Beverly Goldsmith

Enjoy Christmas! It’s good for your health.

December 1, 2016 By Beverly Goldsmith Leave a Comment

It’s December. The countdown is on. Excitement is building. The pace is quickening. Life is getting hectic. There’s end-of-school activities, office parties, Christmas break-ups, and holiday plans to make; not to mention, shopping, gift wrapping, mailing items, putting up the decorations, cooking and preparing for the all-important family Christmas dinner. With so much to do – especially for Mums, it can take the shine off this happy festive season. Yet it’s possible to maintain the sparkle of joyous anticipation, remain stress-free, and really enjoy Christmas. What’s more it’s good for your health.

KISS: KEEP IT SWEET’N SIMPLE

Often the race to an enjoyable Christmas – one that’s filled with pleasure, is thought to be secured by the amount of time, energy and money devoted to it. This isn’t necessarily true. A happy occasion can be achieved equally as well with thoughtful, humble effort and modest expense.

TIP:

– Don’t get caught up in the “I need to do it all” mindset. Whatever you need to do, keep it sweet and simple. Your peace of mind is what matters on the day.

– Enjoy Christmas with your loved ones. Look forward to spending a joyous time together. Count your blessings.

– Don’t stress-out over having everything “just right”. Stay calm. Relax. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan? So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?” – Bible, Luke 12:25, and 26.

– Give thanks for the good gifts of life you have at hand – a loving family, kind friends, a safe home, peace.

STAY BALANCED

The Christmas season isn’t solely about festivities, or the shop-‘til-you-drop rush for gifts or toys. It’s also about love, peace and “good will to men”. Everyone yearns for that tender expression of heart-felt love which Christmas often inspires in people. Such love is more than words on a card. It’s the active, caring kind that can ultimately lead to a love-filled, enjoyable Christmas.

TIP:

– This year place love at the top of your Christmas wish-list – to give and receive.

– Keep in mind that “The basis of Christmas is love loving its enemies, returning good for evil, love that “suffereth long, and is kind”.” – Mary Baker Eddy. Miscellany p.260

– Show others you care. Spend extra time with your kids. Do something thoughtful for those you love.

– Be an unhurried friend, unharried shopper, unruffled neighbour, and an unflustered family member.

– Remember, enjoy Christmas! You’ll find it’s good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia . Read more by me on Motherpedia…

Also published in the December edition of Around Point Cook , Around Hoppers Crossing , and Around Altona community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.

Spring clean now! It’s good for your health.

September 2, 2016 By Beverly Goldsmith 2 Comments

It’s officially Spring! A time when the days warm up, our gardens bloom, new leaves form, and trees burst into blossom. It’s the season when we don those new Spring fashions, try out fresh Spring colours, and generally emerge from our cocoons. Spring is also a good time to throw off what Shakespeare calls the “winter of our discontent”, and engage in some life-invigorating Spring cleaning for the heart and mind. So here’s how to Spring clean now. What’s more, it’s good for your health.

SPRING-CLEAN YOUR HEART

Spring-time is an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. It’s a time to wipe the slate clean – forget past disagreements or faults, and make a fresh start. No one likes to carry around a grudge, or hold on to hard feelings, anger or regret. These negative emotions need to be cleaned out, to free and lighten the heart.

TIP:

– Get busy. Shake-up your love and caring. “The human heart, like a feather bed, needs often to be stirred, sometimes roughly, and given a variety of turns, else it grows hard and uncomfortable whereon to repose.” Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings. p. 127

– Dust-off friendships. Wipe away hurtful memories or angry words. Reach out in a spirit of forgiveness.

– Be loving to yourself. Don’t blame or needlessly criticise yourself. Be gentle.

– Love more. Keep on loving. Hug your kids. Count your blessings. Give thanks.

