Keep moving

Retirement is not about sitting around doing nothing. You need to move your body daily, or you will lose it. If you hate the gym, don't want to walk, can't swim, or hate all forms of exercise, opt for mindfulness in daily chores. Select one room each day and commit to a thorough cleaning. Stretch from the waist to reach cobwebs in the corners. Breathe rhythmically as you push and pull the vacuum, using the bicep, tricep and shoulder. Wipe windows, doors, floorboards and furniture. Get down and dirty by cleaning a small-area floor by hand instead of using a mop. One room each day is enough to keep you well-conditioned. Don't be afraid to work up a sweat --- it's good for you. When you feel tired and winded, take a break. It's not a race. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.

Reiki for children

Day-after-day, my 8 year old son came in from school looking stressed and feeling afraid. He was being bullied and feared he wasn't fitting in with other children. I felt helpless and alone; he's a gentle soul with a tender heart and a high spiritual calling. The grown ups in his world failed him time and again. Teachers dismissed his fears as "unreasonable" because the bully was smaller. School administrators looked the other way with an attitude of, "boys will be boys." Family members said, "he needs to toughen up if he's going to make it in this world!" I didn't know what to do. My heart broke as his self-esteem plummeted. This went on for years and escalated into anxiety and worry about his academic performance due to repeated discouraging, careless and callous remarks from a teacher.

Three years later, I began weekly Reiki treatments with an intent to raise his vibrations to a level that aligned him with Spirit's plan for his life. Within two months, I saw a change. He was more comfortable in his skin, more confident. At 12, he became a Certified Level II Reiki Practitioner, calling upon the energy to self-soothe and resolve issues as needed. Now, he is 20 years old and uses Reiki to restore emotional balance and to help others. He used Reiki to help Grandpa's knee injury. He sends Remote Reiki to support my healing work when I am tired or under the weather. I watch in awe as he fashions a world that accommodates his preferences and needs, not the other way around. He is a happy-go-lucky young man with a wonderful sense of self and an awareness of how to use Universal energy to shape his personal life experience.

Infants self-soothe by sucking their fingers or a pacifier. Older children, teens and adults, need a more socially acceptable method to bring comfort and calm during stressful events like hectic work days, important exams, and when faced with difficult choices and peer pressure. In a world where people are plugged in and wired 24/7, Reiki makes time for connecting with the Universe and going inward for guidance. In a crowded room or home alone, Reiki is a perfectly discreet way to get centered and shift to a higher frequency where self-love awaits to aid with clarity and to guide the way to healthy life choices.

Lawrence Palevsky, M.D., FAAP, is former Chief of Pediatric Acute Care at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He is also a Reiki II Practitioner and integrates Reiki and other complementary therapies into his patient care program. In an article that appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Dr. Palevsky shares how he used Reiki in his practice.

"My most fascinating experiences with Reiki were in the delivery room, caring for infants born in distress. Many of these babies were born and placed on the infant warmer without movement or even a single cry. … I would prop the oxygen masks on their faces, turn the overhead lights off, decrease their stimulation and give them Reiki, usually lasting about 10 to 15 minutes… Invariably, these depressed, initially unresponsive infants would slowly emerge, open their eyes, move their hands, arms, feet and legs, and begin a slow squirm in my hands, normalizing their tone, color and behavior… Vital signs remained stable; their breathing normalized… No admissions to the intensive care unit were necessary for these newborns.” Click here to read the entire article.

There are countless benefits of Reiki for today's youths who are struggling daily with peer pressure, bullying, exam worries, changes in the home, low self-worth, self-acceptance, fitting in and many other challenges. When a child receives Reiki, the mind is quieted and nerves are calmed. A tremendous sense of peace prevails, clearing the way for a healthier view of reality. They leave the session relaxed, happy and at peace. 

Reiki is a family affair. Children no longer have to feel helpless when family members fall ill. They can learn Reiki and use it to help elders with Alzheimers, siblings with ADD/ADHD, parents with depression and friends who are injured. For youths, Reiki is a powerful coping mechanism that raises awareness and shifts energy in their favor. It gives them a sense of control and order. Click here for accounts of how some families are using Reiki to empower and improve the lives of loved ones.

Are you ready to introduce your young person to Reiki? Click here to schedule a session.

Surrender

Let go and let God; more than mere words. There is tremendous power in this simple act of faith. The challenge? To see through the deception that one must exert a great deal of energy to make good on Divine's promise of abundance and fulfillment, Leave struggle, stress and strife to the non-believers. Rest well in the embrace of perfect peace and joy beyond all reason. Surrender.

Life lessons

Before I left Corporate America, I was blessed to do a job I loved in an industry that allowed me to use and develop many aspects of my self to be of service in a meaningful way. I left the confines and security of a brick and mortar, salaried position 12 years ago. There has been no guarantee of income, retirement plan or regular PTO. As someone with an excellent skill set, I always felt I could reenter the Corporate world at any time and pick up where I left off. To my surprise, that place doesn't even exist anymore. I chose ownership of my time over money and there has been a hefty price to pay along with some great rewards.

I own and operate a beautiful healing practice and serve a wonderful clientele of people who appreciate and value my work. I have had the distinct pleasure of being a full-time, hands-on mother to my son as well as a front-row caregiver for my aging parents. My siblings rely on my time and energy to fill gaps while they work more traditional jobs, the fruits of which they share generously in honor of my contributions to the family whole.

Here are a few of my life lessons so far:

(1) Make honorable choices that serve the whole of your world, not just your egoistic desires. By serving the many, you are planting seeds that will grow mighty trees of support and good will in times of need. 
(2) You will live in the house you build with your decisions. If you don't like what you've built, you can reconstruct at any time (often slowly and painfully) by changing your choices and behavior. 
(3) There are creative forces at work behind the scenes, mirroring and attracting the energy you put out (not the stuff you "say" you're about), so be conscious of what's really going on in your heart. 
(4) Do not be discouraged by limited acceptance and understanding from those around you. They do not see or know Divine's plans for your life --- neither do you.
(5) Listen intently and be obedient to your God-given and God-driven internal GPS. It will never steer you wrong.

The Path

Life is full of twists and turns and fast-moving curve balls aimed at vulnerable places. Every detour is an opportunity to expand and test your navigation skills. Call on your angels and guides for clarity and insight into The Creator's intentions for your greatest life. Surprise opposing forces with your fluidity and agility --- flowing and contorting with every shift; bending, never breaking. Don't lose your grip on your compass. When things settle down, find your way to the path that leads to your destination. It may be the same or you may be led in a new direction than originally planned. Whatever you do, don't look back. Stay forward-facing and give thanks for the journey.