Mar 5th 10 Posted by Judith Cassis

ask for what you want!

Part II – Last week we began a discussion on the ways common courtesy-gone-overboard can eat away at self esteem, joy and integrity. Integrity? That may sound as if it came out of left field, but it very much factors into our conversation. When most of us think about integrity, we think about honesty and being true to ourselves and others. But it doesn’t stop there. Integrity also implies a... read more

Feb 26th 10 Posted by Judith Cassis

ask for what you want!!

Part I – Be polite, watch your manners, don’t hurt people’s feelings. Most people would agree these are good rules to live by. To a certain extent, they are; but when any one of these suggestions is taken to extreme, it can reek havoc your life. I know, because I’ve experienced it. My parents, and yours did what they thought was right when raising their kids. They, as most, did... read more

Feb 19th 10 Posted by Judith Cassis

my first firewalk

I love learning. Over the years, I’ve found some pretty interesting ways to further my education. In 1992, I’d heard about a leadership program that culminated with an optional firewalk. I’d heard about firewalking years before, but never really considered it. But it was optional, right? So I signed up for the program, prepared to watch from the sidelines. For 10 days, I stretched. And I don’t mean... read more

Jan 22nd 10 Posted by Judith Cassis

do you suffer from chronic pain?

As many as 50 million Americans are affected by chronic pain. The worst part is that many lack effective treatment options. This means more than just an occasional headache or sore throat. Chronic pain, as defined by The American College of Rheumatology refers to pain occurring at least 4 days per week for at least 3 months. Unless you’ve suffered from the gnawing frequency of chronic pain, you... read more

Jan 1st 10 Posted by Judith Cassis

set the stage for change

Successful resolution is relatively simple, but not necessarily easy. There’s a difference. Looking back over the details of our lives, it’s simple to list resolutions with a firm intention to make changes. But as many of us have seen, those promises we make are not always easy to keep. Unless we couple strong commitment with accountability, our desire to make those changes can fade. Not... read more

Dec 18th 09 Posted by Judith Cassis

pick up the pieces

Every time you fall short of a goal, you have an opportunity to pull your self up by the bootstraps and begin again. Who knows, your new route might offer benefits extending far beyond what you imagined for the first. There are times when failure or loss are inevitable. Life just works that way. Jobs are lost, relationships end, and attempts to succeed fail. It’s been said that we grieve to the extent... read more

Nov 30th 09 Posted by Judith Cassis

the gift of YOU

When did baking special-recipe cookies for friends during the holidays turn into presenting them with $50 gift certificates for coffee or pricey accessories? When did it happen? It may not have been in your lifetime, but it wasn’t so long ago. There are still people walking the planet who remember the days when a jar of jam made from hand picked berries was given with pride and received with... read more

Nov 25th 09 Posted by Judith Cassis

remember to thank the most important person

A friend offers us a gift; we express appreciation. Someone does us a favor; we’re grateful. We thank cashiers, clerks, postal workers, servers, and family members. When it comes to gratitude, I’d venture to guess that most of us have pretty good manners. But I’m wondering, how many of us appreciate ourselves? Do you remember to thank yourself for the efforts you make to better your life?... read more