Meami Craig blog
Dr. Meami Craig is a proud Rochester native and has been the on-air Lifestyles Editor on "Tony and Dee in the Morning" on WRMM-FM (101.3) for the past 12 years. A graduate of Harvard University with a doctorate in psychology, Meami is married and mom to two children in college. She is "fascinated by all things human" and is known for her down-to-earth attitude and sense of humor on the air. Listen to her from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings on WRMM and call in live to tell her what you think. She can be emailed at meami_craig@yahoo.com.
How to Put a Little Birthday into Every Day!
I turned 50 years old this week, a landmark birthday, and for any of you facing one of those I am here to tell you it is not that bad! The night before my birthday I fell asleep feeling, "Okay, this is not so bad. It kind of feels good in fact to have made it this far!" and the next day and the day after that things got--believe it or not--even better! I have had birthday kisses from babies, 3 fabulous wickedly sinful cakes, one bottle of most excellent champagne, heartfelt gifts galore, three bouquets of fresh flowers, one dinner of fettucini alfredo and beef tenderloin COMBINED, a rhinestone tiara to wear--even to Wegman's Pittsford where nobody looked at me askance and I actually fit right in, pizza for breakfast as we celebrated on the air at WARM 101.3 studios, and a new CD I am dancing to in my car as I drive!
At 50, you know what you want and you are not afraid to say it. At 40, I ended up babysitting all the other 5 year olds whose parents brought them along with them to my party and they wanted to stay overnight at my house with MY 5 year old! This ended up with fun and games for all my birthday party GUESTS who went home happily childless for the night but certainly not for my husband and me...hurrrrumphhhhhh! And at 30, I was 8 mos. pregnant with a second child and had a rambunctious 3 year old--so believe me folks, 50 has been a joy comparatively speaking! In fact, it has been SO good I have decided to include a little birthday celebration into each day of my 50th year, and so can you! Here's how:
--Buy yourself a single rose to put right next to your bed weekly so you smell it each morning first thing upon awakening and fall asleep sniffing it each night!
--Take a full minute before you put the coffee in the pot in the morning and inhale that gorgeous coffee smell right out of the can!
--Ask your significant other to kiss you--on the head if you have "sleep mouth smell"--every morning when you have to wake up. Beats the jarring sound of an alarm clock every time!
--Be grateful for EVERYTHING all day long! For example, if you are grocery shopping and you see an adorable little baby being wheeled around the store in a cart, look right into that baby's eyes and smile! And what a little moment of joy it will bring you if they smile back!
--Eat a little cake and drink a little champagne every chance you get!
And the list can go on and on! Just remember to CELEBRATE each day of being alive no matter how many challenges and frustrations that particular day might bring you!
Do you have any thoughts on ways to put a little birthday into every day for yourself? If so, please share them on line right here right now! That alone may be enough to put a little birthday into today for YOU! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
How to Put a Little Birthday into Every Day!
This week I celebrated--and I really mean CELEBRATED--my 50th birthday! For those of you facing a landmark birthday, let me tell you, it is not so bad! It is just a number, and besides, 50 is the new 30, right?!?!?!?? The past two days have been full of laughter, kisses from babies, 3 birthday cakes, 1 bottle of my favorite champagne, two new outfits and jewelry to match, pizza for breakfast at the WARM 101.3 studio, beef tenderloin and fettucini (BOTH!) for dinner, two glorious Cosmo martinis, 3 bouquets of flowers, heartfelt gifts galore and a whole lot of FUN! It makes me realize that we should GO FOR IT EVERY DAY and put a little bit of that birthday exuberance into each day! For example, is this a day you have to clean your home and do the laundry? Balance that with dinner out tonight (doesn't have to be fancy, just someone else to do the clean-up!) or plan to sit tonight under a warm cozy blanket with a cup of something hot to drink, your favorite TV show or movie on, a candle lit, and special relaxing time just for you--created by you! If you can't afford fresh flowers, buy a single rose and out it next to your bed so you can inhale it's fragarance just before going to sleep an first thing upon waking up! Joy does not come to us automatically, we have to reach out for it and GRAB it with both hands in this life!
