. I do not want to be committed for just the first weeks, 6 days or 6 minutes. I want to be resolved for life to do the things that keep me well for myself and my family.

As I huffed and puffed through my Yoga work out this morning I was not happy that I couldn't stretch as far and I was frustrated that my balance stunk. . . but it was my own fault for making excuses why everything else was more important.

I returned to the daily routine that works for me 01.02.2012. I am resolved to to what I know works. Are you willing to do the same? I hope so!

Be Well,
Kym Lamb


PS Thank you you to the Simple Homemaker for her picture.