November 15

It is hard to get rid of old habits if you are constantly surrounded by the same old, same old.  Get away for a weekend or take a long walk.


I would love to be able to leave at the drop of a hat but unfortunately, I cannot.  This is a lifelong dream of mine that I hope to fulfill someday: moving from place to place and seeing the world.  In today's world, though, it is fortunate that we can escape through videos, pictures, and movies available on the Internet.  Sometimes I watch videos of certain parks in England, because I miss Great Britain so much.  Every once in a while, I think you should research your favorite place in the world.  Or better yet, move there.
AMANDA

My dream career would involve creating my own work schedule and traveling the world.  However, now I cannot just abandon my work. :( Books and movies are my escapes of choice. I love to explore my dream destinations online, but sometimes I get sad that I can't go there right away. I have always dreamed of going to Japan, India, Australia, and Greece. Another escape of mine is going to museums. I get lost in the long hallways filled with inspiration. The works of art transport me to another time and I can imagine that I am with the artist. Even if you cannot find the means or just don't have the time to travel to your dream destinations and escape your hectic life, you can surely find refuge of some sort in whatever appeals to you.

xx Brie

November 14

To avoid getting too stressed, breathe in deeply.  Try to do this every hour.


I have always used this strategy whenever I am getting freaked out.  Breathing slowly through your nose is also a great way to avoid choking.  Sometimes, you feel yourself ready to cough and choke in the middle of a silent room.  Breathe deeply through your nose and you will be okay (unless there is actually something lodged in your throat in which case, don't take my advice; my CPR certificate has been expired for six years now). Anyway, this strategy also works whenever you are getting ready to do some scary like giving a presentation or getting an injection (ahem...Brie).
AMANDA

Well, excuse me for having a fear of injections! :) I have really honed my deep breathing through daily meditation, and I try to do a few exercises during times of great stress. The deep breathing is great during times of extreme stress or anxiety, as it can help slow down the heart rate relatively quickly. Also, if you practice deep breathing throughout your day, try to relax your muscles as sell. This way, they will have less of a chance of becoming knotted and sore. I know for me, personally, being hunched over my work all day can really hurt my back and shoulders. Though these techniques are simple, I find that they are very effective in managing my stress.

xx Brie

November 13

Never let yourself be bullied.


Unfortunately, I don't think you can always prevent bullying.  Your boss will bully you, the government will bully you, officers will bully you, and teachers will bully kids.  Bullies cannot operate without some degree of control over you.  However, this is no reason to let a partner, stranger, or friend take advantage of you.  Realize that you are awesome and don't need anything from them!
AMANDA

While you cannot prevent bullying, certainly do not put up with it. Stand up for yourself! Also, if you see someone else being bullied, don't be a bystander! That person might not be as strong as you; they might not be able to stand up for themselves. Just remember that while you may not be able to stop a bully, you are better than them. You can rise above the mean intentions behind their actions and choose to be a positive influence in the lives of those around you.

xx Brie

November 12

Whenever anyone does something particularly mean or irritating, don't let it go to waste!  Remember how annoying it is and know never to act like that!


So right now in my life someone is attempting to make me feel really guilty.  God, I hate guilt trips.  They never work with me; the person trying it always just gets on my nerves more.  When someone has wronged you, I feel you have two choices. 1. Forgive them and move on or 2. Ask for an apology because you feel like you really deserve one.  I hate the half assed, whiny option.  I have learned by my present experience, however, that I should never try the guilt trip method as it is incredibly irritating and unsuccessful.
AMANDA

I think 'treat others the way you want to be treated' really rings true here. When someone makes me feel so horrible, I never want to make someone else go through what I did. That motivates me to be the best person I can be. Whenever my parents did something I don't agree with or something that upset me, I made a promise to myself to never put my children through that (if I have any). If we can all recall the birthday fiasco when my family completely ignored my birthday, so I ended up sitting in my house all day crying, I resolved to always make my friends' or future children's birthdays special.

xx Brie

November 11

Even if you have made some bad decisions in the past, what matters is that you choose to make the right decisions today and in the future. Every day is a new day.

Today I am going to give myself permission to let go of regrets and remorse over things that I am not proud or happy that I have done in the past. I acknowledge that it does not benefit me to carry around the guilt and the weight of those memories. I choose to hold on and cherish happy memories instead of dwelling on the unpleasant ones. Today is a chance to create for yourself a new, fresh start. No time like the present!

xx Brie

P.S. here is one of my favorite affirmations: I am the creator of my destiny and I create my destiny daily. I am fulfilled, content, and alive, and I love my life.


I just got back from a rather stressful family visit.  I am in that travel haze where I don't know what time it is or what is going on.  I really just want to unpack and eat Doritos.  However, I am going to refrain from the latter because I need to eat something healthy after shoveling in junk food all weekend (I managed to eat an entire pizza!).  As for the above message: pretty much what Brie said, I mean I really felt like that covered it!
AMANDA

November 10

Sit in silence for at least five minutes and discover something about yourself.


Sorry, no time!  I am going out to dinner with my cousin tonight and I am leaving town tomorrow.  However, I will still try to sit down before I go to bed to contemplate my existence or whatever.  Still, I can apply some happy on purpose principles to this weekend.  For instance, even though I am visiting family, I am going to keep a positive attitude and not get stressed.  Likewise, I am not going to throw away the entire weekend with junk food and laziness because I have tons of work to do.
AMANDA

I couldn't get complete silence because my dog was snoring as he was sleeping next to me. :) I try to sit in silence and meditate every day if I can. Today the feelings I had while sitting in silence were: conflicted, frustrated, and anxious. But on the bright side I was also excited for the long weekend. There is a used book sale tomorrow! Yay! Let's see how much money I can spend... and how many books I can carry at one time! :) While sitting quietly I also realized that I am very, very tired, as I almost fell asleep.

xx Brie

November 9

Whether you think so or not, you have had a profound, positive impact on other people's lives.


It is easy to think about ways that other people have influenced your life, but what about your influence on other people's lives?  This is a bit harder.  One time my friend told me that she was really racist before she met me.  My sister once told me (or rather told a rude guy we were having dinner with in France) that I was the most driven person she knew.  My mom told me that I was her hero.  I am not trying to throw a "look how cool Amanda is party" (that is scheduled for next Tuesday) but rather to remind myself that I am not a totally invisible entity.  I will always be able to remind myself of these amazing things that people have said to me whenever I feel small.  My advice would be to make a list of the nicest things that people have ever said to you and remind yourself of the list whenever you feel dejected.
AMANDA

I love your list suggestion, Amanda! We could even hang our lists somewhere that we would always be able to see them. By the way, when is my invitation for your "look how cool Amanda is party"? Is it in the mail?
Lately, I have been thinking about how much others influence my life. I always feel that I care way more about some of the people in my life than they do about me. (This does not include you, Amanda). :) It never occurs to me that I may just be as special to them as they are to me. The nicest things that people have ever said to me that stand out the most are:
1. When a family friend told me that I reminded them of Audrey Hepburn
2. When my aunt told me that my views were very worldly
3. When my cousin did her school report on the person that she admires the most about me

xx Brie