ABC Feelings "newsE-letter"
Volume I, Issue
http://www.abcfeelings.com _ 800.745.3170 _ fax: 208.772.0411
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In this issue
--A message from Alexandra--Our many masks
--Teaching with a focus on strengths, rather than weaknesses, see the work
of Kimberly at EmpowerMind.com
--"101 Ways to Introduce Feelings Communication & Character Development. .
."
read the testimony of a Character Education Coordinator
--How heavy is your child's backpack?
--Learn about Marvin Marshall's 15 Rule to encourage responsible behavior
--Anyone can learn to read with Dr. Suki's Reading-Right Method
--Can eating be fun for kids? Find out. . .
--How to order ABC Feelings Products
--ABC Feelings Announces a New Home Business
--Calendar for Alexandra Delis-Abrams, Ph.D., "the attitude doc"
--What to do if you no longer wish to subscribe
Message from Alexandra
HALLOWEEN--when the day is over, are you still wearing a mask?
Halloween is a time for children to mask the body and face and fill
bags with candy as they canvas neighborhoods in search of goblins and
ghosts. Adults also scheme to devise the most clever, scary or funny
ensemble to wear to work. This autumn holiday tends to stir the imagination
to be outrageous and don a new identity. The urge to portray a fantasy of
someone far removed from our lifestyle is tempting and often carried out
when the night of the neighborhood party rolls around. One year my sister
and brother-in-law hosted a gathering at their home and stepped into the
parts of Scarlet O'Hara and Rhett Butler. They had a ball getting into the
characters of the stars from Gone with The Wind.
But once the costume is returned and the calendar rolls over to November,
are we still wearing a facade? Maybe the time is right to look in the
mirror and inquire, "How do I present myself to the world?" Here are a few
questions to explore as you see your reflection in the mirror. The answers
are for your information only.
Am I my body? I once knew a woman whose relationship meant everything.
She cared so much for this man that there wasn't anything she wouldn't do to
please him, and her obsession with her body was obvious to all who knew her.
She was continually on a diet, compulsive about exercise, and face and body
lotions filled her shelves. Firm buns, washboard abs, muscle
definition--this is what many people are after. And what they wonšt do to
get it. She struggled to maintain a body her boyfriend would approve of.
However, still unsatisfied with what she saw in the mirror, even after an
exercise schedule that matched an Olympic athletešs, she had surgery.
Eventually, her idol called it quits and, you guessed it, she was
devastated. Is this woman her body? Our body is to be cared for and
respected, fed nutritious food, bathed, accepted, AND used as a conduit to
allow beauty and love to flow through it. It is constantly changing and
will serve you well, if you love and respect it for what it is--a vehicle to
function in the physical world.
"'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,' -- that is all Ye know on Earth, and all
ye need to know."
-John Keats, Ode On A Grecian Urn
Am I my relationship? A young couple met, connected, and then started to
share a new and stimulating friendship. They were quite different
individuals. She was a reflection of her mother, outgoing and vivacious.
He, also a product of his home environment, was somewhat unexpressive and
hesitant about life. Days, months, and years passed, with frequent
disagreements, periodic separations, and mounting inner strife for both. "I
can't be who you want me to be," he declared. In this case, she did not
disintegrate. They mutually agreed to take a time out as they individually
explored what makes them each tick and the issues they bring to a
relationship. As she felt her sadness and anger, she was also open to life
and allowed new ideas to flow. A long awaited trip is now planned and life
goes on. She is NOT her relationship. Her dependence is NOT with him, but
with herself.
"The best proof of love is trust."
-Joyce Brothers
Am I my job? Another recollection is of a man who left a job after many
long dedicated years to his employer. Being the breadwinner of the family,
with little ones to provide for, he was the type of person who was not
comfortable in seeing problems as opportunities and in grasping the adage
that one door may close but another will open. His self-image diminished
and negative emotions flooded his mind. Thwarting them became his greatest
challenge. The myth that he would have one job throughout his life was
shattered and now it was necessary to form a new belief about earning a
livelihood. Our work is an expression of us--it is NOT who we are. It is
healthy and wise to experience the uneasiness of the transition time and
complete any undelivered communications. However, knowing there are no
accidents, and having faith in the process of life, we can embrace the
unexpected and listen for the wisdom to empower us to move forward.
"Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live."
-Margaret Fuller
Am I my bank account? Turning to history and the stock market crash of
the 1930's, there were many who lived their lives thinking they were their
money. When it was gone, they chose to die, feeling no desire or purpose
for life. Family members suffered at the loss of their loved ones, as well
as their security. I'm reminded of a couple who recently endured very hard
times after enjoying the pleasures of a rather lucrative income. They had
something together that was bigger than their bank account. They enjoyed a
love deep enough to overcome any difficulty of lifešs circumstances.
Through that love, understanding, and trust they pursued their dreams and
after many long exhaustive years, achieved financial abundance again. The
number of zeros in their bank account didnšt matter; they experienced
abundance in their relationship. Money did NOT determine the quality of
their existence, nor was it the master in their life.
"The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all
your money."
-Anon.
Socrates professed there is great power in a question. Here are a few
for those who are willing to look closely inside. If you could label the
mask you wear, what would it be? Through whose eyes are you perceiving
your reality? Is the source of your security outside of yourself? Could
you leave it, or have it leave you, and still be okay? Do you have
attachments that hold power over you? What character are you playing in
life? Is it really you?
I support you in putting the ghosts and goblins away once and for all and
let that magnificent being out. Declare your commitment.
"Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot
live within."
-James Baldwin
EmpowerMind.com
We recently discovered Kimberly Kassner's impressive work through
http://www.empowermind.com. EmpowerMind is an educational company that
teaches individuals how to develop a personal learning system, by learning
to learn through their strengths. They have products and services for ages
ten and older.
For an educator/trainer with a focus on what is right with us rather
than what is wrong, Please visit http://www.empowermind.com or contact
Kimberly at kassner@aol.com, 1 800.272.4675 or 415.459.3159 We know you'll
be inspired by her work!
"No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity
hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be
to unlock that treasure."
-Emma Goldman
101 Ways. . .A testimonial
ABC Feelings recently introduced the small booklet,
101 Ways to Introduce Feelings Communication & Character Development into
the Classroom and Home. While it might be a small booklet, it is packed
with ways the educator and parent can incorporate character lessons and
feelings communication directly into an existing curriculum and/or home.
Following is a testimony from someone we met at the CEP Conference in
Atlanta
"Aloha!
A little over a week ago I was at the CEP 9th annual forum. I just wanted
to say that your "little book" is wonderful. Just reviewing it stimulates
so many ideas. The one thing that I can see as really helpful is that this
booklet offers ideas that makes it easier to approach the faculty. I will
be using it to motivate and encourage our faculty toward a "deliberate"
effort in character education.. Thanks again for a great little book."
Alyssa K. Braffith
Kamehameha High School
Character Education Coordinator
Honolulu Hawaii
If you would like your own little book of 101 Ways, follow this link and
we'll be glad to get one out to you! http://www.abcfeelings.com/books.html
The Freedom Writer's Diary
Alexandra & Gene had the opportunity to attend the October 17-19 Character
Education Partnership Annual Forum in Atlanta, GA and Alexandra was
tremendously impressed with what she learned and with those she had the
opportunity to get to know. The keynote speaker at the event was Erin
Gruwell, a teacher who has used writing to help change the lives of 150
teens and the world around them. The book, The Freedom Writers Diary can be
reviewed and purchased by following this link at Amazon.com. If necessary,
copy and paste into your browser.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/038549422X/qid=1035999902/sr=8
-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-9838046-5028055?v=glance&n=507846
If you or your group are interested in attending the events sponsored by
the Character Education Partnership, here is the address for more
information-- Contact The Character Education Partnership, 1025 Connecticut
Avenue, N.W., Suite 1011, Washington, DC 20036
The 15 Minute Rule
We've brought information to you from Marvin Marshall in the past, and in
this month's newsletter, he introduced a particularly interesting method to
increase responsibility, using what he calls the 15 minute rule. Visit his
web site for the details at http://www.marvinmarshall.com/
How heavy is your child's backpack? Every time my son gets off the school
bus and walks up the hill to meet me, I wince. Weighing in at a whopping 75
pounds max, he lugs a 25-35 pound backpack, filled with all of his books,
journals, etc. etc. Did you know that each year about 5,000 children are
taken to emergency rooms suffering from injuries related to carrying heavy
backpacks?
