Category Archives: Mental and emotional health

Like attracts like!

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Well, yes… after all, if l like you and you like me, that’s a good place to start a friendship!

The idea that opposites attract doesn’t have to mean that the city mouse and the country mouse get married. But often times l find that l appreciate seeing good qualities, positive character traits, healthy emotional expressions, fine logical intelligence, and a real sense of humor in someone else, although to be honest l am still working on the challenge of refining myself in these worthy areas. You could even say that the qualities I would like to see improving in myself, I also like to see these same qualities in my friends. I consider myself mentored by all my friends, since I learn and grow whenever I have the privilege of spending time together.
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No Child Left Inside

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As Americans’ obesity continues to rise, our concerns are for the adults suffering from heart disease, diabetes, and other weight-related illnesses.  In the mean time, children’s obesity is increasing drastically as their parents’ largely sedentary lifestyles become their own. 

In 1976, 5% of children were overweight
In 2002, 23% preschoolers were obese or overweight
By 2010, it is predicted that over 50% of children will be overweight

In an effort to combat obesity and a lack of connectedness with the natural environmental in children, the Connecticut Department of Environmental protection founded the  No Child Left Inside initiative.  While the idea is to promote more family time spent outdoors, taking advantage of public parks, there are many health benefits and the catch phrase has spread across the nation.

For more on this topic check out Richard Louv’s book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder”!

Self-esteem meets group work

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Chicken soup for the soul
Introduction
Nancy Silberman Zwiebach has a private psychotherapy practice where she meets with adolescents and adults doing individual, couples’, family, and group therapy. Her practice also includes Parenting and Life Coaching.

Originally a nurse working with emotionally disturbed children, she decided to pursue a career in Psychology, leading to both a Master’s and Professional Diploma from St. John’s University and to becoming Certified as a School Psychologist.

Self-esteem
I met up with Nancy on the telephone over the weekend, and I was so happy to invite her to Health Patio for a bit to share her expertise. (Thank you, Nancy!)

It was a time of career transition for Nancy 13 years ago when she headed from metro New York to sunny California for a 12 day seminar with Jack Canfield (author of the “Chicken Soup” series), becoming Certified as a Self Esteem Facilitator and doing Motivational Speaking. At the time, she was struck with the generosity of ideas and self-esteem that Jack Canfield himself brought to the seminar. I was struck with the connection between the qualities of generosity and self-esteem.
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