The Umbrella Race by Gerry Thomas

Who ever heard of a talking, walking umbrella? The Umbrella Race tells about the adventures of Melyssa's magical umbrella.It was sprinkled with magic dust when it was made so it can walk and talk whenever it rains.

sports wall decals chafing dishes cheap hammocks

Tourette's Syndrome and ADHD-Juvenile Coping Strategies

My views concerning TS and ADHD come entirely from my own experiences. I am not in the medical or mental health fields. I did not take medications as a kid, and I have no expertise on the subject and thus have no view on the topic one way or the other. If your child's mental health practitioner feels as though medications will benefit your child, then by all means proceed in that light if both he or she and yourself feel as though it is best for your youngster.

My views are predicated upon what I think would have helped myself as a child, as my young character is described within my story. In no way am I asserting that any "one size fits all" solution will benefit every child. On the other hand, one lesson I have learned from life with absolute certainty is that one should never think of one's self as being entirely unique. Whatever problems one might have, it is a certain bet that someone, somewhere is suffering the same.

In the wake of reported tragic cases of youngsters taking their own lives after having experienced profound bullying at school, individuals affected have taken up what might be termed the "anti-bullying" cause. Their approach to this problem has been to attempt to change the school environment by holding schools accountable to maintain a safe atmosphere for kids to learn. They have been successful in educating school administrators and teachers and in passing anti-bullying legislation on a state level. Some give lectures at schools in an attempt to educate students as well.

I commend such individuals. It must be acknowledged that some kids have problems that make them potential victims of bullies that they cannot adjust, such as aspects of their physical appearances or intellectual abilities. It is therefore incumbent upon schools to be as vigilant as possible in protecting such kids.

Nevertheless, I believe that in regard to many other kids, such as the one in my story, this is only half the equation in solving the problem. A child can never be completely sheltered from a harsh world with harsh individuals inhabiting it. So, whenever possible, teaching coping and social skills should be the other half of the equation in ultimately eliminating the problem.

Such an approach should not be seen as "blaming the victim." The more a child learns to act in a socially graceful manner, the better his or her chances will be for success and happiness throughout life. The formative years of childhood are all-important in deciding a person's destiny and lot in life.

My earliest memories begin at around the age of four and one-half. Talking with others, I think this is a fairly typical point when the human mind develops to the degree that it is capable of forming long-term memories.

This is the point where I believe a child begins to function in more than a strictly reactive manner. The child becomes fully self-aware and begins to think in the true sense of the word. My definition of thinking is: The ability to predict the future from past experience in intellectualized terms.

In a sense, we might say that this is the point when a human begins life as an individual. This is when the child becomes fully aware of the concepts of "self" and "not-self" and learns to make distinctions between the two. This is when the concept of competition with others first becomes apparent within a person.

No child sits down one day at around that age and reflects to himself or herself: "Well, I'm just beginning life now. I think I shall be a nervous, high-strung, impulsive, obsessive-compulsive person;" any more than another decides: "I'm going to be a calm, cool and collected and self-confident person." A child simply begins to act in accordance with his or her genetic nature. Children have very limited senses of self-analytic abilities and do not ask themselves, "Why am I acting this or that way?"

Lambasting a child for simply acting in accordance with his or her nature would make as much sense as buying a cat and then complaining when it doesn't bark. We all have certain proclivities towards certain traits.

There is a link between Tourette's Syndrome and OCD, and it is my belief that TS should be classified as an emotional disorder within the OCD grouping of disorders. As exampled on the hilarious television comedy *Monk*, people with obsessive-compulsive traits tend to be very bright. It is my belief that they process external stimuli more rapidly and efficiently than does the average individual. They also arrive at different conclusions than do others; rapidly dismissing stimuli that do not interest them; then reverting to the chronic self-reflection which is the hallmark of the condition.

It is my theory that the root cause of all emotional disorders within OC pathologies is what I term to be "acute self-awareness."