The Backpack Safety America program, http://www.backpacksafe.com , is an
organization formed to deal with the problem. The company promotes backpack
safety by working with local participating doctors to bring the program into
schools. BSA is an 8-step prevention program designed to teach students,
parents and teachers the biomechanics of safe and correct backpack use. The
program utilizes videos, presentations, brochures, posters and surveys to
teach aspects of correctly packing, lifting and carrying backpacks.
Other ergonomic backpack designers include Nike,
http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2002/05/27/focus7.html
Ergoboy.com has information and recommendations for finding the right
backpack for your child at http://www.ergoboy.com/news/backpack_injuries.php
There are fun & functional air enhanced bags available through
http://www.airpacks.com -- Air is added to the carry straps and in the
lumbar region to take the pressure off the spine
Anyone can learn to read with reading pioneer Dr. Suki Stone's Reading-Right
Method!
READING-RIGHT begins with the student's sophisticated language. Children
have between 5,000 and 10,000 words in their vocabulary before the age of
five. Since we learn based on what we already know, "dialogue" between the
mentor and the student begins the reading process. Children or adults become
students and with their mentors share the teaching and learning process
with READING-RIGHT .
We invite you to visit Dr. Suki's web site at http://www.reading-right.org
or contact her at drsuki@reading-right.org
Can you make eating fun for your children?
"The Center for Science in the Public Interest introduces
http://Smart-Mouth.org, a new web site designed to teach kids that healthy
eating can be fun! This snazzy web site uses games to teach kids (and their
Parents and teachers) how to eat well and resist the food industry's
marketing campaigns. Kids can see how their favorite restaurant foods stack
up, play "true or false" with a food industry spokesman, and "bite back" by
asking food companies and government officials to promote nutrition."
and _
Did you know that McDonald's recently announced that it is switching to
less heart-damaging cooking oil for fries and other fried foods?
McDonald's fries will have one-third less trans and saturated fat than they
do now.
The above messages on nutrition were brought to you by
http://actionnetwork.org/
ABC Feelings Announces a New Home Business Opportunity!
Check it out on our web site at http://www.abcfeelings.com/businessop.htm
Please visit ABC Feelings and find quality, interactive & character
building products for kids and organizations. Click here to purchase
online: http://www.abcfeelings.com or call us at 800.745.3170 for ideas on
which products will best fill your needs!
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 Sun Valley, ID, where she utilizes leading edge protocols
to assist her clients to make monumental strides in minimal time. She is
available for your organization, corporation, or for you personally, and we
welcome your calls at 800.745.3170. Or, visit our web site at
http://www.abcfeelings.com/dralexandra.html. If you're in the following
areas, drop by and participate in a workshop, listen in on a lecture, or
pick up your favorite ABC Feelings products. If you would like to schedule
a workshop or meet with Dr. Alexandra in your area, please call 800.745.3170
November 7, 2002; 7:20 a.m. Pacific Time, Alexandra will be interviewed on
Cable Radio Network/Cable America on the topic, "Dream Parent--How to be the
parent you wish you had"
Southern California Kindergarten Conference, Inc.: February 28-March 1,
2003--
Watch for Alexandra, the Attitude Doc across the country as she discusses
how you can Prepare a Child for Life. . .as well as other informative & fun
topics
and
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