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Do you remember what it was like to be a child at Christmas?  Remember the excitement, the dreams, the wonder, the energy?  Take some time this year to find your inner child.  Instead of spending the entire holiday season in a panic, find some way to fit laughter into your schedule.

This time of year, we see people in the stores and on the roads, getting angry due to holiday stress.  Our workplaces become overwhelming as we push toward the end of the year.  We are uptight at home as we worry about getting everything ready for the holidays.  We have forgotten the most important recipe this holiday season, fun and laughter.

Maybe it is time we learn from the children.  They know there is magic in the air.  When did we lose sight of it?

This Holiday Season, stop the negative energy and play like children.  Stop the negative posts on Facebook and vow to only spread positive messages, preferably, funny messages.  Don’t give gifts out of obligation, give them out of love.  Don’t just send holiday cards, add a personal note of thanks.  Maybe the magic you create will spread! 

We, in the counseling field, know that laughter and love is the best medicine for good health.  You have an infinite supply; pass it on!!!

 

 

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Some days you realize that you have to stay positive; you are expected to keep yourself and maybe a team going.  Negativity may seem to be all around placing barriers in the path.  As the leader, remaining positive means identifying the potential trouble sources so you can stay clear.  The climb can be a struggle.  When you reach the top, look back at the view; see the beauty of where you have been.

This week started with a large amount of negativity in my work world.  At the end of Monday, I just wanted to run.  Things became overwhelming; my emotions and reactions were handled poorly.  I was left with a defeated attitude.  I reached out for help and was very quickly reminded by a good friend, of my own words, a few weeks ago. 

“When things get overwhelming and impossible; it is time to cut out the negativity in your life.  It is wasting your energy.”

Whether you are the leader in your job, your family or your own life; do not get stuck on the negative.  It will drain your energy. Take a look back and see the beauty.  It is the climb that got you where you are today.  You are learning during that climb and the struggles.  See the negative barriers and move around them.  You cannot change a major boulder in your path but you can recognize it and move around it.  Don’t just stand and look at it…move.

We all have bad days, over react, and make mistakes.  This is a part of learning.  Don’t beat yourself up; pick yourself up.  Move around the negative barriers and see the beauty on the other side.  It’s there; open your eyes and see the beauty!

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC

 

 

What if we all were to choose to spend this holiday season living from the heart?  What if we lived today or this moment with compassion?  What if today we chose love instead of judgment?  Instead of buying into the recent negativity in the social media, what if we decided to only spread kindness?  Think of the impact, if this kindness were to continue to grow…what an epidemic that would be!

This Thanksgiving, I decided to start reading the book Random Acts of Kindness by The Editors of Conari Press, Daphne Rose Kingma, Dawna Markova.  This book states, “Kindness is twice blessed.  It blesses the one who gives it with a sense of his or her own capacity to love, and the person who receives it with a sense of the beneficence of the universe.” 

Using kindness can create miracles and heal.  It works like an anti-depressant for those in pain.  It counterbalances the negative around us.  It sends a shining light of peace, hope, and love.  Isn’t that what the holidays are supposed to be about?

This year, during all of the holiday busyness, find time to do some random acts of kindness.  Let someone cut in front of you in those long lines, who looks like they could use a break.  Show some kindness to that cashier.  Help someone who is struggling with their packages.  Hold a door open.  Smile and say hello.  Carry spare change and drop it in those boxes by the cash register.  Donate your old items to charity.  Buy things on ebay or Amazon Smile and make a donation to charity while you shop.  Remember that Tuesday is Giving Tuesday!  When you send those Christmas Cards, put in a personal note and tell your recipients that they are special to you.  One of the easiest things you can do is just to “listen deeply” to someone. 

“My religion is very simple.  My religion is kindness.”   The Dalai Lama

Keep your light shining and pass it on!!

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC

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We do not gain our strength from the things we already know how to do.  We learn from the new challenges we face; when we accomplish things we didn’t think were possible.  Sometimes we need to step out of the box and give it a try.

When you are faced with a new challenge, there is often fear and doubt.  Sometimes we just need to look fear in the face and take a step forward.  Isn’t this the way we learn, grow, and change?

