Energizing meetings!

I was just listening to a Ted Talk about how we humans develop and what is important in the early years of life. Several British studies show similar results, namely that it is important not to start life in poverty, because then you are more likely not to do well later in life. Furthermore, and even more importantly, all the studies show that parents play an extremely important role in the early years of a child's life. Whether you are poor or rich.

Today is one of those days that has just flown by, without me feeling like I've gotten much done. Do you recognise yourself?

It's almost time to pick up the kids and then continue the day with cooking, driving kids to soccer and gym practise, laundry, dishes and picking up. In other words, just another day at the office.

How I miss Amazon Prime and Google Express! In California, I shopped online for almost everything except fresh produce and depending on where I ordered from, it usually took between 1-2 days to get what I ordered to my door and it worked 24/7! Amazon really pushes prices down, so it's also cheaper to shop online than it is in stores. Google Express has the same prices as in store. I didn't pay a shipping fee, but the services I used had an annual fee (which I easily earned when I used them). When something ran out at home, I simply reordered it. I didn't have to run around looking in different stores and I just bought what we needed. That way we saved both time and money.

This is part 1 of 6 in my blog series on the 6 basic principles for a healthy lifestyle - the following articles are also included in the series: Diet and Hydration (2/6), Sleep (3/6), Positive thinking (4/6), Movement and Breathing Techniques (5/6) and Discussion (6/6).

It's not difficult to be healthy, vital and productive - it's just an active choice you need to make! Once you've made your choice, you need to know what to do to feel better, because there are so many different ways, ideas and pathways to choose from. I know from personal experience that you can do a lot for yourself and your health by following the 6 basic principles that I will describe over the next few days. They are easy to understand and best of all, they work!

I absolutely love reading bedtime stories, chatting and then singing my children to sleep. I prefer to do this with one child at a time. The downside is that it's a long time in a dark room and I have a hard time staying awake, but the benefits still win out! On the evenings when both my husband and I are home, we usually take one child each. It's so cosy to read, talk through the day and then get them to fall asleep in peace and quiet. It's so peaceful! So much else becomes unimportant at that time. Usually that's also when I really get to hear what happened during the day and if there's something in particular they need to vent about, it's right then, just before they go off to sleep that it comes out. Not when I ask on the way home from school or at the dinner table, but during bedtime itself. Sometimes there's so much talking that we have to decide on "one last question or comment" for this particular evening.

Soon it will be time to say Happy New Year and spend a few minutes summing up the year that has been and fantasising about how next year can be much better or at least as good... It's time to start thinking about New Year's resolutions, if you believe in them...

But first I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the year that has been. Many people have visited my website and read what I have written and I am very happy about that! The following 3 articles have been the most popular in 2014: