ABC Feelings "newsE-letter"
Volume I, Issue
http://www.abcfeelings.com 800.745.3170 fax:
208.772.0411
Welcome to the ABC Feelings
newsE-letter. This is our way of keeping
in touch with the friends of ABC Feelings, sharing thoughts and feelings, quips & quotes,
featured books & movies, snack ideas, attitude of the month, special links
to keep you informed, poetry--whatever we think might interest you. We welcome your feedback, ideas--anything
you'd like to share with us.
In this issue you'll discover:
The
Attitude Hour
The
Feelings of January
Lumps
of Love--how to order
The
Attitude for the Month of January
News
Update on Stress
A Case
Study, the power of a belief
Featured
Movie
Words
of Wisdom from Great Teachers
Comments
from an ABC Feelings Fan
Comments
& Book Recommendation on Discipline
Calendar
for Dr. Delis-Abrams, "the attitude doc"
Friends
of Peace Pilgrim
What to
do if you no longer wish to subscribe
The 'Attitude Hour'
The
new radio call-in program for young people--'The Attitude Hour', hosted by our
own 'Attitude Doc', Alexandra Delis-Abrams, can be heard by connecting to the
web at http://www.nabcinc.com or by tuning into KFNX, Phoenix, or WALE, Providence,
Rhode Island. The birth of the new show
AND the birth of the 'Attitude Doc' herself, is on January 14, from
Happy Birthday Alexandra!
You give the world so much JOY, through your presence and wisdom.
The Feelings of January
January--the
start of a new year, and the potential to create anything you want of it! Many start the new year
with goals for the future and plans to change things in their lives from the
past. Perhaps you've set a goal for
weight loss, to make more money, to make a job change. All of these represent our human desire for
positive change and positive new direction. Have you ever set a goal at the
beginning of the year, but failed to attain it? How did that make you
feel? Here's a thought. How about learning 'acceptance' of self in
2002? You are a unique and fantastic
being. You carry a necessary key to
unlock the future potential of growth and positive direction on this
planet. The more you can begin to
recognize your worth and accept yourself as you are, the more you will begin to
enjoy your life each and every day. In
an article written by Alexandra, our in-resident 'attitude doc', she claims "When
each one of us commits to the unfoldment of our potential, releasing forever,
the victim/self-pity identity, our life experience becomes a most amazing and
miraculous adventure. As a result our
family reflects our inner harmony and peace, our community is united through
support and kindness, our nation is a people honoring our Oneness, our Mother
Earth is respected and loved as the giver of life and the universe is
recognized as the source of intelligence. . ." Honor yourself this year by accepting your
worth and value to the planet--just as you are. Consider writing a list in your
journal this year of all of your attributes, rather than a list of faults, or
things you would change about yourself.
Read that list every day you can this year! You'll be amazed at your own personal growth
through this exercise. All other 'problems' will be adjusted according to your
ability to honor your feelings and accept how valuable you really are. Your actions will begin to reflect your
opinion of yourself. YOU are GREAT! Can you feel that?
Relevant WISDOM FROM A GREAT
TEACHER--
"Accepting
something does not mean refusing to change it.
In fact, the opposite is true.
You cannot change that which you do not accept--in yourself especially,
and outside of yourself as well." From
"Friendship with God" by Neale Donald Walsh
ATTITUDE OF THE MONTH
Do you think we can call creativity an attitude? With the right frame of mind--the right
attitude, we become more involved in the creative process, so for this month's
newsletter, we're going to refer to 'creativity' as our 'attitude of the month'.
Wouldn't it be
great if you woke up every morning conscious of your direct connection to your
creative flow? If you knew the solutions to the problems that plague you, you
never got writer's block, and your ability to create was nothing short of that
of Van Gogh or Mozart? Even if your
heart's desire is to create a cleverly crocheted cover for every manhole in
Creativity, in a
myriad of forms, is available to each of us from the moment we are born. Our children begin to fashion their
environment into unique patterns at each level of their growth. One of the greatest acts of your parenting
will be to let your children create what is within them throughout the years of
their growth with you. (sometimes this will mean dedicating a refrigerator door or
living room wall to their endeavors). Our
tendency as parents, to give our children the latest sophisticated toy(s), the
most popular video game, and the most clever art supplies available may be
costing our children their creativity.
Guess what--without even one of the toys or tools we bestow on our
children, they will create. If we encourage our children to problem solve and
create out of what is available to them, they learn to be resourceful and
independent individuals as adults. They
will also have the additional benefit of overcoming boredom through their own
skill and choice. While I can't draw a
direct correlation, it is interesting to note, that when my son didn't have
cable television, he was #1 in his age group in reading. Now that we have direct tv,
reading has become a secondary interest.
TV, videos and space-age gadgets do it all FOR our kids. Once a manufactured toy is put together
(generally they arrive put together, but let's assume they don't in some
cases), what's to think about? What's to
create? Often, that toy or gadget goes
in the pile with the other lost interests.
However, if your child designs a paper plane, puts it all together, and
flies it--even if it heads south after the first toss, she or he will have
experienced the satisfaction of personal creativity. And when she pulls the paper clip off the
nose of the plane and it dips, then cruises north to
the heavens, your child will have demonstrated the ability to problem
solve. This is crucial to healthy child
development. As an experiment, turn off the
tv, give your child (age doesn't matter) a piece of
paper, a plain cardboard box, a paper towel roll, etc. Ask him/her to make whatever comes to
mind. Just sit back and see what becomes
of it. Don't be surprised if you hear
"I can't think of anything" or "This is boring." Or even
"This is stupid". Encouraging
children to think, to get quiet with themselves, and to process solutions,
keeps them in touch with creative potential.
You may discover that you're the parent of a young author, a seamstress,
a builder, or an artist. Whatever it is,
you can be sure you have helped to keep your child in touch with an aspect of
him/her self, that will be a friend to them forever--an unbroken connection
with their creative flow.
News Update: According to a recent
article in the newsletter published by The American
CASE STUDY--The power of a belief was made
clear when a 21 year-old anorexia client had a belief that the only thing she
could do better than her sister was get thinner. She discovered that the type of person who
held that belief was someone with very low self-esteem. Parents, acknowledge your children. Let them know they are each gifted with their
own uniqueness--they are each special in their own way--each with their own
purpose on the planet. Negative beliefs
can sabotage the physical body, as well as one's entire life. We DO have the power to choose our
thoughts--and it starts with taking responsibility.
JANUARY'S FEATURED MOVIE
This month,
treat yourself to the new movie, "A Beautiful Mind". Alexandra says it is a "don't miss"
film--an incredible tribute to the power of the mind as well as the power of
LOVE"
Available from our secure web site or
by calling our toll free # 800.745.3170, you can begin introducing your
children (ages 3 and up) to their wonderful world of feelings. You'll be grateful that you did as you watch
them grow and gain a more solid character foundation. CLICK HERE
http://www.abcfeelings.com/books.htm to order your copy (we combine shipping
costs on multiple item orders, so ignore what it shows on your order
total!). If you prefer, you can download
the order information and fax it to 208.762.3177 or call our toll free number.
More WISDOM FROM GREAT TEACHERS
Socrates
469-399 B.C.
"The unexamined life is
not worth living."
Plato,
Apology, 38a
We are always grateful to discover, rediscover, and share timeless
quotes from some of the world's greatest teachers. We invite you to share a quote that has meant
something to you over the years or today.
Positive feedback from a
visitor of the ABC Feelings Web Site!
"Thank you for giving us a web-site so in touch with our
feelings. I am (34) thirty-fours years old and all my
life I have been suffering from low-self-esteem. . . God
bless you for this web-site and I know I am on my way to recovery."
(We do not print
the name of those who send in their comments, unless they ask us to do so, as a
measure to honor their privacy.)
Comments & Book Recommendation on Discipline
We
have the intention of bringing more extensive information to you regarding
discipline, but in the meantime, Dr. Alexandra recommends "Positive Discipline" by Jane Nelson, Ed.D. Discipline
is always a great topic for discussion, with a lot of variety in opinion; but
the idea of "positive" discipline deserves some attention. Our kids need discipline; but some of our own
beliefs and methods need to be reviewed from time to time. The following comments from
a client gives us an insight into the perspective of a young person on
discipline.
A 17
year-old client told Dr. Alexandra that when parents punish their kids by
telling them they're "grounded" , they are sending them a mixed
message because "being grounded" means being centered, balanced,
connected, focused.
While
not all of our kids are familiar with the term "grounded"-- meaning
"centered"-- many of them are today.
What a fresh new look--perspective-- at parent messaging! Do we say what
we really mean? Are we sending a clear message? Do we get the expected results?
Something more to think about in 2002!
THE "Attitude Doc's" AGENDA
For
those of you who may not have met her, Alexandra, "the attitude doc"
is a nationally recognized speaker, conducting keynotes and workshops to help
"prepare a child for life" and to encourage the exploration of our
attitudes, beliefs and choices.
Additionally, she has a transpersonal practice (integrating the
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our nature) in
If you would like to schedule a workshop or meet with Dr. Alexandra
while she's in the area, please call 800.745.3170
Friends of Peace Pilgrim, disseminate material (free of
charge) based on the pilgrimage of a woman called 'Peace Pilgrim'. You can learn more about her and her message
by visiting her web site at http://www.peacepilgrim.com.
She walked back and forth across the
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