Sometimes it helps to take the hand of someone else and walk together.  Other times, we have to take those first steps alone.  Oh, but the feeling you feel, when you make it to the top of that mountain!!

Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way.”  —Theodor Seuss Geisel

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Another school shooting this week and fear returns to our nation’s parents and children.  How quickly we Minnesotans forget that we have had two of our own schools shootings.  Have we become so focused on politics that we forgot our children need us?  What are we doing to prevent violence in our schools?

During the years of a poor economy, many communities somehow thought, it would be economical to eliminate D.A.R.E. programs.  Let’s take the law enforcement officers out of the schools and put in a security plan instead.  Let’s consider arming the teachers and ask our children to hide under their desks or in closets.  Is this preventing violence?

Other communities said, let’s take the D.A.R.E. officer out of our elementary schools and put a liaison officer in the high schools instead.  First, a liaison officer usually does not teach “prevention” but instead is working on “reacting” to incidents.  I am not saying they are not necessary and helpful but this plan left our elementary kids with a school secretary or administrator as their front line of defense.  Isn’t it safer to teach children prevention, starting at a young age?

When I first came to work for D.A.R.E., 17 years ago, our D.A.R.E. officers were on the playgrounds and in the lunchrooms.  One the best parts of the program was the positive relationship between that officer, the children, and families they served.  Now those officers, get a few hours in the classrooms a week, at best.  At least those schools still have law enforcement in their buildings.

Over the past few years, many cities, schools, and law enforcement agencies decided they needed to cut budgets.  They decided they could use the excuse to cut D.A.R.E. “because the studies say D.A.R.E. doesn’t work.”  When I ask them “what studies?”  I am usually left with a blank look.

There have been many, many studies of D.A.R.E. over the years.  D.A.R.E. was the first and has been the  largest drug and violence prevention program.  D.A.R.E. took ALL of those studies and continued to update the program from that original program in the early 80’s.  Studies are conducted to show us ways to become better and more effective.  As time passes, you can build on those findings and modify the program to fit the times.  D.A.R.E. has added additional programming through the years providing information for grades K-12, parents, and communities.

The current D.A.R.E. program is actually called  keepin’ it…REAL.  It is on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.  http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=133

What about the strength of the D.A.R.E. Officer in the classrooms as the instructor?  This too has been studied and reported in a journal article.  http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/23/4/682.full

What about officers assisting with other important issues in our schools?  Well, D.A.R.E. has a delivery system that has also been evaluated.  We can take other important health and safety information  and distribute it quickly to students and families, nationwide.  http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/1/1/25

Most important there are specially-trained, law enforcement officers walking the halls of our schools.  They are trained to look for potential problems and take that information to the school administration, mental health workers, school nurses, teachers, and parents.  This week they will be in the classrooms comforting children, teachers, and parents; who are frightened about their safety.  They are trained to deal with emergency situations.  Most important, they are friend to your children.

D.A.R.E. is a nonprofit organization.  We do not make more money by having D.A.R.E. in more schools.  IT IS OUR MISSION  to educate and advocate for the health and safety of our children.  We want to PREVENT these incidents!

If you are interested in a D.A.R.E. program in your school, you can find out how to start one at:  http://www.dare.org/starting-a-dare-program/

For more information in Minnesota, contact us at Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. – MNDARE@aol.com

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC

Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. Executive Director

 

We are always so busy.  There are not enough hours in a day.  I can’t afford to “waste time.”  Please stop, you are wasting my time!  Have you ever had these thoughts?

I saw this quote and it made me stop and think:

“The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”   —  Bertrand Russell

If we are enjoying what we are doing, why don’t we just take a little time and enjoy it?  Don’t we deserve a little wasted time?  Don’t we really need a little wasted time?

What if, in all of our “busyness” we are really wasting time that is really important time?  Time with our family, our children, seeing the beautiful day, being grateful, seeing the good in people, breathing, etc.; these moments are passing us by.  Your child or spouse begging for your attention may need your time.  The few minutes you give may be well worth those few extra moments.

Today, take a few minutes and waste some time!   Take a few moments and enjoy it!   Stop and see the importance of those few minutes before you write them off as wasted.  It’s your choice how you want to spend your time.

