Rose of Sharon Jewelry

When you think of wealth do you think of Bill Gates or bank CEOs? Wealth is more than $.  Here’s 10 ways to measure true wealth.

Grab a pencil and pad and start thinking about your wealth. I’ll bet you are a millionaire and don’t even know it.

1. First give yourself $100,000 for being a valuable human being. All human beings are born with value to their community, their family, their God and to the world.
2. Add another $100,000 to your tally if you are an active part of an emotionally healthy extended family. Family isn’t just your blood relatives; it is also the people you gather around yourself to fill the basic familial roles of father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, husband, daughter or son. These people go beyond friendship to provide a safety net for each other. Your wealth (and health) is greatly enhanced by creating your own family.
3. Friends are like money in the bank. You’ll have another $100,000 of true wealth if you have a network of friends. Friendship is also one of the biggest factors in living a long and healthy life.
4. Religious or spiritual beliefs add another $100,000 to your value. Attending a church regularly enhances your mind, brings you friendship and fellowship and gives you a sense of peace. However, having strong spiritual beliefs can also fill your soul, bring you peace and help you figure out what your place is in the universe. If you don’t believe in a God, you actually do have a belief system. Whether it provides you with the benefits believers have, I’m not really certain but give yourself a $25,000 for thinking deeply about the topic.
5. Work provides us with money for physical things. But the  benefits go well beyond the obvious. Add $50,000 if you have a job that keeps you busy. Humans have a built-in response to keeping our hands and minds busy. A feeling of accomplishment is a strong aspect of good emotional health. Add a passion for your work and you earn another $50,000 in value. Add another $50,000 if your job serves others. Whether you are a teacher, doctor or babysitter, your service has great value to our society and beyond. If your work takes you into areas of hardship around the globe, add another $50,000.
6. Children (your own or others) add laughter, love and wonderment to your life. Add $25,000 for each child you have in your life. I’ve always treasured being an Aunt. Hearing my nieces and nephews say “Aunt Sharon” is pure gold. My stepson Josh has been my baby for 34 years. His stepson Hunter is my first adorable grandson and his twins, Kael and Orion, have transformed my life. If you don’t have children in your family, connect with a friend’s child or join Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Find a way to add a child to your life. You’ll be rewarded an extra $50,000.
7. From the day you are born to the day you die, you must be learning. My Grandmother lived a wonderful life for 103 years because she never stopped soaking up knowledge. Whether you take a pottery class, buy some audio tapes to learn a new language, return to school or just read non-stop – you are creating a healthy, active brain. Add $5,000 for each new topic you have learned in the past 3 years.
8. Do you know your passion? Passion is a fire in the belly, a twinkle in your eye and a leaves you searching for words to explain how it makes you feel. If you have a passion, add $50,000 to your wealth.
9. We are our brother’s keepers. That is a belief that runs deep within my family. Doing for others is a powerful way to increase your emotional and spiritual wealth. We are also the overseers of our planet. Volunteering, donating and speaking out about issues such as poverty, global warming, health care, homelessness, disease, war are our duty as citizens of the U.S., earth and the human race. If you hold up your share of the sky, give yourself $50,000. If you think you are too busy, don’t have anything to offer or just haven’t given it a thought, deduct $10,000. Find a way to fulfill this responsibility now and you’ll earn back the $10,000 plus another $50,000.
10. Do you take time every day to be kind to yourself? Do you treat yourself with respect and make a real effort to pamper yourself? This is a hard one for busy women and men. Add $50,000 to your asset tally if you actively love yourself. All the other areas of wealth are built upon a foundation of self-love.

Bonus Bucks

Add another $5,000 if you -

1. Own a hybrid or high mileage vehicle.
2. Teach your children manners.
3. Read a daily newspaper (print or digital).
4. Write your congressperson at least once a year.
5. Tithe at your church.
6. Laugh often.
7. Cry when needed.
8. Balance your budget.
9. Exercise or play a sport regularly.
10. Add beauty to your life – garden, paint, decorate, etc.

Add another $10,000 if you -

1. Support a charity regularly.
2. Cook your own meals more than 75% of the time.
3. Vote in every election.
4. Recycle paper, glass and metal.
5. Spend as much time outdoors as you can.

