TEA PARTY!

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me” - C.S. Lewis

A true southerner immediately thinks 'sweet tea' or 'ice tea' when tea is mentioned. Nothing can beat a tall glass of my mom's sweetened ice tea on a hot summer's day. Nothing that is except for a tall glass of her mother's sweetened ice tea. But my newest discovery that isn't much of a discovery at all, is hot tea with honey. I have my years in the Peace Corps to thank for my new love of boiling hot tea. Tea, my friends, is one of the simplest forms of relieving stress. I highly recommend ending each day with a cup of tea....or wine for the really crazy days.

Below are a couple of articles related to tea for anybody interested.
All About Tea (lots of interesting history)
Stressed? Drink more Tea
Top 10 Reasons Why Tea is Healthy
33 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
Tea Parties in the Living Room - This is a great little story of a woman fighting cancer...and having tea parties! I vote for more tea parties!!!


My personal favs are...(and you might see a trend here)

1. Charles Towne Shamrock Irish Breakfast Tea
   
2. Lipton with Honey & Lemon Black Tea
   
3. Twinings English Breakfast

But, the best tea is loose leaf tea. Cheerio!

RUNNERS!

“The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” -John Bingham

Are you a washed up runner? Maybe you never were a runner, but have an annoying voice telling you it's time to start liking it for health reasons? Either way, you are not alone. It has taken me nearly 10 years to remember why I loved running so much during school. After running in a company sponsored 5K, I realized it wasn't the actual act of running I loved, but rather the empowerment of self-conditioning as well as the energy that surrounds a race. Nothing is more motivating to train your body than signing up for a bunch of races and not wanting to finish last. I take that back, the 70 year old man or mom pushing a stroller passing you will undoubtedly push you to run faster and train harder for the next race!

Join me in my rediscovered addiction to racing! Runner's World is a great place to sign up for your first race. I don't know about you, but I would much rather spend $12 - $20 per race (I try to do one a month) than on something that can be bought, eaten, or drunken! And because most races are for charity, it is a win-win for all involved. For new runners, set your first 5K goal for a 10 minute mile. It may seem challenging, but it is certainly possible. Best of luck and keep me up-to-date with your race times!

GO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL! WAIT... WHAT?

“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints” -Wilfred Peterson

Ok so high school may not conjure up goody goody feelings for some of you. But my point is to think about what made you happy before all those pesky adult responsibilities took over your life. For me it was sports and socializing. Perhaps your memories of a less stressful time involve a band, drama, history, film, choir, Spanish club, or art class. Whatever your past hobby may have been, I promise it is possible to bring it back into your life. And that hobby will most certainly rejuvenate your spirit!

How does one go about this you say? It's all about making the effort. During school and university it is easy because everything is cheap and centrally located. Not so much after graduation. The good news is that most community colleges offer non-credit adult classes at a very affordable price. Grab a catalog (or google) for the closest college near you and use it as a starting point.

• Learn a new instrument - what a way to challenge oneself
  
• Take a drawing/painting class - turn your new skill into a profit at local craft fairs
  
• Take a dance class - then come and teach me or start dancing competitively
  
• Take an acting class - then audition for a local play
  
• Learn a new language - then make plans to travel to a country that speaks the language
  
• Take a film class - then make a documentary
  
• Take a pottery class - what a way to relax, decorate your own home, or profit like you can with drawing/painting
  
• Learn professional photography - endless benefits
  
• Take a gardening class - then join a gardening club and spruce up your yard

The possibilities are endless. You just gotta look for it and then set aside that one evening a week for yourself. One evening, everybody deserves at least that!

VOLUNTEER!!!

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke, British statesman and orator

A move I made after college resulted in 9 months of complete self-pity and unhappiness. But it also led me to where I am today. So I certainly wouldn't change things if I could. Anyway, during these months of despair (dramatic enough?), a certain wise woman kept telling me to go volunteer in the pediatric ward at a local hospital. She knew me well. She knew that I love kids and that bringing smiles to their faces would ultimately bring back my own smile. Unfortunately I didn't listen to her during that time, but her advice regarding volunteering stuck with me. I have since learned that volunteering is the most efficient way to get out of that self-pity slump where we sometimes find ourselves. Don't be a king/queen of excuses, find some time and volunteer! It'll change your life and most certainly other lives too! Each organization listed below requires only a few hours per month from their volunteers.

• Make A Wish Foundation is a such a great way to help dreams come true for children with life threatening illnesses.
  
• Big Brothers Big Sisters is a well established organization for role models to make long lasting impacts in youths.
  
• AmeriCorps provides a multitude of ways to give back to your local community.
  
• Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteer trains you to be there when your neighbor needs you the most!
  
• Meals on Wheels is such a simple way to let a stranger know somebody cares about them.
  
• The Volunteer Family website is a rich source for local volunteer opportunities. Their volunteer ideas link gives tips on helping the homeless, assisting children, befriending the elderly, caring for the sick/disabled, and so many more ways to help!
  
• City Year gets you involved directly with the local community and schools fostering active citizenship.
  
• Teaching English as a second language is truly rewarding. Sponsoring organizations vary depending where you live. Find out where by asking your local United Way or library.

IT'S OK TO BE IDEALISTIC!

“"Idealists...foolish enough to throw caution to the winds...have advanced mankind and have enriched the world." -Emma Goldman

Unfortunately, I think that over time we lose our idealism. My mom often tells me I'm idealistic. She certainly doesn't mean for it to be an insult, but what she may not realize is that I take it as a huge compliment. I think that our idealistic dreams are necessary to keep going! Ironically enough I found my present employment on a website called idealist.org, and I love my job. The first year was challenging and the salary won't allow me to forget how to appreciate a hard earned dollar, but in the end I enjoy what I do and get great satisfaction out of knowing my day's work helps to save lives. I can't complain about that now can I? We spend such a large portion of our lives working, I can't imagine doing something I dread each morning. No salary can compensate for 40-50 hours of dreariness!

If you're recently unemployed or are daring enough to make a career change you feel you need in this economy, I suggest searching for employment in areas that give back to the community. Below are a few links to help you start your search.

Idealist.org
Doctors Without Borders
Hole in the Wall Camps
American Red Cross
Mercy Corps
AmeriCares
United Way
Start Your Own Business!


There are so many types of careers that 'give back'. Whether one prefers something local (doctor, nurse, any type of therapist, fire fighter, police officer, ministry, teacher, customer service businesses), national (military, federal law, politics), or international (state department, humanitarian aid). The list goes on forever! It's all about finding a job that works for oneself. And remember - it is never too late to make a career change! Even if it requires going back to school (just ask Ben Reser).