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No longer on the river and, again, an empty nester. Back to living on Fleming Island and making some more friends!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

The Power of Thank You


From my friend and fellow Board Member, Patricia:

In the spirit of Thanksgiving this week I'd love to share with you the benefits and power of two simple words. "THANK YOU."

They are two words that have the power to transform our health, happiness, athletic performance and success. Research shows that grateful people are happier and more likely to maintain good friendships. A state of gratitude, according to research by the Institute of HeartMath, also improves the heart's rhythmic functioning, which helps us to reduce stress, think more clearly under pressure and heal physically. It's actually physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time. When you are grateful you flood your body and brain with emotions and endorphins that uplift and energize you rather than the stress hormones that drain you.

Gratitude and appreciation are also essential for a healthy work environment. In fact, the number one reason why people leave their jobs is because they don't feel appreciated. A simple thank you and a show of appreciation can make all the difference.

Gratitude is like muscle. The more we do with it the stronger it gets. In this spirit here are 5 ways to practice Thanksgiving every day of the year.

1. Take a Daily Thank You Walk - I started this practice 15 years ago and it changed my life. Take a simple 10-30 minute walk each day and say out loud what you are thankful for. This will set you up for a positive day. I wrote more about this in The Positive Dog.

2. Meal Time Thank You's - On Thanksgiving, or just at dinner with your friends and family, go around the table and have each person, including the kids at the little table, say what they are thankful for.

3. Gratitude Visit - Martin Seligman, Ph.D., the father of positive psychology, suggests that we write a letter expressing our gratitude to someone. Then we visit this person and read them the letter. His research shows that people who do this are measurably happier and less depressed a month later.

4. Say Thank You at Work - When Doug Conant was the CEO of Campbell Soup he wrote approximately 30,000 thank you notes to his employees and energized the company in the process. Energize and engage your co-workers and team by letting them know you are grateful for them and their work. Organizations spend billions of dollars collectively on recognition programs but the best and cheapest recognition program of all consists of a sincere THANK YOU. And of course don't forget to say thank you to your clients and customers too.

5. Say Thank you and Goodnight – At bedtime reflect on your day, identify and share all that you are thankful for. 

Thursday, November 3, 2016

A wild trip for me

This posting popped up in my Facebook Memories and I sure don't remember doing it. Now when these type of things show up on the wall I ignore them. It was fun/interesting/flattering/touching to read these comments posted back in 2009. I sure do hope to still measure up...I have deleted all the last names to protect the posters. 

If you are reading this, whether we do or don't speak often, please post a comment of the first memory of you and me that pops into your head. When you've finished, post this paragraph on your own status. You'll be surprised what people remember about you...This might be opening a can of worms here, but have at it, folks!
Top of Form

Marcia The very first time I meet you was when Marian and Biff first moved to Florida, Marian came back to WI for some doings with the family and on one of the days after I went to visit her at her parents and she introduced me to you. I thought you were a very nice person and very friendly. Then years later (2009) I find out the you are a very good friend of Linda M. from WI which is a cousin to my husband.

Terri I don't remember the first time I met you but all I know is you bring joy and laughter to everyone so thank you for that!

Linda The first thing I remember is you as a young girl sitting in church with your whole family, I remember thinking what fun it would be to have that many sisters! Now I do!!!

Kim Lahaie Day Oh, guys! Marcia, that would have been in about 1985-86....and now we have reconnected. Terri, I don't remember either, when we first met, but thanks for the kind words!! You are one of the loveliest ladies I ever met!

Kim Lahaie Day Linda, my dear, my sister! Now you do know what it is like to have a mess of sisters!!!!

Susan  Oh Kim, I have so many wonderful memories. A funny one was when my Mom wanted me to start wearing a bra and I wouldn't. I was telling you about it and you showed me yours. I figured if you could do it so could I, so I had to run home and get mine on!

Kim Lahaie Day When I see you again, I promise to show you my bra!!!!

Amanda The first memory I have of you is you running after Justin on the playground at Good Shepherd and yelling “Lamby wait for mommy.” :o)

Susan I remember all the fun games we played. Kick the can, red rover, statues. The thing that was funny and STUPID was riding our bikes down the street with our eyes closed!!!!!

Kim Lahaie Day "Lamby!"....oh, Amanda, you must have been a little girl yourself yet!

Amanda  Yes, Kim I was but I remember it like yesterday!

Susan Oh is this supposed to be my first memory?!?! I was too little to remember! All I know is I was very lucky to have you as my childhood friend. would head down 19th street as soon as my Mom would let me. Some other memories..going into your Dad's workshop. Still love the smell of cut lumber. You and I made a good team to ward off any neighbor kids who were mad at one of us!

