Eating Yogurt for the Environment. Really?

                I’m sure you’ve heard that eating yogurt can be part of a healthy diet, but did you know that it’s not only good for your physical health, but it can be good for environmental health as well? I didn’t until this morning.

                I like to eat yogurt for breakfast or as a snack. It just happened that this morning I was in a yogurty mood, so I looked for some in my brother’s fridge since that is where I am at the moment. Anyway, they had few Stonyfield Organic yogurts, so I grabbed one. I don’t think I’ve personally ever purchased this brand, but I may start to now. I just finished eating the 0% Super Fruits Pomegranate Raspberry Acai 6 oz yogurt….uh YUM!

Before eating it I checked the nutrition label, as I do with most foods. I noticed on the container it also said that the company donates 10% of their profits to the environment. I decided to look into their company a little more, because I thought that this discovery was pretty cool! Apparently, they have donated $15 million to companies that support environmental health through their Profits for the Planet program. Cool!

The company sells a variety of products including traditional yogurt, soy yogurt, Greek yogurt, as well as other varieties of yogurt treats.  You can go to their website to check out their products, recipes, and get coupons. Click here to go to their website.

Click here for some interesting benefits of yogurt from Fitness magazine.

10 Tips for Dealing with Stress

            It has been a stressful week for us. We are packing our apartment and moving back to the US. In between packing we are saying goodbyes and wrapping up work assignments. Needless to say, it has been an emotional roller coaster.

Sometimes, when we are stressed it can affect how we feel, act, and think. There are two main types of stress. Distress is a type of stress caused by negative life events (ex. death, divorce, loss of job etc.) Eustress is a type of stress caused by positive life experience (ex. marriage, new job, baby etc.) Unfortunately, our brains are unable to differentiate the two. Stress can lead to a lot of health issues including sleeplessness, weight gain, weight loss, depression, and emotional outbursts.

 When I was little, I had alopecia (a disease that causes hair to fall out). My doctor told my mother it was caused by me internalizing my feelings. It was a very difficult time for me, as I was in school and people would tease me about my bald spots. Since then, I’ve gotten much better with coping with my emotions. I no longer have bald spots, but I always worry that if I get too stressed I will start to lose my hair again. To read more about alopecia click here.

 We all feel stressed at different points in our lives, and we all handle stress differently. Today, I am going to share with you my ten tips for beating stress before it beats you.

1.      Deep breaths—close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths, in your nose and out your mouth. I learned this in yoga and it has been a blessing for me.

2.      Laugh--- read a joke or watch a funny YouTube video. Click here for my favorite this week.

3.      Journal--- keeping a personal journal is a great way to get negative thoughts out of your head. Another idea along the same line is to write a letter about whatever or whoever is causing you stress and tear it up into tiny pieces. (ex. Dear Coffeepot, I don’t appreciate you overflowing every morning. I need coffee—not a mess. J)

4.      Play with your pet--- my dog Lilly always knows how to cheer me up when I’m feeling down. This year has been especially hard, because she had to stay in the US while we were working abroad. Petting dogs is calming, and making them do tricks is entertaining.

5.      Go for a walk or run—Growing up with a big family made it impossible to have unlimited alone time. My way of getting some time to myself was by escaping for a run. Exercise releases feel good chemicals that can lower your stress and removing yourself from a stressful situation often allows  you time to cool off.

6.      Sit in quiet--- Put away your phone/ipad/ipod/computer, grab a cup of tea and just sit quietly in the fresh air. You will see so many things that you normally miss because you are too busy.

7.      Talk to a friend--- whether it’s at a coffee shop, on the phone, or in a video chat friends can help you work out your issues. I am so fortunate to have friends who are willing to stay up late and chat, hug me when I’m sad, and give me advice when I’m stressed.

8.      Sing---crank up the volume and belt it out. My family is a very vocal family, so singing is something we do without realizing it. Keith and I like to sing while doing daunting tasks like laundry, making up the words as we go.

9.      Get a massage--- I’ve been getting massages for the past few years and have really enjoyed them. They are pretty pricey in the US, so when I see a deal on livingsocial or groupon I cannot help myself. In Cambodia, massages are really inexpensive and even though the massage ladies are tiny---those girls are strong! I will be getting a massage tomorrow before getting on an airplane for 20+ hours.

10.  Bake---I love to bake. There is something really therapeutic about frosting cupcakes. I used to make cupcakes for my teammates and friends in college and they were always happy to help me eat them. Everything in moderation, right? Anyway, for me baking is a way to focus on creating something delicious that I can share with other people.

As I said, stress is something we all face in our daily life. The most important thing is to try to find a way to cope with your emotions before things get out of control.