– Love one another. “Be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tender hearted, and keep a humble attitude”. The Bible, I Peter 3:8

SPRING-CLEAN YOUR MIND

Spring cleaning isn’t just about tidying, sorting or decluttering your house. It’s also about taking stock of who you are and how you see others. It’s a time to clean out the negative thinking of the past and prepare for a happier, healthier future.

TIP:

– Open the windows of your mind and let in fresh, improved thoughts about yourself and others.

– Start a new and better way of behaving . Don’t ruminate over bad experiences in the past. A new relationship presents you with the opportunity to wipe the slate clean

– Clean the window pane of thought. Remove any specks of criticism or irritation.

– Throw out negative self-talk and self-doubt. Dump unhealthy thoughts and fears in the bin.

– Air out your hopes and aspirations. Throw open the windows of your mind and let the fresh breeze of new ideas come in.

– Let the sunshine of happy thoughts light up and fill the corners of your mind.

– Get going! Spring clean now. It’s good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by me on Motherpedia

Also published in the September edition of around Point Cook community newspaper in print and online via Issuu.

Be encouraging! It’s good for your health.

August 1, 2016 By Beverly Goldsmith 6 Comments

Celebrate kindness. It's good for your health Be encouraging! Everyone likes to do well. And while we don’t seek applause for being a caring parent, or a hard worker, or just plain doing a good job in life, receiving someone’s praise and encouragement can give us a much needed lift. It can help us keep going when we’re feeling down, or when life is hectic or times are tough. That’s why it’s important for us to be encouraging of ourselves, and each other. It’s good for our health.

So how do we become an encouraging person? What is encouragement? It’s words that boost one’s spirit; that comfort, or give moral support; that praise the good things being done; that remind us, our kids, or workmates to keep going; that we’re doing well with our daily tasks. This generous encouragement can be given and received every day, at home, work, school, church, or in community groups. An encouraging person shows their humanity through kind and reassuring words. Their encouragement blesses both giver and receiver and leads to greater happiness and good health.

BE ENCOURAGING TO YOURSELF

The first person to be encouraged each day is you. This is not a selfish act. The rule is, “Love your neighbour as yourself” – not instead of yourself. – Bible , Mark 12:31. Taking time to encourage and strengthen your own thinking first, enables you to be of greater help to others. Remember the safety instruction when flying? Put on your own oxygen mask first, before helping someone else!

TIP:

– Patiently, gently, encourage yourself. Say often, “I’m doing well”.

– Don’t hold on to negative thoughts about your efforts or capabilities.

– Take a moment to remind yourself of the good you’re accomplishing at home or work. This will lift you spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

BE ENCOURAGING TO OTHERS

If you want a happy home or workplace, be encouraging of your family and work colleagues. Don’t be a criticizer – especially if your opinion hasn’t been asked for. If you have to point out another’s shortcoming, do it with gentleness and grace. Also include words of praise. Remember, a “spoonful of sugar (encouragement) helps the medicine go down”. – Disney’s, Mary Poppins

TIP:

– Don’t take others for granted. Praise them for what they’re accomplishing. This will help propel them to achieve more.

– Encourage one another daily. Speak words that inspire and cheer the disheartened. – Bible, I Thessalonians 5:11

– Don’t feel envious of the good things others are doing. Be generous. Support them.

– Be encouraging. “Give of your heart’s rich overflow”. – Minny M.H. Ayers. It’s good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by Beverly on Motherpedia…

Also published in the August edition of Around Point Cook and Around Altona community newspaper in print and online via Issuu.

Beat the winter blues! It’s good for your health.

June 2, 2016 By Beverly Goldsmith 3 Comments

It’s Winter! Time to enjoy cosy fires, hot drinks, warm clothes, snuggling up in bed, and even trips to the snow. However, colder, shorter days may result in the winter blues, anxiety over one’s health, and worry about the best ways to keep the family well. When such winter-time-concerns set in, it’s time to take action. So, turn-up your mental heat. Beat the winter blues! It’s good for your health.

DON’T HIBERNATE.