Some people have much better vision acuity when it comes to color than does the average person, and such individuals often make great artists. For those of us with more average color vision acuity, it never occurs to us that those with a superior sense see the world more vividly than we can. Although I, of course, have had no experience with being anyone other than myself-and therefore can never test the theory-, it is my belief that most people have somewhat less of a sense of "self" than do people with OC emotional disorders and are better able to focus their attention away from themselves and onto outside stimuli. Being less self-conscious, they are more poised.

The result of this is that individuals with OC disorders, because of their greater sense of self-awareness (or self-consciousness), develop defense mechanisms to protect that acute sense of self not common to people with a more normal sense of self. Protecting self becomes paramount to the point of becoming counterproductive.

Thus, those with OCD, for example, develop elaborate, seemingly bizarre rituals akin to superstition in the belief that if this or that seemingly mundane task is not constantly attended to, and performed with a precise protocol, then some terrible threat to the self will surely emerge as a result. Through learned behavior by repetition, the condition can persist to the point of becoming debilitating.

For those with TS, I believe the analogous defense mechanism is tics. The person will jerk his or her head, for example, in an effort to focus consciousness away from one's self and onto the outside stimulus he or she is expected to observe. Verbal tics are analogous to a karate expert's practice of yelling while breaking a board with his or her bare hand, as both an effort to increase concentration and avert attention away from physical pain. Through repetition, these aberrant practices become virtually involuntary.

People born with a greater sense of "self-awareness" have a correspondingly greater sense of trying to defend themselves, seeing threats, real or imagined, sooner than others. Thus, their naturally nervous or "high-strung" dispositions. Anxiety is their constant companion. This often provokes stress which aggravates the condition, resulting in a vicious cycle.

As with any other condition, the sooner it is recognized, diagnosed and treated the better the eventual outcome will be. Much of the advice I would have given myself as a kid is reflected within my story. What kids like these need most is structure in their lives and to learn self-discipline, patience and increased concentration.

Because these kids tend to be bright-even in spite of often mediocre school performances due to ADD-, they are often very defensive when it comes to criticism. ("Had anyone else spoken to twelve-year old Bobby Schultz like this, the boy would have reacted defensively from pride and dismissed the advice out of hand. Others had made similar comments in the past.") A parent must therefore appeal to the child's intellect and gradually lead him or her in the direction of self-realization and, hopefully, self-improvement practices.

Basically, any activity that will tend to increase a youngster's poise and self-confidence will be extremely beneficial, along with a parent's gentle but firm persuasion that he or she sticks to it. Youngsters like this tend to gravitate towards those relatively few activities which can successfully command their attention away from themselves. In my day, it was reading escapist fare like *The Hardy Boys* and then science fiction. Today, I would imagine it is video games. Excessive engaging in such pastimes is, in my opinion, a form of "self-medicating" and is detrimental to the child's well being.

Two activities I would suggest-if possible-are martial arts and acting lessons; especially from a teacher who holds to the "method acting" technique where one is taught to "become" the character one is playing. By doing such, the child might learn to recognize different character types and thus might also learn to better realize his or her own nature and how others see him or her.

Martial arts lessons, such as karate classes, are excellent vehicles to improve a child's concentration and self-confidence, as well as his or her physical stamina. It also has obvious side benefits when it comes to dealing with bullies, especially for boys.

Suggesting acting lessons might seem somewhat less practical due to financial or logistical considerations. But if at all possible, I believe they would be extremely beneficial in teaching a child social skills and poise. As I said, the method acting technique in particular, teaching an acting student to "become" his or her character while playing the part, will help the child develop an excellent intuitive and empirical perspective regarding the different natures people have and will help him or her learn more about the child's own. Such an insight is invaluable. By learning to act the part of another-perhaps a character with far more self-confidence than the child exhibits by nature-he or she might learn to try to incorporate within himself or herself such positive traits. By practice and repetition, such a transition might become virtually "second nature" to the youngster.

The mere fact of performing before others will do wonders for a child's self-confidence, poise and self-esteem. I know of at least one professional actor afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome. He has appeared on primetime network television programs; thus, yet another possible side-benefit. Your youngster might one day become very successful as an actor and repay the costs of such lessons many times over!