50 Ways to Show Gratitude

I came across this list today and wanted to share it.  This is not my personal list, but I agree with many of the ideas. You can read more articles like this at Tinybuddha.com

50 WAYS TO SHOW GRATITUDE FOR THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

by Lori Deschene

SHOW GRATITUDE TO PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU

1. Share a specific example of something they did for you and how it made a difference in your life.

2. Do something little but thoughtful for them—like clean up after Thanksgiving dinner!

3. Give a long, intimate hug; or if you know they don’t like hugs, stick out your hand for a handshake to cater to their preferences and make them smile.

4. Tell them you’re there if they have anything they want to talk about—and let them know they have your full attention.

5. Give them something of yours that you think they would enjoy, and let them know specifically why you want them to have it.

6. Invite them to do something you know they’ve always wanted to do.

7. Encourage them to try something you know they want to try, but haven’t yet because they’re scared.

8. Offer to do something you know they don’t enjoy doing, like organizing their closet or mowing their lawn.

9. Compliment them on a talent, skill, or strength that you admire.

10. Look them straight in the eyes and say, “You make the world a better place.”

SHOW GRATITUDE TO PEOPLE WHO CHALLENGE YOU

11. Fully listen to what they have to say, instead of forming your rebuttal in your head and waiting to speak.

12. Thank them for introducing you to a new way to look at things, even if you still don’t agree.

13. Pinpoint something you admire about their commitment to their beliefs—even if you don’t hold them, as well.

14. Resist the urge to tell them they’re wrong.

15. Challenge them right back to be the best they can be, with love and positive intentions.

16. If they inspired you to push outside your comfort zone, thank them for inspiring you to take a risk, and let them know how it paid off.

17. Write a blog post about how they helped you see things differently and dedicate it to them.

18. Use the lesson this person teaches you through your interactions, whether it’s patience, compassion, or courage.

19. Introduce them to someone who may challenge them and help them grow, as they’ve done for you.

20. Let them know how you appreciate when they challenge you in a loving, non-confrontational way—and if they don’t do that, be calm and kind when you ask them to do that going forward.

SHOW GRATITUDE TO PEOPLE WHO SERVE YOU

21. Give a larger tip than usual.

22. If they have a tip jar, include a thoughtful note of appreciation along with your coins or bills.

23. Smile when you order or enlist their assistance. Smiles are contagious, so give one away!

24. If they serve you regularly, acknowledge something they always do well—like work efficiently or stay calm under pressure.

25. Exhibit patience, even if you’re in a hurry.

26. Let their superior know they do an outstanding job.

27. Keep their workplace clean—for example, at a coffee shop, clean up after yourself at the sugar stand.

28. Offer to get a coffee for them, if it’s someone working in or outside your home.

29. If you have their contact information, send an email of appreciation—and let them know you just wanted to express your gratitude, so they don’t need to write back.

30. Praise them in a review on Yelp and/or recommend them to people you know.

SHOW GRATITUDE TO PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH YOU

31. Write a hand-written thank you note, acknowledging things you value about them and their work.

32. Offer to lighten their workload in some way if you are able.

33. Bring back lunch for them if you know they’re working hard and likely haven’t had a chance to grab something.

34. If you’re running a meeting, keep it short to show them you appreciate and respect their time.

35. Ask them about their lives instead of always being all business. This doesn’t mean you need to pry into personal matters; it just means showing an interest in who they are as people.

36. Be the calm, light voice in a stressful situation.

37. Give them flowers to brighten their desk.

38. Let their boss know how they’re doing a great job and contributing to the company.

39. Listen fully if they’re having a difficult day, and recognize if they need space to figure things out on their own, not advice or help.

40. Remember the little things can make a big difference!

SHOW GRATITUDE FOR YOURSELF

41. Make a list of ways you’ve impressed yourself lately.

42. Treat yourself to something you enjoy, like a pedicure or a massage.

43. If someone compliments you, thank them and let them know you’re proud of that skill, talent, or accomplishment.

44. Compliment yourself—say it while looking in the mirror, write it in a journal, or jot it on a sticky note and put it on your refrigerator.

45. Give yourself time to enjoy a passion you’re sometimes too busy to fit in.

46. Take an inventory of all the good things you’ve done for other people and the world.

47. Write yourself a love letter. Seriously, start with “Dear Lori” (but insert your own name) and describe all the things you admire about yourself.

48. Let go of any conditions you have for being kind to yourself—meaning you appreciate even if you didn’t accomplish or do anything specific.

49. Schedule a date with yourself—an afternoon or evening that’s all about you.

50. Share the beauty that is you with the people around you, knowing they’re fortunate to have you in their lives.

We all can learn from each other :)