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If I Had My Life to Live Over by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, ‘Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.’ There would have been more ‘I love you’s’ More ‘I’m sorry’s.’

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it … live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Erma Bombeck was an American humorist. From the mid 1960’s to the late 1990’s, she wrote a very popular newspaper column describing home life in the suburbs. She also published 15 books, most of which became best-sellers.

Marilyn Kvasnok

Seven Simple Steps to a Healthier You and a Healthier Planet

Sep 27th, 2010

by Marilyn.

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Seven Simple Steps to a Healthier You and a Healthier Planet

(ARA) – Americans have traditionally considered the health of the planet and their personal health two distinct subjects. Times have changed. When we consider our personal health, many now see the connection to the environment.

“Most people want to be healthy and live on a clean and beautiful planet,” says Amy Lou Jenkins, a registered nurse who writes about nature and green living for Examiner.com, and who has authored the book, “Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting” “Now, it’s becoming important to enhance our own health, as we care for our Earth. Fortunately, it’s easy to make green living choices that are good for you, your family and the planet.”

Jenkins offers these seven simple steps that can help you improve your own health, and care for the earth at the same time:

1. Replace car trips with a bike ride or a walk whenever possible.
Every day, Americans’ automobiles pour millions of pounds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Any step that reduces that output is a step toward better health for the environment. Walking and biking are also great low-impact ways to exercise your muscles, burn calories and deliver cardiovascular benefits. Taking a bike instead of a car for just one 4-mile round trip prevents the release of about 15 pounds of pollutants, according to the WorldWatch Institute.

2. Buy local foods and eat less meat.
Locally grown food requires less fuel to transport and causes the emission of fewer pollutants to arrive at the market than produce grown far from where you live. A meal of meat uses exponentially more water, land and petroleum products than a plant-based meal. The greenhouse gas emission associated with animal feed and animal methane increase environmental damage further. Add to that the water pollution from runoff and land degradation from grazing and you begin to see the enormous ecologic strain caused by a diet rich in meat. Lowering your red meat intake and increasing your consumption of fresh vegetables is associated with improved health, lower incidences of cancer and heart disease and a longer life. In addition, buying local produce will directly benefit your community.

3. Discover solar cooking.
Whether you cook on an electric stove, gas range, gas grill or charcoal grill, traditional cooking consumes fossil fuel. Consider buying a solar cooker and swap out propane and charcoal grills for sustainable solar energy. Solar energy is carbon neutral and ultra clean.

4. Take the stairs.
Elevators use energy all day long and two-thirds of that consumption is used to move people up and down. Reducing the number of elevator trips cuts the amount of energy used. Plus, taking the stairs is an easy lifestyle change that can net a big payoff over time in heart health and weight management. Overall, it is a healthier way to travel.

5. Get into gardening – all year long.
Gardening offers many health benefits, from mental relaxation to light cardiovascular exercise. Indoor gardening with easy hydroponic systems can ensure you’ll have plenty of fresh, nutritious produce – even in the winter. And by traveling from windowsill to plate, instead of being flown across the country or planet, your homegrown produce reduces fuel consumption and pollution.

6. Switch to all-natural products for cleaning, rather than toxic chemicals.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that it has found detergent in 69 percent of streams it has tested and disinfectants in 66 percent of tested waterways. Fortunately, many manufacturers of household cleansers now offer all-natural lines. By switching to natural products – including homemade cleaners made with simple pantry products like vinegar – you reduce your personal exposure to toxic chemicals and help keep them out of our groundwater.

7. Unplug.
American homes consume a staggering amount of electricity every year. Switching off the computer, video games, TVs and cell phones not only reduces your home’s energy use, the electronic silence offers an invitation to family time to reconnect and spend time together. Research shows that healthy relationships and social contacts are associated with long life and happiness.

You can find more green living news at www.examiner.com.

Marilyn Kvasnok

Retirement Planning

Aug 11th, 2010

by Marilyn.

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A lot of people believe that Social Security and Medicare will finance their retirement. But, Social Security was never meant to be a total retirement income. We all need to fund our own retirement. And the sooner you start, the more you’ll be able to save. If you haven’t been able to save anything from your current income, how will you be able to live on less when you retire? Here are some ideas to jump start your retirement nest egg.

Stop Spending
When you’ve dug yourself into a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging! Think about your purchases and only spend what’s truly necessary. No, a Starbucks latte is NOT necessary.