The major point to bear in mind is that such youngsters must learn to control their minds and bodies rather than allowing them to control and define them. As it is oft said, knowledge is power. By learning on an intellectual level to understand their inherent natures, children can be forewarned and thus forearmed and will be better able to face life on successful terms. As stated within my story, breathing exercises and a daily period of silent meditation, gradually increasing the time, will be extremely beneficial.

If I could choose one passage from my story that I consider the most important, it would be: "He told the boy that he simply had to learn to be patient and do things in their proper place and time and to do so with care. He explained that the youth had to learn to have confidence in the future and to stop acting like now was the only time he would ever have to play or do something else he enjoyed."

In the case of all people who suffer from what I consider to be "acute self-awareness," which is often accompanied by acute anxiety, there is always an underlying, often subconscious and unspoken fear that tomorrow will indeed never come. Thus, the present moment takes on undue importance in the case of such youngsters. Teaching a child to learn to cultivate the virtue of patience is paramount to the child's chances of success throughout life. A parent must insist on this and not give in to the child's demands for immediate gratification when such is not appropriate. One will not benefit his or her child if a parent folds.

Once again, appeal to the child's intellect and explain your reasoning. Listen to the child's almost certain rebuttals with patience yourself, but stand firm in your reasoning with him or her.

A parent must resist the temptation to baby such kids. A parent must use his or her wisdom of years to gently, but firmly guide a youngster into the path of right direction and insist that he or she sticks with these activities or others that might prove beneficial to the child's entire life.

As Gary Moore, the late television personality, once put it: "Deep in his heart, no child wants a forty-year old friend."

mouse traps

Write a Children's Book - 5 Steps to Get You Started Right Now

Have you ever wanted to write a children's book? Do you have a thought in mind of a great story you want to tell? It need not be a thought anymore but a reality. I will show you how to start right now with a 5step plan.

1. Think like a writer. Most successful writers of children's books have a specific way of thinking. It's very simple and you can develop this way too. It's being positive! You need to believe in yourself before anyone who reads your story can believe in it too, so believe, believe and believe some more. You can do it!

2. Set yourself a workspace with an appropriate working environment. Find yourself a quite room where you can close the door and have enough space to work with good lighting and ventilation. This isn't always easy I know, but try to find the area that is appropriate for your needs, so you're not interrupted when you're in the zone for writing. You will need your pens and paper for writing, obviously, or a computer, keyboard and mouse. It's not always necessary to have the computer at first as you can always have your manuscript typed for you but in the end you must have it typed up before approaching publishers.

3. Read and Research. Take the time to research about children's books. Get the books your children and grandchildren enjoy and read them. Why do they like them so much? Ask them. At the library, find the children's books that have been reviewed and recommended. Read them and find out what makes these books so good for the target age groups? Why have they been recommended? Is it the content? The pictures? The storylines? Ask the questions! This will help you decide how you will write your book. People may look at you funny when you're sitting in the library surrounded by children's books and getting completely involved in what you are reading. This will be a huge benefit if you do.

4. Time plan. Plan how you will use your time and set deadlines for yourself. Then follow what you have set so you accomplish your goals step by step. If you want to have your book written within a certain time frame , plan out how you will get there. Those who go all guns blazing at the beginning will generally slack off as they don't see how they will ever finish. Don't be one of them. Have an action plan.

5. Take action. Get help from an experienced children's author. Searching the internet will help you find authors of children's books who have been there and done that and are willing to share their experiences with you. You don't need to go it alone! Find someone you like and can relate to. Read some of their books. They want you to succeed so take them up on their offer.

