Do yourself a favor.  Every time a negative thought tries to creep into your head, stop what you are doing, and say “I am not going to think like that.” 

When we find ourselves in a bad situation, we need to identify how we got there.  Why?  So we don’t repeat ourselves and end up there again. 

People tend to go back to situations that are comfortable.  It doesn’t make it a good idea.  If you want to really improve your life and live your best life, you have to be willing to change how you approach things.  You have to take chances.  You have to believe that you are worth it.  Even more important, you have to believe that changing you for the good, will be the best gift you could ever give your family and friends.  Lose the negative thinking….if you are after a positive result.  I know you can do it!  You are amazing!  Believe it! “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Do you have an open mind to learn new things?  There are many things that we are confronted with each day.  Some good and some not so great.  No one has all of the answers to get positive outcomes.  Sometimes it is a trial and error process.

There is no magic to success.  You just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and have a goal. 

Make your goals achievable by breaking your main goal into smaller steps, and take one step at a time. 

Pick something you are passionate about, and it won’t be like work.  You will be doing things that matter each day, because it serves a purpose.  You just have to be willing to learn.

You can do more than you think.  Believe it!  “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Let’s make “not complaining” be today’s goal.  Can you do it?  Of course you can…if you choose to.

Changing our behavior is a challenge.  It takes effort for sure, but it also is a choice.  It is often convenient to hang on to the old behaviors we have.  They are comfortable and we can relate to them.

When we choose to make changes, no matter how small, we open up a whole new world of possibilities.  We can learn more about ourselves and teach our family members, our children, and their children (no matter what age they are), that they can also change their behavior, when we lead by example.

Be the example.  Stop complaining…today…maybe you can last longer than 24 hours!  Let me know how you do!  “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Most of us have some difficulty thinking that what we do matters.   Whether you are a stay at home Mom or Dad, or you work at a job that you feel is pretty routine, never underestimate what you do each and every day.

You may not be where you want to be yet.  You may have hopes and dreams that have nothing to do with your current job.  That is a great thing.  Push yourself towards those goals every day.  Believe that you have what it takes.  Forget the past struggles and failures.  Don’t let yourself dwell on those things.  We all have days when we feel like life is handing us too much. 

Stress is something we can all relate to.  Some stress is natural.  But if you can reduce your stress by avoiding certain people, changing your attitude, or just simply moving on, you need to think about that.  With less stress you can be more productive and you will have a greater chance to reach your goals.

Take the next few days to decide what you do that is amazing…give yourself a pat on the back, if no one else will!  You have unlimited possibilities, regardless of your age or where you find yourself today.

You really ARE amazing.  Believe it.  “Now, let’s get going” xo Sally

Sometimes being MAD is a good thing.  When we get “charged up” and focused, sometimes even frustrated…productivity can result.

Let’s think about what gets us motivated.  Put yourself in the position of being able to make a difference.  Don’t sit on the sidelines.  Get engaged in your best life.

Know that you have the power to get out there and be a light in this world.  We all have that capability…you just have to move from thinking about it to doing something about it.

Believe that you have a gift to give to others, because you do.  You are amazing.  If you ever need to be reminded of that, just give me a call and I will remind you!  “Now, let’s get going” xo Sally

A few months ago I had the pleasure of attending a presentation given by Anne Curtis, MA, RDT, CTSS (Drama Therapist) and Anissa Mitchell, LCSW (Social Worker). They have a very creative approach to their Parkinsons Disease Support Group at the Florida Hospital. Their Drama Therapy based intervention was featured recently at the North American Drama Therapy Association's Conference and the World Parkinsons Congress. 

They incorporate drama, fun, creativity, music, singing and movement in each session they have.  So, instead of focusing on the disease and the problems that the patients and caregivers have, they tend to focus on removing the conventional approach to the support group, and replace it with so much alternative activity, that the participants forget they have Parkinsons, and their caregivers forget about being caregivers.  They just have fun.  Would this approach work for all types of support groups?  Absolutely!  Their example is with Parkinsons Patients, but the approach would work for other support groups, as well.

Their information is outlined below:

CHEER>UP stands for: Creativity, Humor, Education, Encouragement, Resilience and a Greater Understanding of Parkinson’s.  Led by Drama Therapist, Anne Curtis, RDT and Parkinson’s social worker, Anissa Mitchell, LCSW, CHEER>UP is a drama-therapy intervention to improve the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients and caregivers.