Although the weather outside may be cold and blustery, resist the urge to hide away. Going into hibernation-mode isn’t good for one’s mental or physical well being. What’s the answer? Get out and about during Winter. Don’t isolate yourself. Keep on-the-go.

TIP:

– Don’t become immobilized during the colder months. Keep yourself mentally active.

– Improve your mood. Give yourself a much needed people-boost. Head out into your community and participate in the many fun activities on offer.

– Socially interact with others. Spend time with friends and family. Share your favourite winter soup or casseroles with them.

LET THE SUNLIGHT IN.

During winter, many people go to work and return home in darkness. Experiencing fewer hours of daylight, can lead to winter depression.

TIP:

– Beat gloomy, wintery-type thoughts by letting the sunlight of gladness and gratitude brighten your thinking. “Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light”. – Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health p. 516

– Don’t feel trapped indoors by the winter blues. Be like the small canary that was mistakenly shut inside a cupboard. Although in total darkness, it started singing. As a result, it was found and set free.

– Free yourself from melancholy emotions. Let the rays of freedom-generating, joy-bringing thoughts, light up your thinking.

EXPECT TO STAY WELL.

When cold and rainy weather arrives, so too can the fear of becoming ill. Such anxiety can be countered with the confident expectation of maintaining good health in every season.

TIP:

– Don’t anticipate being sick during colder months. Keep the fear of illness out of your thinking.

– Act like a porter. Stand guard at the door of thought. “When the condition is present which you say induces disease, whether it be air, exercise, heredity, contagion, or accident, then perform your office as porter and shut out these unhealthy thoughts and fears.” – Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health, p. 392
– Feel safe, strong and well. There is a health-protecting, divine Presence, caring for you all year round. See, The Bible, Psalm 91. You can beat the winter blues and it’s good for your health.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by me on Motherpedia…

Also published in Around Point Cook community newspaper in print and online via Issuu.

Happy mothering! It’s good for your health.

May 2, 2016 By Beverly Goldsmith 4 Comments

Today’s woman is multi-faceted. She can be a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, mother and grandmother. As a mum, she juggles her life with raising children, running a home, work or study. As a grandmother, she often plays an important role in looking-after her grandchildren. For these women, mothering is a serious responsibility and a treasured privilege. While it’s a demanding life, it can be made easier when it incorporates happy mothering which is good for your health.

Celebrate Happy Mothering

Each year Mother’s Day celebrates the contribution women make to family life and acknowledges the importance of mothering. My earliest participation in this celebration, was the morning I proudly carried the breakfast tray into my mother’s room for the first time. Serving my Mum breakfast in bed was my way of thanking her for the love and caring she was giving me. Of course, I didn’t fully appreciate all she was doing to raise me to be a happy, healthy, good person. Yet my mother did this each day with boundless grace and love.

TIPS:

– Relish the challenges of parenting. Be pleased that you’re doing your best as a mother.

– Take pleasure in the fact that you get your children to school each day so that they can receive a good education; that you’re able to feed, clothe, and give them a safe, loving home; that through your efforts you are giving them a good start in life.

– Be glad to “Direct your children onto the right path (so that), when they are older, they will not leave it.” The Bible, Proverbs 22:6.

– Feel satisfied that through your spiritual values and example, your children will become model citizens, knowing right from wrong, treating everyone with respect and kindness, and being a blessing to others at home, school and in the community.

– Have inner contentment. Find joy in allowing meditation or prayer help you be a happy mother. “Take time to be holy, Be calm in thy soul; Each thought and each motive beneath His control.” – W.D. Longstaff .

– Be grateful for your mother’s nurturing and the selfless caring that women around the world give their own children and others. “Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.” Science and Health p. 57 – Mary Baker Eddy.

– Be joyous. With the help of a divine Mother-love you can fulfill your parenting tasks with poise and grace, and celebrate happy mothering.

This article has been published on Motherpedia. Read more by me on Motherpedia…

Also published in Around Point Cook and Around Hoppers Crossing Community newspapers in print and online via Issuu.