I hope you find these 5 steps to write a children's book helpful. You should be able to take these and get stared right now. Go for it! What do you have to lose? You'll find writing for children a rewarding adventure.

playground markings

Three Ways Your Child Benefits From Reading

We all know how reading can benefit us both in our personal and business lives. When we read, we learn many things and we even have the opportunity to improve our communication skills although we may not be aware of it. The more we are exposed to correct usage of a language through the written word, we are able to imbibe such correct usage and never mind if we notice or not. It is a reality that many people have been benefiting from reading in this way whether they are aware of it or not. For children, though, reading can be a very powerful tool. A good way to start them into the habit is by having the entire family join reading groups such as the Doubleday Large Print Book Club. When kids actually get into the rhythm with reading, there are basically three ways the activity can help them.

First, we cannot deny that habitual reading makes them more likely to excel in their academics and eventually secure a good career and a lifetime of success. But we're not talking about occasional readers or comic book readers who are mostly dealing with incorrect or informal usage of a language. We are referring to those who have the opportunity to develop a love for reading so that they actually pick a worthy book themselves and just start flipping the pages without an adult or elder telling them. These are the kids who would probably want to join book clubs or collect books by themselves. Developing this habit will allow these youngsters to master the written word and with the mental processes involved in such mastery, their intellect is given just another opportunity to sharpen itself. Of course, there are other ways a child can develop his intelligence but reading is definitely one of the msot favorite accepted ways.

Second, a child who reads is a child who learns a lot. We are not only talking about books that dealt subject matter the children also discuss in school such as chemistry, biology and the like. Even reading fiction has its benefits. Through the book, a child's mind is opened to the many possibilities of life as might be presented by what he's reading. Although it would take an actual experience of things to be able to really learn from them, it cannot be denied that knowing about certain life situations ahead in fiction can make us think twice about possibly making such events happen in reality. When children read, they are exposed to different scenarios about life and somehow, when they have to go through such scenarios for real in their own lives, they will not completely new to the situation because somehow, he has gained insights from a good book that he has read.

Third, reading improves a child's writing ability. While it is easy to say that a speaker is a good one just by listening to his pronunciation and delivery, not all good speakers are good writers. Sometimes, good speakers talk but wouldn't know how to construct good written sentences. But most probably, a person who is good in writing is also good in speaking. To improve a child's writing skills, it is important to expose him to the correct and formal usage of language through the published books that he reads. This way, the kid masters the language subconsciously which is, by the way, the best method for learning anything, whether not related to language.

cheap hammocks digital kitchen scale chafing dishes

Trends and Challenges in Modern Literature

Literature Questions

The world is changing at accelerated pace. It becomes more and more like a giant stage with numerous postmodern screenplays flashing tremendously before our eyes.

You do not share this view? This is just a short reminder of the recent news:

Geneva, 10 September 2008. The first beam in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN was successfully steered around the full 27 kilometers of the world's most powerful particle accelerator at 10h28 this morning.

A European court says the idea a new supercollider project could create a "celestial vacuum" (nice name for the black hole) and eventually consume the Earth is worth discussing, but the project can move forward on schedule anyway.

We wake up each morning to a cheep 70's SF movie. Just a mirror reflections of the "state of the art" in human evolution. You have to admit it. We split the atom, the center of everything, and in so doing we created chaos.

The Contemporary Poets reflect this chaos. Postmodern literature does the same thing. Pick out the fragments. Out of the chaos, the modernists and the postmodernists pull fragments of life around them. They then leave it to the reader to put these fragments back together.

But do not let yourself think in traditional ways when addressing Modern and Postmodern literature questions. You have to be open to the experience and it will make sense! The modern author intentionally leaves the work open to the readers interpretation. Endless endings, very much like the world we are living in. Are these just a signs of new artistic tendencies or a definitive literature response to literature questions of a new, altered reality?

Literature Response

It is more and more difficult to make today's media-savvy new generations to acquire a taste in reading classic literature, given the powerful influence of movies, the Internet, and mentioned circumstances.

You can blog, phlog, vlog and podcast, all for free, and get ready, appreciative readers too. You can write and publish your own books (e-books) at a fraction of the cost of a printed book. You may say this is a bright side of life lyrics. Everybody can be a writer and writing doesn't look formidable anymore.