Make a Budget and Stick to it
Do you really know how much you spend? It’s easy to see the rent/mortgage, utilities and car payment. But, what about the impulse spending? Keep track of every penny you spend for a month. Sort it into categories. At the end of the month, you’ll have a true picture of what you really spend. Now, add all the other expenses that occur throughout the year: Real estate tax, car insurance, homeowner’s insurance, AAA, Costco membership, credit card interest, etc. Next, the trick is to make your expenses total less than your income. The difference can be saved for retirement.

Pay Yourself First
Once your budget is under control, choose a savings vehicle. I like The Vanguard Group mutual funds. If you can’t meet the minimum contribution, start with a savings account at a bank or savings and loan. The idea is to get the money out of your hands and put it where it will earn income, even if it’s minimal to start. Set up an automatic monthly transfer from your checking to the savings account. One goal would be to live on 90% of your income and save 10%.

Don’t think you can live on 90% of your income? The Richest Man in Babylon is a short, easy to read book, written like a fable. It has a common sense approach to saving money – No matter how much or little you make.

Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account)
One good way to save for retirement is to open a Roth IRA. It’s funded with after tax dollars, so it grows tax free. That means you pay income tax on the money you deposit into the IRA account. When you withdraw the money, it’s all tax free because you’ve paid the tax on your contribution. You can open a Roth IRA at many financial institutions, including banks, brokerage firms and mutual fund companies like The Vanguard Group.

The alternative is to open a Traditional IRA and fund it with pre-tax dollars. It grows tax deferred, so you don’t owe tax until you withdraw the money. But, if you contribute every year and your investment grows, you’ll have to pay tax on all the money you withdraw – Not just your contributions.

Free retirement planning info and programs: Analyze Now!

Yahoo Finance, Financially Fit: A Guide to Saving Smart and Living Well

Yahoo Finance, Financially Fit: Boost Your Social Security Benefits

Social Security Administration: What You Need To Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits

What else can you do to plan for retirement? Comments are welcome.

Popular Baby Names

Jun 15th, 2010

by Marilyn.

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As a Baby Boomer, I’ve earned the right to talk about the Good Old Days. When I was in school, my friends had names like Kathy, Mary, Susan, Robert, William and John. OK, so Marilyn isn’t one of the most common names. But, it wasn’t that unusual back then, either. I wasn’t named after Marilyn Monroe, but she was very popular back then. Dad wanted to name me Mary, like my mom. Mom wanted to name me after her mom, Eva, but update it to Evelyn. They settled on Marilyn. Good thing. I don’t think I’m an Evelyn! Funny how we grow into our name.

Today, I don’t meet many young people with common names. So, now the trend is unique names. But, the more they’re given, the more common they become. I’m thinking there’s always a Madison, Taylor, Logan and Jayden in every classroom. I hope there’s also a Kathy, Mary, Susan, Robert, William and John.

Here’s a database of the most popular baby names, sorted by state, by year and for the last 100 years. Surprisingly, some common names made the list.

Is your name on the list? How about your children and grandchildren?

Marilyn Kvasnok

Dream Board – Part 2

May 19th, 2010

by Marilyn.

1 comment

I fell into the Dream Board trap – Big time. My Dream Board is ho-hum. Well, not all of it. There are parts that I love. Some of the images and text come from my heart and subconscious. But, after reading Martha Beck’s article “What The Heck’s A Vision Board—and How Can It Change Your Life?”, I have a new concept of what a Dream Board is and how it can work for me.

So, I’m off on a new adventure. Looking for, as Ms. Beck writes, “… combinations of objects and events that will stick in your subconscious mind and steer your choices toward making the vision real.” She recommends finding these images in magazines. But, I’ve got the whole World Wide Web to browse through.

I’m keeping my original Dream Board. I love that it’s wallpaper on my desktop. But, I’m going to surf the net with my heart and keep my eyes open. I’ll be collecting images, quotes and phrases that I love. It will be eclectic and maybe a little wacky. But, it will be mine. And soon, I’ll make a new Dream Board. After all, it’s a process – Learning as I go.

My original post on Dream Board

Oprah Winfrey has the best, free Dream Board site I’ve seen.

Martha Beck’s post “What The Heck’s A Vision Board—and How Can It Change Your Life?”

Are you ready to make a Dream Board now?

Marilyn Kvasnok