Linda M I remember your huge smile in high school. You always had a huge purse and wore maxi dresses which were not popular at the time. You were the closest thing to having Janis Joplin walking in our halls.
One day you were walking down the hall and somebody commented about this huge chandelier earring you were wearing, asking why you were only wearing one. You said "because I only have one ear pierced!!"

Susan  Linda, that is definitely a ‘Kim’ answer!

Kim Lahaie Day Oh you guys.....you are too much!

Linda M  She drove a hearse!! She was my hero!!
Sue, I still don't like wearing a bra!!

Kim Lahaie Day I don't know if I drove the hearse but I certainly did ride around in it! Susie may have too, although I am not sure.....

Susan  I’m with you on the bra bit Linda! I loved it in the halter top era. Unfortunately now I could not do the halter top era!

Linda M Well, you arrived in a hearse!!!! That’s riding in style!

Kim Lahaie Day Susie, the hearse Linda M. is referring to is the one Willy Kangas drove. The other Suzy and I would ride around with him, through "town" or wherever we wanted to go. Once at the light by Kresge's, we threw the doors open and jumped out, freaking out the cars waiting at the light....good times!!! I wore my blue fedora, way way ahead of my time!

Anna  I remember the first time I talked to you. I called to see if there were room for Amanda at the pre-school and you answered the phone. I can still remember how positive you were about the school and Ms. Deb and I knew then that I would not find a better place for Amanda to go to pre-school. Not only did I find a great school for her, but I also found a wonderful place to attend church at. If you had not been there that day, we might have missed out on a lot me and my girls. Thanks!!!!

Kim Lahaie Day Oh, Anna!!!! You blew me away with that. I don't know what to say, except, that is the way the Lord works! I am so glad to have you in my life and part of my church family!!!

Carole  well, let me see, it was at Cindy's house - scrapbooking - you and Martie kept me entertained - made me feel right at home. Thanks!

Kim Lahaie Day Oh, those were the days, weren't they, Carole????

Bonnie  I met Kim during my junior year at MLHS. Since I went to WHS for my first two years I didn't know many people. Kim stood out as being different from the rest, because she was instantly and unconditional a friend...no questions asked. Being a new kid in the school, that was very memorable. Glad we've been able to reconnect.

Kim Lahaie Day What a wonderful sentiment, Bonnie! Thank you for saying what you did....I hope I am the same now as I was then, or it will give me something for which to strive, at least!
I am also glad to reconnect! Thank God for Facebook, right?

Darlene  Let's see...over 40 years ago. Sitting in 4th grade class, no one talking to me cuz' I was the new kid. Cept' you Kim, asking me to play at recess. That started a long and beautiful friendship. Did I tell you I met the guy that lives in my house at Mishicot and he invited me over to see what it looked like now? The shed is still there and I told him how we use to climb up there. "Angel of the Morning"

Darla  Look at your responses...and it was supposed to be one word? OH HOW NEAT is that?

My one-liner would be: Very cool lady, lots of energy and loves God and her family...

Peggy  Kim, I just remember you being happy all the time when we went to FG. I had to laugh---my brother and sister also rode in that hearse and my Mom would get so mad when Wally pulled up in front of the house to pick them up...

Kim Lahaie Day Dolly! You had to mention the 40+ years ago....great fond memories of our time together. I wonder what it would take to get us up on the shed again...dynamite!

Hi Darla! This is so much fun, tripping down memory lane, stumbling more like it! Thanks for the compliments!!

Peggy, I think I do remember your siblings being in the hearse but not specifically. We ran all over creation with that car, even went to the outdoor in it!!! Willy (Wally) lived down the street from us growing up. Was this Nancy who rode in the hearse, and who else???

Peggy Yes, Nancy and Dave

Kim Lahaie Day I always liked David, you know. The secret is out!

Peggy  I will have to let him know the next time I see him.

Diane  I can say we were in class together in grade school at First German. I remember spending many a night at your house.
Your parents speaking pig Latin so you couldn't understand. But I knew what they said. I think it was something about pie for dessert.

Diane  I'm pretty sure David liked me :).

Carol  It was at Cindy Ritchotte's house - scrapbooking. I'm sure I heard you laugh before I actually met you. You were probably wearing a bright color (red?). Thinking of you, Kim, always makes me smile!

Kim Lahaie Day Dee Dee: What a funny recollection about the pig Latin---who knew I grew up in a multi-lingual household! 

Carol, my dear: others have said they hear me before they see but you heard me before you met me! Did it sound like Roseanne??? Thanks for the compliment, Carol!

Cindy   Good times, fun crops. Do you remember the Mudslides?

Kim Lahaie Day Oh, my gosh, Cindy! I did not until you reminded me! Paul is the best mudslide maker in the world!