There are opinions that chatting on the Internet or messaging frequently over the mobile phones impair our children language skills.

Communication and language skills have actually improved with the arrival of the Internet. Basically as we chat more, be it through the net or email or mobile, so we write more, express more and somewhere the communication skills improve and fear of English, French, German, Serbian or any other language itself goes away.

Emerging Literature Trends and Technologies

Understanding symbolism of new literature medium may seem like a scary experience. First step to understanding is observation. So let's observe what are the main carriers of literature response in new Millennium.

Collaborative Writing

Wikipedia definition of Collaborative Writing (this famous web encyclopedia is an illustrative example of collaborative writing itself): "The term collaborative writing refers to projects where written works are created by multiple people together (collaboratively) rather than individually".

There is a sayings "teamwork makes the dream work". Collaborative writing can often lead to books that are richer and more complex than those produced by individuals. Having many people working on a project has added to the creative process. Also, they can be an immense support to one another.And you never know where the story is going! Endless Endings?

Start recognizing post-modernistic symbols?

Another analogy: Instead of sequential method of plotting in traditional writing, Collaborative Writing brings all means off interactivity in creative process. By using tools of communication like Internet, mobile phones, collaborative writing software etc. , the writing process is deconstructed and newly assembled, managed preferable by the group, community, even readers - the audience, rather then being solitude and selfishly controlled by one person.

Literature born from the chaos. Is it another symbol of postmodernism that we have just discovered in applied literature practice?

This is why, despite many tangible complexities related to Collaborative Writing idea, it presents respectful literature phenomenon. It is here to stay. The main challenge in the future will be how to put it in the write, "acceptable to all" context, rather than keep denying its relevance.

Self Publishing

Because of digital technology and the distribution possibilities offered by the Internet, small publishing is more feasible today than ever before. Independent voices can be affordable made available to the general reading public, providing fresh titles, both fiction and non-fiction.

However, establishing and running a small publishing house may seem like a complicated endeavor. Acquiring International Standard Book Numbers, Purchasing a unique Internet domain name for your publishing house website, Determine a niche for your publication efforts, Locating the book printer most appropriate for your needs, Contacting small press friendly book reviewers and sending attractive press kits, Visiting small press trade shows and network with other small publishers, are just few parts in the puzzle that many independent writers are not ready or not willing to deal with.

While big publishing might claim the majority of the profit margin, small publishing remains more and more alive and well among the small, entrepreneurial set.

Literature Visualization

This is a "hot term", one of those that can make you look smart in the party. However, the roots of the literature visualization reach back in the first half of the last century. We all remember "The War of the Worlds", by H. G. Wells, famous radio broadcasting, and few of you also, with nostalgia recalls the Jeff Wayne's Musical Version with such a star like Richard Burton as the narrator-protagonist.

In its broad context, the literature visualization imply all mans of different media interpretations of literature. From recorded storytelling, popular movie stars children's literature reading video sessions, end big budget movie project, over literature digitization and e-book publishing, to large international projects like it is project Gutenberg for instance. The industry of Book Teaser Videos is more and more prominent.

Another important aspect and interpretation of Literature Visualization term is related to new, novel writing techniques. Summarized in two words: "Show, don't tell". Anticipating growing aspirations of new generation of readers that attend a lot of movies and most think visually, authors tend to think of their books as of a mini-movies, with multi-dimensional characters with a definite point of view.

Social Networks Media Broadcasting and new Copyright Models

In the age of WEB 2.0, the Social Networks create a completely new medium for distributing the message to the masses.

Music Industry was the fist to acknowledge the full potential of the Internet and on line Communities. Many popular music stars and bands published their work on Internet first. They timely understood the potential of live and proximate interaction with their audience and the benefits that it brings short-term and long-terms respectively.

The same processes are developing within the literature community. The major issue of Copyrights was successfully digested by introduction of ingenious Creative Common License that offer creators a best-of-both-worlds way to protect their works while encouraging certain uses of them.

