Author: Ally

5 Fun Things To Do To Get You and Your Family’s Mind Off Your Troubles

Post author By Ally
Post date September 7, 2020
No Comments on 5 Fun Things To Do To Get You and Your Family’s Mind Off Your Troubles

There are a lot of troubles facing the world today. With Covid and pandemic anxiety causing upheaval in our lives we can easily get lost in all the fear and negativity. This does not help our peace of mind nor does it promote serenity and inner peace.

For those with kids forced to learn remotely due to the pandemic, this year’s back to school certainly looks much different than ever before. Your kids are likely anxious too and uneasy because their routine is no longer routine.

It is okay to take your mind off all the bad news. It is okay to not watch the news this week. AND it is okay to take some time for yourself and do something fun!

Here are some ideas for 5 fun things you can do to get your and your family’s mind off your troubles.

# 1 Comedy movie night with your family.

Grab the popcorn, get a hilarious DVD, or find one on your favorite movie streaming service and just laugh. Laughter is a known healer.

According to Mayo Clinic, “Whether you’re guffawing at a sitcom on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that’s no joke.”

According to Help Guide, “With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.”

#2 Games night.

Games are fun to play in groups, and there are many to choose from, including the good ole tried and true charades. Gather your family or a couple of friends (keep it at 2 or 3 max maintain pandemic safety) and have a ball.

# 3 Create a hiking treasure hunt.

Find a nature spot near your home and go and hide some stuff out there. Create hints for those you invite to find the stuff and give a prize to the first person to gather everything on the list. This is a great activity that you can do with your kids, family members and friends. It also gets you outdoors where nature can help clear your mind and reduce stress.

According to Stress.org, “A study by Science Direct found that spending time outdoors can help improve mental health. According to their research, nature excursions can help alleviate feelings of time pressure and mental stress.”

# 4 Cook a gourmet meal and have a family formal dinner party.

If you like to cook but never had the time, now is a great time to make that gourmet meal. Gather the recipes, go shop and get cooking. Have your family including the kids engage in the cooking and set up process. Get out the fine china and have a formal dinner party with formal attire and all. This is a great experience for the kids to have and something they are not usually exposed to. If you are single, do the same by inviting a couple of friends over.

# 5 Disco Saturday Night.

You likely can’t go to a nightclub right now, but you can create one at home. If you can swing the cost buy a cheap disco ball on eBay, or just get some blue and red light bulbs for your living room. Create a playlist, or perhaps you have some old disco CD’s laying around (don’t worry we won’t tell anyone). Set up a bar and make drinks, turn out the lights, and let the music take you to fun zone!

Don’t wallow in your troubles, distract your mind, and have some fun! It’s good for your mind, body, and spirit!

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My Best Friend and The Universe

Post author By Ally
Post date September 7, 2020
No Comments on My Best Friend and The Universe

For a long as I can remember, it seems I have been the one whom those around me have confided in. They have poured out their heart telling me of their struggles and secrets.

Could I help them way back then – no, certainly not!

But just listening to them seemed to be enough to calm the mini crisis and help them move on.

I found it an honour and a privilege to be confided in and entrusted with such personal information.(Little did I realize back then that this was likely the universe giving me signs as to my life purpose but I failed to see it until years later…..)

I remember one particular event. My best friend was due to be married in a week’s time….when she decided to call off the wedding!! Lots of external family pressure had pushed her over the edge. She begged me to talk to her fiancee – one last chance to sort things out – possibly?

Was I out of my depth…and my comfort zone?

You bet I was!!

But with nothing to lose, I met with her fiancee and he talked while I listened…and then we all talked some more.

It’s been more than 30 years since that conversation..and they are still happily married.!!

They refused to let external circumstances derail them. My friend learned that the only one who can best manage her life is herself, and not someone else. You see, external events do not harm us, it is our responses to them that decide our fate and our future.

After that, a variety of experiences contributed to the path leading to the work I do today, where you and I get to talk about the changes you desire to make in your life

However, back then it seems I wasn’t so good at giving myself the best advice…..click here if you want to read about other personal experiences that shaped my career path.

Do you ever feel like the universe is trying to tell you something -but you miss it completely? I’d love to hear – please share below.

Forging a New Path (When You Can’t See the Old One)

Post author By Ally
Post date August 20, 2020
No Comments on Forging a New Path (When You Can’t See the Old One)

Katie started an office supply company when she was in her twenties. She grew the small business from her spare bedroom into a thriving brand with over three dozen employees. She was proud of what she’d done and the life she’d created for herself.

But three years ago, Katie discovered someone had embezzled the company’s funds and left it nearly bankrupt. The employee who’d committed this crime was Katie’s mother.

In the coming months, Katie lost everything—both her business and her home. She found herself in her forties starting her whole life over again.

Maybe you’ve found yourself in Katie’s shoes. You’ve lost everything and you have no choice but to rebuild your entire life. But you’re not sure what that process should look like exactly. here are some tips:

Let Go

Start by letting go. Think about the things that are no longer serving you. Katie had spent years building up her business only to lose it. For a long time, she could only focus on what she’d had.

A friend encouraged her to stop looking backward. “You can’t move forward in your car if the gear is stuck in reverse,” She advised. “Terrible things happen to everyone. You don’t get a choice in that. What you do get to decide is what gear you’ll put your life in.”

Create New Traditions

Sometimes, the hardest part of starting over is letting go of habits that we loved. Maybe you were financially set and could afford to go shopping for new clothes once a week. Perhaps you were close with your family and had brunch with relatives every Sunday.

When you’re forced to start over, missing these traditions is painful. But don’t get caught up in sitting around wishing for how things were. Create new traditions that honor what your life looks like now. For example, you could invite your closest friends over on Sundays for game day or spend the time you use to go shopping to refashion old items in your closet.

Design Your Vision

When you’re forging a new path in live, it’s easy to get focused on what you don’t want. For example, if you’re leaving a bad marriage, you may swear off romantic relationships or a certain city.

While these blanket statements may make you feel good, they don’t help you create more of what you want in your life. This is where a vision board can be helpful. You can use one to create a positive image of the new life you’re looking to make.

The vision board you make can be physical—you can grab magazines, books, and other old media to create yours. But a vision board can also be digital and you can use a website like Dream It Alive or Vision Board to design yours.

Click the link below to listen to short audio about Resilience After a Crisis – currently we are experiencing a global Pandemic and many people are being forced to rebuild their lives in some way or the other.

Rebuilding your life after adversity isn’t easy. But you have the smarts (and the power!) to do it. Embrace this season of rebirth in your life!

Are you struggling to rebuild your life after adversity? It’s sure not easy….but it is possible! It also helps to have someone to walk along side you to guide and support you – I would love to help! Let’s chat about what you need to pick up the pieces and start over. You can book you free session with me here.

Step Ahead Life Coaching™