Here are some other ways to put a little birthday into every day:
--Challenge yourself to find something to be grateful about as many times a day as you can. For example, if you see a cute baby while you are in the grocery store, make a mental note and be grateful just for that!
--Think of how good you feel right after your daily shower or bath and be glad for that.
--Does your newspaper arrive like clockwork at your door every morning? Yahoo!
--Do you like your co-workers and feel a certain bonding with them? This is something to celebrate!
--Music! In and of itself, wow! If your budget allows, go into the CD store and pick up a brand new CD every now and then just to expand yourself to listening to new things--it feels great, trust me!
--Eat a little cake and drink a little champagne every chance you get!
--Take a full minute and smell the coffee right out of the can before you put it in the pot to roast.
--Make a full, hearty fall soup for your family and friends. Be creative with it and
share the pot! Go for the garlic too!
You can add to the list here yourself, and I wish you would share them on line with the rest of us. But please note that many of the great theorists in the school of psychology say it is essential for a human being to have something to look forward to in order to be happy. These things can come from the seemingly mundane, everyday things we do as I have tried to illustrate with my above examples. Join in here and put a little birthday into YOUR day by posting a response online right here right now! Go for it! Thanks!
How to Put a ittle Birthday into Every Day!
Happiness Is Really a Science!
I am reading a fascinating new book called, "What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happpiness Can Change Your Life for the Better", by Dan Baker, Ph.D. I really like the author's perspective because he's the director of the Life Enhancement Program at the famous, ultra-luxurious Canyon Ranch Spa in Lenox, MA. This is where the super rich go to unwind
and Dr. Baker says all the money in the world--which many of them have--does not make his clients' happy. That includes the ones who make 100 million a year and those who just sold their start up companies for 720 million bucks and are building a 16 million dollar home! He writes about, in detail, the 12 qualities of happiness, none of which have to do with money--in fact, he says the illusion that more money would make us happy is just that, a fragile illusion at best.
They are: love, optimism, courage, a sense of freedom, proactivity, security, health, spirituality, altruism, perspective, humor, and purpose. He writes that, "Happy people know why they are here on earth. They are doing the things they are meant to do. If they died today, they would be satisfied with their lives." (pg. 21) I personally am working towards this, on a daily basis, although not very long ago I lost my way and felt very discouraged. Now I am back on track, and although it may sound like a cliche, I am happy just seeing the bright big smile on the face of my five year-old nephew Joey. Do you feel you know what your own personal purpose is to be
in your lifetime here on earth, and are you living it on a minute by minute basis by the choices you make? This will give anyone a sense of peacefulness that sets the stage for true happiness--much, much more than any one single material possession could ever do, believe me! If this is you, or if this is what you are striving for, please write to me here about your struggles and triumphs with happiness in your life! Thank you from all of us!
Why Do Most People Procrastinate?
It's funny that this is my topic today because I myself put off writing this blog and it really caught me off guard! Research shows the three things Americans put off the most are: bill paying, making vacation plans, and job hunting! Bill paying I can see; nobody like to take money out of their precious bank account and send it to creditors, right? But I have a great plan that can help you with that. All the new fall shows are coming on TV this month--pick a night that has a line up that you like and get out all your bills, envelopes, stamps, and pen and put it on your lap. Then, during each and every commercial break, write out at least one bill--and by the end of the night you'll be done with them!
As far as job hunting goes, do just one thing a day so it does not feel so intimidating. Choose something like "update resume", or "check job listings" and then devote a little time to it daily so you eventually get it all done. The best time to search for a new job is while you already have a current job, and these little snippets of time are all you will probably be able to manage while still working anyway. Getting a new job is a job in itself, so give yourself credit for that. The whole process does not need to be painful, and the longer you out it off the more menacing it seems to loom.
Finally, isn't it strange that so many of us out off making vacation plans? The reason is because it involves so much decision making about our limited time and resources, and we do not want get it wrong! We can't afford to squander money and certainly not time! The trick is to start making the plans at least three months in advance, and make it fun by writing for brochures and reading about exotic places--as well as the places you will really be able to go to--online as a treat for yourself.
Have YOU ever overcome the procrastination habit by using a little trick like the ones I've described here? Please share here and we will all benefit from it. Thanks!