Literature is changing inexorably, following closely the global trends. For literature scholars, authors and consumers, it is important to recognize the meaning of both contemporary literature questions and symbolism of genuine literature response to new-age challenges. This new comprehension will add quality tools to our literature arsenal letting us enjoy it in various, new, exciting ways.

playground markings cheap hammocks lifting straps

Paranormal Hoaxes - Fact or Fiction?

Whether you believe paranormal events to be true or not, there is no denying that the subject matter has led to some of the most fantastic hoaxes of modern times. Coming up with a grand scheme to deceive the masses requires quite a bit of time and effort, but for the mastermind behind a hoax, it is well worth it when they are rewarded with believers willing to give them the fame and fortune they seek. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of hoaxes have taken place over time, all in an effort to dupe others into believing something that seems to defy logic. Following is an overview of two of the most famously purported paranormal hoaxes that have occurred during the last century; however, it's important to keep in mind that controversy does remain over the validity of these events, and sometimes the line between fact and fiction can be blurred.

Amityville haunting - The quaint town of Amityville, New York is located on Long Island, and is known to be a small, close-knit community of folks who treasure the peaceful atmosphere of their town. But on the night of November 13, 1974, the events that transpired were anything but peaceful. Four children, along with their parents, were brutally murdered at the hands of their oldest brother, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. Barely a year had gone by before the large colonial-style house was on the market, the scene of the crime already a fading memory. Newlyweds George and Kathy Lutz were eager to start their lives together raising their three children, and the fact that six murders had occurred in the house did not deter them from purchasing the home. Just twenty-eight days after moving in, the Lutzes fled, claiming they were being terrorized by supernatural and demonic forces at work in the home. In September 1977, not two years after leaving the home, the Lutzes shared their experiences through Jay Anson's book, The Amityville Horror.

The "true story," though immensely popular, was immediately met with criticism from people familiar with the home and the details surrounding the DeFeo murders, the grounds upon which the subsequent paranormal aspect had been formed. Though the debate continues to this day over the accuracy of the Lutzes' claims, the most popularly held belief is that the events detailed in Anson's book are part of a hoax created by the Lutzes for monetary gain and celebrity appeal. Whether the events were fabricated or real remains a mystery in the eyes of many, but the Amityville story is undoubtedly regarded as one of the most well-known hauntings, and hoaxes, of the 20th> century.

The Fox Sisters - In 1848, sisters Kate, Leah, and Margaret Fox became instant celebrities when they began communicating with the dead. Living in a house supposedly serving as the burial site of a murder victim substantiated these claims of spiritual communication, and the series of raps and knockings that could be heard in response to the girls' questions were immediately assumed to be coming from beyond the grave. People from all over the girls' hometown of Hydesville, New York came to witness the phenomenon, and soon people from all over the state and country arrived to see for themselves. The sisters became famous, holding public séances, serving as mediums between the living and dead, and playing key roles in the growing Spiritual movement. From the beginning, however, there were doubters who believed that the communication was nothing more than a hoax, and that the rappings and knockings were somehow created by the girls themselves. Years later, Margaret made a startling confession; she claimed that the spiritual communication had been part of a scheme, and that she was responsible for the noises. Skeptics reacted knowingly, but others didn't buy it. Believers had faith in the possibility of mediums at work and were convinced that communication between this world and the next was possible. Unfortunately for the sisters, their lives ended tragically, marred by alcohol, poverty, and depression. But their legacy lives on in the resulting Spiritual movement that they played an integral role in.

