Health & Wellness Archives - Page 7 of 10

September 16, 2015 By Sharon Weinstein

The Everly Brothers and The Rev. Martin Luther King…dreams

“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what shall one day be. Your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.” – James Allen

The Everly Brothers knew about dreams

In a hit 1958 song, the famed Everly Brothers recorded the following words about dreams:

Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream, dream dream, dream

When I want you in my arms, when I want you and all your charms

Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

Dream, dream, dream

The Everly Brothers created a hit, and raised awareness of the significance of dreams. In today’s complex world, we collaborate with dream and sleep experts – those destined to help us understand the significance of our dreams and how dreams are affected by sleep patterns. (http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the-everly-brothers/all-i-have-to-do-is-dream.html)

Dreaming big dreams, and making them real

Perhaps the most significant speech about a dream is that associated with the late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. In a moving historical moment, Reverend King delivered a speech that transformed lives, including his own:

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” (USConstitutionhttp://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/index.html -)

Are you living your dreams?

Each and every day, people across the country and around the world are living their dreams. Are you one of them? You may think that your dreams are out of reach and that it is impossible. But, people prove every day that someone is going to get rich, famous, healthy, or otherwise improve their lives. The ‘Make a Wish Foundation” makes dreams come true for countless numbers of people annually. http://www.medaloffreedom.com/MartinLutherKingJr.htm) Do you think that the children involved are non-believers? Do you think for a moment that they do not visualize their dreams becoming reality? Do you think that they allow illness or oppression to stand between them and their dreams? Of course…the answer is a decisive no!

Dreaming of a future that could be

As a young girl, growing up in an abusive household, I often dreamed of what could be. I looked at the relationships that my friends had with their parents and families and wished that I could be like them. I knew that I could be better, that I could do better, and I set out on a mission, at age 14 to prove it.

My healthcare career began at age 14 as a volunteer. At the same time, I found as many jobs as possible to generate income. The jobs were varied – from assisting an accountant with the daily receipts of a number of local food establishments to babysitting and more. I worked long hours and I worked hard. I developed a strong work ethic from my affiliation with the accountant…he taught me the importance of completing a task and realizing my goals. He served as a referral for me when I applied to nursing school, and he became a lifelong friend and mentor.

I knew that to realize my dreams I needed a good education, and I saw nursing as the vehicle to help me to reach my goals. Although my initial program was only three years, leading to a diploma, I graduated with honors and went on to complete baccalaureate and master’s degrees on a continuum of learning that has not yet stopped many years later.

I was fortunate to have had a role model…someone who believed in me and my ability and who helped me to understand the value of dreams. Today, somewhere…someone is going to go back to school to improve their life. Someone is going to become a lifelong learner.

Someone is going to look in the mirror and see that they need to lose a little weight and they will make the decision to become healthy. Someone will run their first marathon or improve their health. Someone, somewhere – is going to set out on a pathway to success and reach beyond their dreams to change their lives. That someone might be you…or someone you know. [Read more…]

July 26, 2015 By Sharon Weinstein

Time…and commitments

We all have the same number of hours in a day…just 24! It took me years to understand that concept as I continued to work 100 hour weeks, 2 weeks of each month for 10 years in the former Soviet Union or Central and Eastern Europe. Time was not a consideration – the fact that there was so much to be done to create the infrastructure for updated health systems and nursing excellence was a priority. And, I worked hard and loved it. As I reflect on the past, I would not change a thing. I have had an incredible opportunity to impact many lives in the process, and I have many friends worldwide. How we spend our time is our choice, and as I rediscovered myself and fine-tuned my own commitments, I knew that change was on the horizon. I respectfully resigned from boards and committees, and chose what would work for me. I redefined my own choices, and they include: www.gedinfp.com, www.ihfglobal.com, www.smwgroupllc.com, www.corelimited.com, and www.sharonmweinstein.com. I still have 24 hours in each day…just like each of you! I still honor my commitments with the same energy and fulfillment! But, I have found time to continue to give back to society and to honor what matters most – family!

December 3, 2014 By Sharon Weinstein

The more you work, the more you lose!

How’s your balance? Does life, or work, get in the way? Think about it – the more people work, the less time they have to spend on other activities, such as personal care or leisure. The amount and quality of leisure time is important for one’s overall well-being, and can contribute to considerable physical and mental health benefits. Trust me – work/life balance is within your reach; the more you work, the more you lose. When one of my colleagues adds more hours or another employer in order to make ends meet, I cringe. It may be tempting to rack up more hours at work and sometimes overtime is required. But, if you’re spending the bulk of your time working, something must take a hit. Read more about Work/Life Balance in B is for Balance, 2nd edition. It is time to reclaim control!

December 3, 2014 By Sharon Weinstein

What is this thing called balance?

Family-friendly working and work/life balance refer to working arrangements that help us achieve a better balance between work and family life. These may include maternity and paternity leave, on-site child care, flextime, job sharing, working from home, and other creative solutions. They all add value to the work environment, and they contribute to workplace balance. We all have responsibilities, whether caring for children or elderly parents, or pursuing personal interests, activities, or hobbies. Some of us are in the “sandwich generation,” meaning that we’re juggling the challenge of school-age children and aging parents or family members. Workers must be equipped to resolve personal and workplace issues, juggle conflicting responsibilities, and balance personal and workplace roles. At the same time, today’s employers are constantly seeking ways to assist their workers in managing their job responsibilities and their personal responsibilities and needs. Strategies for work/life balance help create supportive, healthy work environments; strengthen employee commitment and loyalty; and result in more productive workplaces and improved customer satisfaction. So, what is this thing called balance? It is something that we need in our lives in order to survive and thrive! It is what makes us whole and will empower us to be more, do more, and create more.

“When people go to work, they shouldn’t have to leave their hearts at home.” Betty Bender

December 3, 2014 By Sharon Weinstein

Moscow to Minsk by train, and then…Hillary and the orange paint

As Coordinator for health projects in the former Soviet Union, I had the privilege of being in Minsk, Belarus with Hillary Clinton for a Project Hope presentation. I had traveled the night before from Moscow, where I was hosting another delegation from New York and Chicago. The night train from Moscow to Minsk was a challenge. I was the only English-speaker. I recall my friend, Yuri, telling me, “If you think that the lady looks bad now – wait until you see her in the morning.” The ‘lady’ was the dejourniah or train matron, and yes, she looked pretty bad. I purchased a sheet and a towel, for which I paid top dollar since I was American. I also paid for both bunks in my cabin so that I would not be disturbed, but during the night, there was a loud banging at the door. The dejourniah burst in with another passenger and shouted to me in Russian that the someone would be joining me. As soon as the newly arrived passenger lit her first cigarette, I knew that it would be a long night. Fortunately, she needed to use the facilities, and when she left the cabin, I locked her out. Arriving in Minsk, I was exhausted, and yes, the dejourniah looked pretty bad. I arrived at the hospital in time to prepare for the next day’s activities. Along with several US and Belarusian colleagues, we painted the walls of the reception area with the only paint that we could find – bright orange, oil-based paint. Of course, it did not dry in time for the following day’s proceedings, and in addition to being ‘tacky’ to touch, the odor was horrific. And along came Mrs. Clinton, in a beautiful mink coat. She was gracious, brilliant, charming, and she leaned against the wall. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination!

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