CHEER>UP implements the therapeutic model, TraumaDrama, that harnesses metaphor, drama and humor to address Parkinson’s issues related to mind, body and spirit.

CHEER>UP sessions target specific “living well with Parkinson’s” objectives using drama activities including breathing exercises, vocal practice, movement, pantomime, dance, singing, improvisational comedy and more.

CHEER>UP uses Creative Drama and Arts techniques to address disease-specific physical & psycho social issues by:

• Improving the voice
• Developing good posture and balance
• Practicing stress reduction techniques
• Enhancing communication skills-verbal/nonverbal
• Stimulating the brain to improve cognitive function
• Harnessing the healing power of laughter to enhance mood
• Rehearsing techniques to change emotions and manage depression
• Providing ways to express difficult emotions
• Building resilience skills
• Sharing creativity to connect socially & diminish isolation
• And much more!

For further information about this program, contact Anissa Mitchell, LCSW at the Florida Hospital Parkinson Outreach Center, 407-303-5295.  

What are you waiting for? People say it all the time. Stepping outside of our comfort zone is not easy or comfortable. In fact it can be scary. It is not easy to move on.

But “moving on” takes you places. If you are in a bad relationship, you need to move on. If you stop short of quitting the job you dislike, for fear of losing the security you feel, you need to move on.

Every day that you sit and wait for something magically to happen to change your present circumstances, is one more day that you have to realize that change is waiting for YOU.

You are the key to your change. You have to get up every morning and realize that it is all up to you.

Start out with a feeling of gratitude. Every morning you need to thank your lucky stars that your eyes opened, you are in good health and that you have options to pursue. Some people are not as lucky.

For some, getting out of bed is difficult. Getting dressed requires assistance. Moving is hard to do, but it’s worth it. Don’t wait around! Make something happen today! “Now, let’s get going” xo Sally

Think about what you are doing.  Think about where you are going.  Think about what you want to change!  Are you following your heart's desire?  Are you living a life that has purpose and excites you?

Take the next few days to explore your options.  You have them, whether you know it or not, and whether you believe it or not!

What are you trying to achieve?  Are you looking for ways to make your life better?  Are you actively seeking out groups or individuals that you can mentor with and learn from?

It all takes energy, and there is no “quick fix” to getting you where you want to be.  It takes faith and determination.  We all get tired.  Your desire has to be stronger than your fatigue.

Nourish YOU!  Start working on better eating habits and figure out a way for you to fit some positive exercise into your routine.  If you don’t take care of yourself you won’t enjoy the fruits of your labor!  So follow your heart and remember to take your brain with you! 

Tell us what you are working on.  What have you learned in the process?  We are here to support you.  You can do this!  You are amazing!  “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

While you are going through your day, it’s best to do the right thing.  Whether it is popular or not, or not what others want you to do, you need to sleep with a clear conscious every night your head hits the pillow. 

You need to be true to yourself. Being brave may not feel easy.  When we have to dig deep and show strength, whether we feel strong or not, the sheer fact of being successful doing the right thing, reinforces us to continue.  It helps us develop strength.

Some people just make it look easy.  Being brave develops over time.  It is based on your conviction of what you know to be right and true for you.  Standing up for yourself is important, but know what you stand for and why.  Don’t be the person that talks a good game but does nothing.

You will benefit from the process.  If you don’t feel very brave right now, work on developing that skill.  You can do it.  You are amazing.  You have to believe that!

                                                                           “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally

What is happening to you on your journey through life? 

How often have you experienced things on that journey that you were grateful for?  How about not so excited?

Life is unpredictable.  We cannot always know what is best for us as we go along on our journey, but we certainly learn as we go. 

Never underestimate the power of the good times and the rough times, when we stumble.

What you think you need at certain times in your life, you learn from.  If you learn that what you thought was going to be amazing did not turn out the way you planned, you may have been hoping for more to come from the situation than was realistic.  Learn from experience.  Experience is often the best teacher.

We all stumble and sometimes fall, but never stop getting back up.  Spend the next few days reexamining You.  Where do you want to go from here?

Your goals are worth it.  You are worth it.  Believe that you have what it takes to have an excellent life. “Now let’s get going!”  xo Sally