Crop circles - With their intricate patterns and mysterious origins, crop circles have prevailed as one of the most intriguing occurrences over the past two decades. Usually done in the shadows of night, crop circles range in size and pattern and have occurred all over the globe. People first began taking note of these perplexing formations during the 1970s as they began popping up all over England before spreading to the U.S., Canada, and Russia. One of the most puzzling features of crop circles is the complexity of the geometric patterns which characterize them. Many of the circles are much more than their name implies, with designs that are so accurate and symmetrical that it seems virtually impossible that any human could have created them. Additionally, the large sizes of most of the crop circles also lend credit to the belief that these patterns could not possibly be manmade. Perhaps the most mysterious circumstance surrounding the circles, however, is that they are done in the cover of night and with uncanny speed. Unwitting farmers go to bed after a long day at work and wake up to find that the very same field they had been working in the previous day now has an extraordinary array of circles and other designs! Indeed, crop circles appear to be the result of paranormal forces at work; however, most cases have been proven to be the work of men. Most reports say that the circles we have been so mystified by over the years stem from the idea of two bored Englishmen itching to pull a prank. With a little rope, wire, wooden planks, and a whole lot of ingenuity, these two men were able to flatten portions of wheat fields into creative patterns across Britain, reveling in the surprise of their fellow citizens in the morning. Word spread, and soon people around the world were reporting their own crop circles and offering explanations ranging from UFOs, wind vortexes, ball lightening, or yes, even a grand hoax. In spite of the compelling evidence that the phenomenon is nothing more than a prank, crop circles continue to spring up today in all corners of the globe, continuing the debate between paranormal believers and those who view the events as nothing more than manmade.

Paranormal activity has always been a controversial issue, with sound arguments from believers and non-believers both. Unfortunately for those who strongly believe in supernatural events, there is a continuing backlash that various hoaxes, or supposed hoaxes, have caused over the years. A great example of this is shown by the story of the Fox sisters. When the girls' claims of spiritual communication were disputed, the unquestioning belief that many had in supernatural events was challenged, creating a backlash that paranormal believers struggle with to this day.

You can learn more about paranormal events, supernatural hoaxes, and specifically, the Fox sisters and their claims of ghostly communication in "In Search of White Crows," just one of the chapters from the fascinating documentary "Visions," True Stories of the Supernatural produced by Ad-Hoc productions.

digital kitchen scale playground markings chafing dishes

Positive Thinking - It's Not in the Self-Help Section

Some people never consider where to obtain the most positive reading. It isn't in the self-help or psychology shelves of your favorite bookstore. It's in the children's section.

Want to find out how to play nicely and get along with others?
Read a children's book.

Want to learn how to have meaningful and respectful relationships? You guessed it.
Pick up a children's book!

What is it about relationships anyway? Don't people want be happy, have more meaningful relationships and feel a sense of calm in a world where chronic anxiety is at an all-time high? The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, defines relationships as "a state of connectedness between people". So why do we often feel so disconnected, so negative, so unrelated? What can we do to change our train of thought and enable ourselves to make the choice to live positively and make the most out of our relationships and our lives? There's a simple answer - it's a matter of going back to basics.

In this ever changing, high tech world, we all stall from time to time and that's because technology makes it easy for us to function without putting out very much effort. However, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually this isn't possible. There is no technical miracle that will help us to enrich our lives, issues and relationships. Whether it's a weight control issue, a friend/family oriented obstacle, work related problem or something as simple as adding another mile onto the morning jog, none of us is exempt from stalling therefore, we need a coping mechanism. Some experts suggest visualization, hypnosis, journal writing, and daily affirmations to get us though these moments. My suggestion to those who have tried these options without success is to open their minds and a children's book!

Consider the motivating classics like "Oh the Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss, or The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper. How many people do you know still recite the phrase, "I think I can, I think I can"? Guilty as charged.

Patrick Wanis, Author, Human Behavior Expert and Life Coach, puts it simply in his book entitled "How to Get What You Want":

"When you change a limiting, negative belief into a positive belief you are changing the dynamics of your inner vibration, your energy. Change your beliefs and you change your reality."

A children's story allows us the possibility to change our reality because of the automatic suspension of disbelief - there is no fluff or psycho-babble to camouflage the message. More importantly, because we know that what we are reading is fiction, we naturally suspend our skepticism, cynicism and doubt. We become open to the message. We become open to change.

Therefore the piece to the puzzle of positive thinking, positive loving and positive living can be in a single word, a single thought, a single choice and it also just may be in children's book.

braun 360