Add another $25,000 if you -

1. Create your own measures of wealth.

I’d recommend that you revisit these true wealth calculations annually to reinforce how valuable you are!

Thanks for stopping by again. Don’t forget to check out the newest releases in the Rose of Sharon Jewelry store.

Adequate sleep is a life supporting necessity.  Once upon a time, I wrote a booklet on sleep. Here’s 10 tips to help you improve your sleep.

1. Unplug yourself at least 30 minutes before going to bed. New research shows that electronics (computer, video games, PDAs, smart phones and TV) stimulate a part of the brain that needs to be “calm” for optimum sleep.
2. Sit in silence for 15 minutes. Breathe deeply through your nose and slowly through your mouth. Concentrate on your breathing
3. Find a comfortable set of earplugs. These will muffle unwanted noises (including a partner’s snoring) without eliminating important sounds. Our cave ancestors had to be on high alert against predators. Even seemingly insignificant sounds can be sensed while asleep. Give earplugs a try even if you believe your bedroom is quiet at night.
4. Keep it cool. Temperature plays an important role in sleeping, Your body automatically lowers your temperature during sleep to an optimal state. A moderately cool room is best. During menopause, you may need to keep the room even cooler to offset hot flashes.
5. Lean forward when urinating to completely empty the bladder. This will help minimize nightly trips to the bathroom.
6. Wear socks to bed. Studies have shown that warm feet contribute to sound sleep by reducing night awakenings.
7. Apply fragrance at bedtime. Aromatherapy relaxation principles can help you sleep better. Lighter natural fragrances such as lavender, vanilla and citrus are good choices but don’t over do it. You can also find linen sprays in special sleep formulas.
8. Don’t use alcohol as a sleep aid. You may fall asleep faster, but it won’t be restorative sleep.
9. Eliminate the distractions from your bedroom. When you see a stack of bills, unfolded laundry or other chores, your body automatically tenses up. The only items that surround you in your bedroom should be peaceful, beautiful and calming. Your bedroom should only be for sleeping and sex.
10. Talk to yourself out loud. Some brains disconnect better when thoughts are verbalized. Avoid negative self-talk and concentrate on encouraging yourself. Statements such as “I can change my life” or “I am going to breathe deeply and tell my boss the truth” are then “put to sleep.”

Most Americans are sleep deprived. A good night’s sleep is a critical for your health, productivity, memory and safety. You must make it a priority in your life.

The more time pressed you feel – the more you need optimum sleep. Often poor sleep is created by poor habits. New habits typically take 2 or 3 weeks to create so get started creating good sleep habits tonight!

If your DIY efforts aren’t effective, see your doctor for assistant. But remember that sleeping pills aren’t the only answer and often come with their own health risks. Good night!

May you find peace at night!

A recent Scientific Mind article pondered reasons why depression has increased in the Baby Boomer and younger generations. It seems that moving away from work activities that engage the hands and mind plus result in a tangible reward may be a cause.  And one potential “treatment” may be crafting!

In the not too distant past, we physically raised our own food, chopped our own wood and made our own clothing.  The rewards of a healthy, tasty dinner, a warm place to sleep and enjoying a soft new sweater were a direct result of our actions!

Studies have shown that this action/reward pattern stimulates the parts of the brain that relate to happiness and our feelings of well-being. Work has become disconnected from rewards.

We now earn money (that we never even hold in our hands) in a less physical manner and our brains miss out on the rewards. We run for take-out, pay the electric bill, shop online for shoes while we collectively feel more unhappy or depressed.

The rewards we are giving ourselves aren’t as fulfilling now and simply don’t last very long. That’s why scientists who study happiness believe more and more people overspend. Don’t we all know someone who has a dress or two in their closet that has never been worn? The high evaporated before they got home.

Rebuilding the action/reward connection may be as simple as starting a new hobby that requires your hands, multi-step learning and complex brain activities. What better way to do that than to craft?

So get off the computer, turn off the TV and get out the knitting needles or pick up a pair of pliers. Knitting, crocheting, polymer clay work, intricate beading and other crafts can be a great way to ward off depression.

As my Granny always said “busy hands mean happiness.”