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LADC, LGSW

 

 

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Every morning this week, I woke up to negative messages…on the home page of the computer server, the newspaper, Facebook, the TV, etc., etc.  There were negative stories on the stock market, Ebola, ISIS activity, political controversary, and the list goes on.  Do you know the impact this can have on people?  These messages can spread like a virus and create an epidemic of negativity.

Did you ever notice how, when we get close to an election, more and more negative news stories emerge?  A simple use of wording, can slant a story one way or another, and send out tainted messages.

Watch the stock market.  An economic report can be interpreted as positive or negative and it can throw off the market.

DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR OR READ! 

If you choose to read all of those negative articles, watch for simple words that are intended to cause panic or mislead you.  They may speculate, look at “possible” leads, and sensationalize.  If you have ever been interviewed, it is shocking how they only take small bytes of what you said, and twist it to have a new meaning.  You may not even recognize the statements credited to you.

Is it any wonder we live in an anxiety filled world?  It “appears” there is nothing positive in our world of gloom and doom.  When we choose to believe it, it becomes a part of  our daily conversation, and it continues to spread like a bad game of telephone.

Don’t let the media have power over you!  Don’t let other media followers influence your thinking!

Start today by seeing the beauty in the world!  It is all arount you too.  Your thoughts belong to you!  Don’t allow others to dump negativity on you.  Choose to pass positive energy on your children, family, friends, and neighbors.  This too can spread like a virus throughout the world!

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC

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Today, I challenge you to BE peace.  If you chose peace it will have an impact on you and the world around you.

Some days we look around us and feel like we live in a world of chaos.  The home page of your web server is full of negative news; the market is tanking; your house is a mess;  and your children are yelling.  YOU have the power to choose to peace.

Step away for a little while.  Take some deep breaths that go deep into your lungs; blow out the negativity and breathe in the clean air.  Release the things that are unimportant and replace them with peace. You have the power to control you own thoughts.  Do not give that power to someone or something else.  Peace is in You.  Take the time today and find it.

Think about the lessons we can teach our children, if we can be a peaceful role model.  Help them learn how to chose peace.  A chaotic house will create anxiety, not peace.  Yelling, judging, and complaining causes stress.  What does your home look like?

BE peace today and see the difference it makes for you and your world.

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC – Minnesota D.A.R.E. Executive Director

 

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Today is a beautiful fall day in Minnesota; don’t miss it!  Whatever you are doing, take time to be in the present moment.  See the beauty, be the beauty  in each moment or you are going to miss it.  Even if you are doing yard work, cleaning the house, or sitting at your children’s sporting events; breath, relax, and find the beauty.  Take time to release your stress, anger, and frustration.  You have the power to do this; you control your thoughts.  These  present moments pass us by too quickly.  Will it really make a difference if you don’t get the dusting done today?  You child is standing beside you begging for a few moments of your time.  You won’t regret giving them more time.

We cannot change the past so why are you wasting your time there?  The future will arrive, in time; you cannot live there.   Wishing, hoping, and regretting are ways to evade the present moment.  The “present” is a gift.  Give it to yourself; share it with your family and your friends.

BREATHE IN THAT WONDERFUL MINNESOTA BEAUTY!!!

Kathi Ackerman, Executive Director Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc.

Welcome Minnesota D.A.R.E. Parents, Families, and Friends!

The first page, in the binders I give our new board of director members, has one statement that has always been powerful to me.  I put it there as a reminder to the people who have been chosen to lead our organization.  Today I am putting it on this first official blog, as a powerful statement to the adults, who care for and lead our Minnesota young people.

“What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.”

                                             -Ralph Waldo Emerson-

We need to remember this everyday; we are the role models for our children.  What we say is meaningless, if what we do overshadows it.

This Fourth of July weekend, show your children and family, how to be and act responsibly.  Show them how much you value living in a free country and how much you appreciate those who served and sacrificed to give us this freedom.  Show them the importance of family and friends.  Show them how to be kind and loving to others. Show them how much they are loved.  Speak loudly with your actions!

Have a great weekend and be safe!

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC

Executive Director, Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc.