#FF Friday's Fab Finds: ADHD, Paying It Forward for Kids' Sports, Infants, Junk Food & Children's Mental Health, & Blind Judo on Blind Matters Radio

Thought for the Day: As we start Labor Day Weekend, I found some great finds this week. I wish I had discovered the first find before the summer, but it will give parents of kids with ADHD time to investigate and search for programs for next summer for their children. The second find is a children's book which is paying it forward for children's sports programs, like mine does for helping people accomplish their dreams. Speaking of which, the 3rd find is a radio program tomorrow with Willy Cahill, Olympic Judo Coach. The show will highlight the benefits of the sport of Judo for blind and visually impaired children and adults. If you have time, I hope you will listen in tomorrow. Finally, a study that all pregnant and new mothers should be aware of, although we know that junk food is bad for our health, this study found that unborn infants and newborns exposed to junk food have a higher tendency to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Have a wonderful weekend & I hope you enjoy these finds.


Like Summer Camp With Brain Benefits: ADHD Summer Intensive Programs By Madeline Vann, MPH Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH Here's something for parents of children with ADHD to think about for next summer for their children, an intensive summer program that focuses on whole brain development and features diet strategies, exercise options, and classes geared to bolster both strengths and weaknesses - all while remaining fun.

A sports story worth celebrating -- Bob Salomon and a Glove of Their Own By Rick Young, August 22, 2012, from FoxNews Here's a book doing for sports programs for children, what I am doing for the Dream Non-profits featured in my book. Bob Salomon is donating a portion from the sale of each book, A Glove of Their Own,  is donated to: Good Sports, Sports Gift, & Pitch In For Baseball. In addition, Bob sees to it that $3 of every book sold will be given to any school or non-profit organization that joins his effort.

Coach Willy Cahill, Legendary Judo Coach And Co-Founder Of The Blind Judo Foundation To Speak With 400,000 Listeners Of Blind Matters Radio Show Audience August 31, 2013 If you know someone who is blind or visually impaired, you may want to let them know about this broadcast tomorrow about how the sport of judo can build self esteem and independence for the blind. The Blind Judo Foundation is one of the Dream Nonprofit organizations featured in my book. They are doing phenomenal work. If you get a chance, listen in

In Young Kids, Junk Food Linked to Mental Illness  By Traci Pedersen Associate News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D., August 22, 2013 This is an important story for any pregnant mother or parent of a young child to read. Prenatal & early childhood nutrition has found a link to depression and anxiety in children exposed to junk food during these formative stages of life.

Thursday's Psychology Trivia Answer: Seasonal Affective Disorder Can Strike In Any Season

Thought for the Day: Some children are already back in school others are anticipating starting back after this weekend, making this a busy time for everyone. I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend and savor the end of summer.

On Tuesday's Psychology Trivia Question we asked:
True or False: 10 percent of those diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder suffer symptoms at the brightest time of the year. 

The answer is True. Although most people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) have are depressed during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight, some people find summer months difficult. In an article, Got the Summer Blues? 5 Ideas That May Help,  Therese J. Borchard, associate editor of PsychCentral reports that:

"For many people, the summer months are the most difficult. In fact, 10 percent of those diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder suffer symptoms at the brightest time of the year. The summer’s brutal heat, bright light, and long days can contribute to depression for the opposite reasons that the winter does. Like typical SAD, the change of light can affect a person’s circadium rhythm, which may disturb overall health and sleep patterns."

As we rapidly move into fall and then winter the other 90% of people who suffer from SAD may want to get their sun lamps ready!

Wednesdsy's Wake Up Moments: The Christopher Lane Murder: What Do You Do When You Are Discouraged?

Thought for the Day: Wednesdays posts are being focused on you, my readers & fans. I want to know your high & low "Wake Up" moments on the rod to your dreams. I have been opening the discussion by sharing some of my highs & lows over the last few Wednesdays. Those of you reading my posts know that the end of the summer has been jam packed, making it hard to keep up. We have a friend here helping us do some work on the house . We are taking advantage of the end of the summer to get projects done before the weather changes. It is both a high & a low, making it hard to keep up with the blog.

However, this morning after a power outage, when I began to catch up by reading the news,  my challenges were brought into perspective, triggering a very discouraging low for me. In shock and sadness, I read about the senseless murder of Christopher Lane in Oklahoma. Lane was a college student athlete. He came from Australia to the US to play baseball & be with his American girlfriend of four years. He gunned down while jogging by 3 teens who said they were, "bored" & decided to kill someone.

I have been writing about gun control & preventive mental health programs in our school since before the Newtown tragedy. I am discouraged & heartbroken. When will we wake up & work together in nonpartisan efforts to improve the laws? When will parents (and all citizens) demand stronger mental health programs that will help curb the increase of violence in our nation? I will not be deterred from speaking up, going to Washington, & encouraging everyone who reads my blog to search for creative solutions. I for one could use a "virtual hug" from you via comments & suggestions from anyone who is struggling with these issues & agrees that we must take action. Together solutions can be found to whatever challenges we face.

How about you? What do you do when you are discouraged? Do you need a "virtual hug?" Feel free to post your highs & lows get some support as you move towards the lives of your dreams.

*This photo provided by East Central University shows Christopher Lane, an Australian who was on a baseball scholarship at East Central University in Ada, Okla. Lane was in Duncan, Okla., visiting his girlfriend, when he was shot and killed Friday, Aug. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/East Central University Communications & Marketing, Gina Smith)

Tuesday's Psychology Trivia: Facts About S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Thought for the Day: As summer draws to a close & we approach the colder weather and the season for S.A.D., Seasonal Affective Disorder, here's Tuesday's Psychology Trivia Question about on S.A.D.:

True or False: 10 percent of those diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder suffer symptoms at the brightest time of the year.

What do you thinnk? Come back on Thursday for the answer. 

Sunday's Comic Strips: Surviving Adolesence

Thought for the Day: Here's a lighter look at life with adolescents from my HealthTap TipTaps. What helps you survive living with your adolescent?

TipTap: Adolescent health

Subscribe

Living With Adolescents

If it feels like your teen has been abducted by aliens. Remember in a few yrs they'll be sane again.

Dr. Barbara Lavi

Clinical Psychology

Thank

1 DOCTOR AGREES

https://www.healthtap.com/#tips/1282633

Saturday's Songs for the Soul: "Tomorrow," A Three Minute Positive Psychology Lesson

Thought for the Day: I have always loved the song, "Tomorrow," from the musical, Annie. The music is by Charles Strouse  and the Lyrics are by Martin Charnin. It is a good example of a song that addresses all the sadness and sorrow in life, but also gives a sense of hope for tomorrow to be better. It's a mini-positive psychology lesson. The melody is uplifting although it also has a slow tempo. I hope your tomorrows bring better and better days. What songs give you a lift when you are feeling down?

#FF Friday's Fabulous Finds: High Tech Doc, Guns, Starbucks, Funny Photos & Exercise Pill

It's Friday & time for my Fabulous Finds. Today I have a mixed bag starting with some funny photos, followed by a survey form to help me become a high tech doctor from HealthTap, two articles about guns in public places and finally a potential exercise pill. Have a great weekend and I hope you enjoy these finds.

As summer draws to an end, here are some very funny family vacation photos from MomMe by By Lindsay Goldenberg

Here's a very interesting survey for feedback on HealthTap. I am not sure how many people who read this blog know me well enough to consider filling out a survey about my work, but if you do, take a look and give me some feedback on how you see my explanations of things and the likelihood of your referring others to see me. I think their approach to medicine is quite interesting and on the cutting edge.

I don't consider this a fabulous find. The Huffington Post article by Rebecca Klein is, however, an important controversial find to ponder. A private school in Arkansas is arming and training teachers. What do you think? Is this the way to go to protect our children? Could this policy literally backfire and lead to accidents or arms getting into children's hands?

On the other side of the gun control debate, is a call by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense to Skip Starbucks this Saturday, August 24th. Read why they want you to skip Starbucks Coffee. You can also join 14.000 other concerned citizens who are trying to get Stabucks to change their policies.

Finally a potential 'Exercise Pill' May Build Muscle, Boost Athletic Performance,  & Lower Cholesterol Levels (VIDEO) from The Huffington Post Science by Jacqueline Howard The pill is being studied with rats. It mimics many of exercise's benefits and could help people who are unable to exercise due to illnesses. It does not, however, replace the psychological benefits of exercise.

Thursday's Psychology Trivia Answer: Do Two Cupsof Coffee A Day Keeps Depression Away?

Thought for the Day: Today I said goodbye to 2 of my summer interns, Adam  Sierzputowski and Claire Freeman. Their work on the blog, newsletter & the Kindle free download promotion helped make my book a number on best seller in two categories on Amazon. Claire's great organizational skills & team building initiatives helped make this a great Dream Team of interns. Their help this summer was greatly appreciated & they will be missed. I feel sure they will make strides towards their dreams this year and in the years to come! It's time for the answer to Tuesday's Psychology Trivia Question:          

         True of False: Drinking coffee reduces the likelihood that someone will commit suicide.

The answer is: True .

Marge Dwyer, Harvard School of Public Health Communications at The Harvard Gazette reports that a study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found 50% lower risk of suicide for adults who drank between 2-4 cups of coffee each day when compared with adults who drank decaffeinated coffee, very little or no coffee.

In case you think you should simply start drinking massive doses of caffeine, hold your horses. The results were not conclusive regarding people who drink more than 2 - 4 cups of coffee a day. In fact, in a previous study from HSPH analyzing how coffee was related to depression a heightened depression effect occurred in those who drank 4 or more cups per day.

The researchers believe that in addition to stimulating the central nervous system, "caffeine acts as a mild anti-depressant by boosting the production of particular neurotransmitters in the brain...including noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin." This may explain the results of studies that have linked the consumption of coffee to a lower risk of depression. What should you do? Drinking 2 - 4 cups of coffee a day may be wise. There are down sides to caffeine, so the takeaway is if you can keep it at 2 cups or so a day, it probably will do not harm and might work as an antidepressant.

What Are Your #WW Wake Up Wednesday Moments: From Domestic Violence & Feeling Invisible to Reaching Dreams

Thought for the Day: Last week I started this new kind of post: #WW Wake Up Wednesday Moments, where your needs are central to the post. In order to do that I set some simple ground rules to insure that this community feels safe enough to share your highs and lows.

I'd like to reiterate the guidelines for posting:
1) Avoid making judgements of other people's life choices, 2) all comments should be supportive & constructive, 3) feel free to share advice based on your experiences recognizing that they may or may not be accepted by other readers, 4) treat all comments with respect; 5) no dream is too big or too small to share; 6) all accomplishments will be encouraged; and 7) all challenges will be met with constructive supportive suggestions.


Last week, I shared my high and low wake up moments for the last couple of weeks. I asked you, my readers to share yours as well. Two people shared incredible stories. I am thankful that they took the risk to be the 1st to share their Wake Up Dream Moments. I responded to them personally, but have not heard your input, yet. So I decided to post their comments. Please share your thoughts and constructive suggestions here today. I also hope that you will all consider sharing your own stories that may help these two strong people. The first comment is from a woman who is still struggling and searching for ways to cope with adversity. The 2nd post by Cathie is the inspirational story of how far she has come from feeling invisible in high school to becoming a strong woman on the path to her dreams!

Here are the two comments from last Wednesday:

AnonymousAugust 14, 2013 at 4:27 PM

Looks like I get to start this...

"My low for the week relates to my kids. I have 2 that have been living with their father (my ex). My daughter has been very unhappy because of things going on and wanting to return. She's talked about things her father is doing that bother her and how he treats her compared to her brother. My son is allowed to get away with anything, including threatening his sister. Their father uses his health issues and memory problems to tell my daughter that she needs to remind him when she's told him about things her brother has done so that he remembers to reprimand him. This lead to 3 altercations in my home in less than a week. I resorted to calling law enforcement in after he jabbed me in the throat (fist to the throat) when I stepped in between him and his sister because he was threatening her. I reacted and slapped him but did not leave a mark what-so-ever. He then slammed me into a door twice, using his forearm across my throat the second time. Things resulted in hi being arrested. Now, he is back with his dad because I admitted that I slapped him during the altercation. I want my son to learn boundaries and to treat women with respect. Unfortunately, he's not learning it there. To boot, I've had an attorney that I've been trying to get to get papers filed with the court to reopen things and he's dragging his feet. I'm depressed and feeling at the end of my rope.

On a positive note, I had to move. It was a state to state move. I've started getting things organized. Almost have my kitchen to where I like it and have started getting things posted on an area on-line site so I can both downsize (necessary) and earn some money while I look for a job. Plus, I got a resume set up with the state workforce office this week."

     Have you gone through a messy divorce or struggled with a teenager who is out of control? What has helped you cope with these kinds of issues. If you are a therapist, what ideas do you have for this mother who is facing so many challenges?

CathieAugust 15, 2013 at 1:47 AM

"I attended my 30th high school reunion. I recognized many people, but they did not recognize me. In high school, I was a person that blended well with the wall. My father was an alcoholic, my mother a woman that needed a man, to make her feel worthy. My only goal after high school was to be happy. Honestly, I can say I have achieved that. I am a strong woman, wife, mother of 2 & 1 angel, survivor of a terrible car accident in 1990 (my car went under a semi-truck), and even survived a year off in 2009-2010 due to the economy.

The reunion was a great wake up call to remind me what I have accomplished, and that nothing is impossible, if I can dream it, it can happen."

        Have you ever felt invisible? What has helped you overcome childhood and adolescent difficulties like Cathie's? 

        I hope you will help me build this community and share your thoughts and supportive suggestions.

Tuesday's Psychology Trivia: Caffeine vs Prozac: That Is the Question!

Caffeine Vs Prozac

Thought for the Day: Somehow the end of the summer keeps getting busier. Preparing for work on my house has been time consuming, but it's Tuesday & that means it's time for another psychology trivia question. So here goes:

          True of False: Drinking coffee reduces the likelihood that someone will commit suicide.

What do you think? Could coffee be the new Prozac? Come back on Thursday for the answer.
              

Songs for the Soul: Leaving on a Jet Plane in Memorium to John Braheney

Thought for the Day: Today, I am consolidating my Saturday and Sunday posts. Initially I was going to have both Saturday's Songs for the Soul and a Sunday Comic Strip, but I changed my mind. Read on to see why.

On Friday, I was having a wonderful time with my brother, sister-in-law, my nephews and their wives. We attended my nephew, Matt Bogdanow's last concert with the group Plushgun in NYC before he and his wife move to Los Angeles at the end of August. (Plushgun will continue to perform, but it will be a bit trickier for them.) I had been meaning to give Matt a few contacts in LA who could help him in the music business. In the middle of a noisy club, I decided to use my trusty iPhone to find the contact information, that I had neglected to do over the last few weeks. I found my first cousin's phone number easily enough. Then, I looked up my friend, Sam Hooper, a great blues guitarist & songwriter who moved to LA from Boston several years ago.

When I googled my third contact, John Brahaney, best selling author of The Craft and Business of Songwriting, I was thrown for a loop. On the small screen of the phone, I saw the date January 19, 2013 & the words "Dear Friends, It is with great sadness that..." Shocked, I expanded the writing on the screen & saw that John had passed away a little over 6 months ago. Ironically, my nephew had met John about 10 years before, when he was still in high school. I gave Matt, who was already a budding songwriter, a private critique with John when he came to Boston to teach a workshop I had organized. 

I decided to write about John for Saturday's post but did not have sufficient time to devote to the post & am therefore writing it today. I met John at one of the first songwriting workshops I ever attended. After the workshop, I signed up for my 1st private critique. I handed him a scribbled lyric to a song & apologized because it was all I had. I did not have any of my songs on tape yet. I told him I only had a minimal melodic idea for the chorus. He said that as fine and asked me to sing the melody that I had in mind. The title was "For Crying Out Loud."  The story line was about an adult who was the victim of incest as a child, finding her voice. I remember having gone to Nashville a few weeks before this workshop. I been inspired listening to hit writers play at The Bluebird Cafe. I wanted to write more powerful songs that expressed raw emotions & this song was my attempt to do so.

John was extremely supportive of my work. He told me ways to strengthen the song & encouraged me to keep working on it. When I began organizing songwriting retreats, I invited John to 3 different retreats. Every time he came, I was amazed by his ability to teach and offer constructive criticism that could help writers lift their songs to more commercial levels. He could take apart a song without putting down a writer . Somehow he found ways to be supportive of their creativity & helped them become better writers with honest sensitive criticism. When I started to write a check for a private critique at one of the retreats I organized, John told me to put away my check book. He had spoken with the other 3 hit songwrtiters who were teaching that weekend & they were each giving me a private session!  Although he was a world renowned expert on songwriting, when he came to teach he preferred home hospitality with songwriters to fancy hotel rooms.

I also remember the first time I turned on a channel on an air plane ride and heard John interviewing a well known songwriter on the process of writing songs. Whenever, I flew after that i searched for John's informative interviews.

I would speak with John occasionally over the years & sent him friends or writers when they were moving to or visiting LA. He was always ready and willing to help. The last time I spoke to John, I was trying to organize a retreat in Mexico. The retreat would have been funded by participants taking part in medical research. John was even willing to consider taking part in the research to help keep the costs down! The craft & business of songwriting has lost a great teacher, mentor & friend. His lessons live on in the hundreds of thousands of people he touched along the way, either personally or through those he taught & the music he helped enhance. I was honored to know him personally & will miss having his supportive presence in the world. His memory is truly a blessing.

Here's a song for John by two great singer songwriters. (Mama Cass Elliot passed away 2 years after this recording & we lost John Denver in 1997, but their music continues to inspire us as well.) The words remind me of hearing John on airplane rides. He loved life & I'm sure he hated to go as well.

#FF Friday's Fabulous Finds: Autism, Columbine, Making Your Own Luck and Marriage Tips

Thought for the Day: It's actually Saturday & I am late in posting #FF Friday's Fabulous Finds. Somehow the end of the summer has been exceptionally busy so I will post this now and tomorrow I will post a double post for Saturday's Songs for the Soul and a Sunday's Comic, to catch up. Here are some interesting articles I found this week. A mother's plea for tolerance of differences is an important article for all parents & children to read before the start of the school year. The principal of Columbine High School keeps his promise to his community. From positive psychology some suggestions of ways to make your own luck may be helpful as the new school year begins. Finally, 10 research finding on marriage you may not be aware of. Have a wonderful weekend!

Will You Help Me Change The World For Our Children? Chrissy Kelly Mom, Blogger at Life With Greyson, World Changeron Huffington Posts Parents The Blog, August 16, 2013

Columbine principal keeping emotional vow Frank DeAngelis, Columbine High School's principal during the 1999 shooting, made a pretty big promise that he is just about ready to fulfill. 

Make Your Own Luck Five principles for making the most of life's twists and turns.

By Rebecca Webber, published on May 01, 2010 - last reviewed on July 19, 2013 from Psychology Today

Ten Important Research Findings On Marriage By David Popenoe, Ph.D., The National Marriage Project, Rutgers University,  on For Your Marriage website

Thursday's Psychology Trivia Answer: A Song For Walter White from Breaking Bad's Play List

Thought for the Day: On Tuesday, I asked two questions related to music and depression. The second bonus question and answer reveal a bit of my sense of humor as I comment on the final season of Breaking Bad. The serious trivia question (most of you know by now that none of my trivia questions are trivial) was:

What kind of music improves mood and reduces depression?
a) upbeat, happy music,
b) sad music,
c) rock & roll, or
d) classical.

The answer is b) sad music improves mood and reduces depression.
     There are three major reasons it appears to help reduce depression. First, when we are feeling sad, we often obsess about the issues that are making us unhappy. Stuck in a rut, we keep repeating the memories of what is bothering us. When we listen to music, it forces us to think about the lyrics of the sad song and distracts us from our own personal tragedy. In addition, according to Valorie Salimpoor, a Ph.D. candidate in psychology and neuroscience at McGill University who has studied the impact of music on mood, music activates and boosts the levels of dopamine in our brains. She says that, “Dopamine gets us excited and motivated...(and) music provides a natural high.”The third reason that music reduces depression, is that it makes us feel understood and therefore, less alone. 
      See more on the impact of music on depression.

That being said, (and diverting my creative energy to a humorous note, which I embrace whenever it catches my fancy) what music should Walter White from Breaking bad be listening to?  Walter has quite a few reasons to be feeling depressed. In the 1st episode of the season, Walter was acting like he was very happy. Given his situation, his behavior indicates a serious case of denial barely covering up his depression. Walter's cancer has returned. He is hiding the fact that he is back in chemotherapy from his family, so he may be dying. He has murdered or had others murder multiple people. He has lied to his loved ones repeatedly. He's finally been caught in his lies by his brother-in-law who is intent on prosecuting him. Surely, he has more reasons than most people to be depressed. Those of you who have followed my Saturday's Songs for the Soul series know that I love music. I went searching for some songs that Walter might want to add to his play list. I found one that I'd like to share with you today. The song, "Hurt, " written by  Trent Reznor was first released on Nine Inch Nails' 1994 album The Downward Spiral. It received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Song in 1996. The song which was covered by Johnny Cash in 2002 was one of Cash's final hit releases before his death. What do you think? Could this song help Walter White deal with his predicament? (In case you are wondering what the answer to the bonus question is, any of the answers could fit!)

  

Wednesday's What's Your #WW Wake Up Wednesday Moment?

Thought for the Day: This blog and my social media efforts have always been designed to be a resource for my readers as they move towards their dreams. I have tried to inspire you & expose you to ways to overcome all obstacles in your way. However, I also want this to be a forum where you can help one another to reach for and attain your dreams. I know there are an amazing group of parents, teachers, authors, therapists, artists, musicians and people from many more walks of life following this blog, my facebook fan page & twitter feeds. I want to help facilitate a supportive community where you can help one another reach for your dreams.  So today, I am turning to you. In families, it often helps to have everyone share their highs and lows of the day so that they can support one another through the good and bad moments of their lives.

So today, I'd like you to share your dream highs and lows or what I'm calling your Wake Up Moments. What has been your greatest accomplishment of the week and what has been the biggest obstacle to achieving your dreams? I know it may be hard at first to share your wake up moments, so I will start.

My Wake Up Moments for the last week or so made me decide to try this kind of blog post. My high was connected to my low which is often the case. It was a huge high to watch the downloads of my book happening a little over a week ago and see my book reach #1 on two categories on Amazon Kindle's Best Seller List. However, it also brought an unexpected wake up moment.

I realized that although I have tens of thousands of fans and followers across the globe on Google +, facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media sites; I have failed to build a virtual community where my fans and followers feel comfortable helping each other along their journey towards their dreams. I spoke with my team of interns about my dilemma.

Here's what I propose, a new kind of post where your needs, not my inspirational thoughts & lessons, become central to the post. In order to do that I need to set some simple ground rules to insure that this community feels safe enough to share your highs and lows.

So here are some guidelines:
1) Avoid making judgements of other people's life choices, 2) all comments should be supportive & constructive, 3) feel free to share advice based on your experiences recognizing that they may or may not be accepted by other readers, 4) treat all comments with respect; 5) no dream is too big or too small to share; 6) all accomplishments will be encouraged; and 7) all challenges will be met with constructive supportive suggestions.

With those guidelines in mind, what were your wake up moments this week? How can we help you or support your endeavors? If you are an author & are giving a talk or promotion, please share it here. If you are a parent concerned about your child's return to school and wondering how to bolster their self confidence, ask a question. If you are out of work and have an interview or a new job offer, let us know and we will support your preparations for the interview. If you downloaded my book recently and have questions or accomplishments you'd like to share, please do. Your question may help another person who is dealing with a similar question or issue.

Let me know what you think & have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Tuesday's Psychology Trivia: What Music Should Breaking Bad's Walter White Be Listening To?

Thought for the Day: Somehow the summer is quickly slipping away! It seems that I can't keep up with all the things I want to accomplish before fall arrives, including a building project at home. It has gotten me a bit off schedule, but here is Tuesday's Psychology Trivia question and a bonus question for fans of Breaking Bad as well, on time!

What kind of music improves mood and reduces depression?
a) upbeat, happy music,
b) sad music,
c) rock & roll, or
d) classical.

If you get the answer to the above question, you will also know what kind of music Walter White should be listening to. I am probably the most unlikely fan of AMC's award winning series,  Breaking Bad, since I hate violent movies.  However, I got hooked early on to the program's well written portrayal of how a likeable, well-intentioned teacher, who thought he was dying from cancer, could become a drug lord. I walk out of the room during violent scenes, but find the series' twists and turns fascinating. So here's a bonus quesion for those of you following the final season of Breaking Bad:

If a psychologist was writing Breaking Bad's final episodes:
a) Walter White (Bryan Cranston) would abandon his family, escape to Belize, with a face replacement and pay millions for experimental cancer treatments;
b) Walter's wife, Skylar, (played by Anna Gunn) would be arrested and incarcerated as an accomplice to her husband who skipped town;
c) Walter White, Jr. (played by RJ Mitte) would become addicted to blue meth and try to overdose when he learns of his father's secret life;
d) First, Jesse Pinkman (played by Aaron Paul) would become an addiction counselor and then he would found a ministry that would give exorbitant amounts of money to recovering addicts who follow him on his television channel, The Blue MethMyth Discovery;
e) Walter would build the Starship Enterprise for 12.4 Billion Dollars* and travel to a distant planet. With the help of Russian scientists he would build and colonize the 1st human outpost in space for him, his family and Jesse. They would all live not so happily ever after with a tv spin off called Star Trek on Meth following their adventures in outer space;
f) None of the above;
g) All of the above.

Come back on Thursday for the answers to these trivia questions.

* Estimated cost to build Starship Enterprise

Saturday's Songs for the Soul: Why Do Robert Redford, Jodie Foster & Ben Kingsley Want You to Know Who Alice Guy-Blaché Was?

 

Who Was Alice Guy-Blaché?

Thought for the Day: Yesterday, I posted #FF Friday's Fabulous Finds, I was not sure what song to share today. I had posted this tweet about my Friday's Finds (which went out automatically around midnight EDST):
@WakeUpDreamNow #FF Finds: World Changing #Women: Suffragettes, .@GwenIfill .@JudyWoodruff Omaha Rocks http://t.co/inuekLuJZf #psychology #news
        (Translation: Dr. Barbara Lavi is asking you to Follow her Friday (#FF) Finds & send it out to your followers. It reports stories about World Changing Women's accomplishments including Suffrogattes, Reporters Gwen Ifill & Judy Woodruff's Trailblazing appointment as 1st female co-anchors on PBS' NewsHour, and a program in Omaha that helps girls build self esteem at a rock and roll camp. Here's a link to the blog post which is related to psychology and news.)
About an hour later, on twitter I saw this message:  @BeNaturalMovie Aug 09, 12:51pm via Twitter for iPhone

@WakeUpDreamNow @gwenifill @JudyWoodruff ever heard of #aliceguy kck.st/13bDln4

          (Translation: Someone who's twitter handle is @BeNaturalMovie was writing to let me know they had read my tweet & was asking me if I had ever heard of Alice Guy. I clicked on the link on the tweet & viewed a very interesting story about Alice Guy-Blaché. She was a pioneer film maker whose contribution to the history of film making has been virtually lost. I tweeted back to them that it seemed to be an important story that needs to be told. They tweeted back, thanked me & asked for my help.
          I tweeted out their tweet (in twitterese I retweeted or RT's it to the 11, 500 + followers on my 3 twitter handles. @BeNaturalMovie thanked me & I thought I was done. However,  the story & the importance of letting people know about women, like Alice, who were bold enough to follow their dreams, stuck with me. I decided to share it with you here today & hope you will view the kickstart video. They are behind their goals & their minimum donation is just a dollar. Please take a look. Share it with your friends, families, fans, & other  networks.
            When you view the video you will see that film makers & actors like Robert Redford (executive producer), Jodie Foster (narrator) & Ben Kingsley are supportive of this project. I'm sure they don't mind that I used their names to get your attention in the title of this post & hope you don't mind as well! The story of Alice is what is really important. Women who make history should not be erased from the history books!
Click HERE to view their kickstart campaign.

        I chose "Wind Beneath My Wings" performed by Bette Midler (written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley) for the song for the soul today. I met Larry Henley a few years ago at the frank Brown Songwriters Festival. He was very humble. It was a huge honor to meet and speak with someone who wrote such a beautiful inspiring song. Women like Alice are unsung heroes. Because of the accomplishments of women like her others are following in her footsteps.

 Above photo from Be Natural Movie Kickstarter page.

#FF Friday's Fabulous Finds: World Changing Women: Suffragetts, Judy Woodruff, Gwen Ifill & Omaha Girls Rock

Thought for the Day: It has been a very busy couple of weeks for me & I must admit that I have been working hard to stay on top of family life, my practice, all the social media sites, the e-book promotion & writing this blog. It was worth it to watch my book's ranking rise to the top of two categories in Amazon's Kindle Free Store bestseller list. I am humbled knowing how many self help and mental health books dealing with dreams & happiness that are listed on Amazon. Thanks to all of you who downloaded my book during the promotion. Please let me know how you like it or if you have questions about the book. 

I had to take some shortcuts this week. I posted a video from the campaign on Tuesday. On Wednesday I shared a tip I wrote about women's health for the HealthTap site. It is a site I have been actively supporting via what they call TipTaps and answering people's questions from around the USA's on psychology & mental health issues. Therefore, it's appropriate that as I was searching for fabulous finds today, the first three relate to women accomplishing their dreams: a women's history lesson, a historic first for female news anchors, Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill, on PBS & a camp in Omaha, Nebraska helping build girls self esteem via rock music. The 4th find raises the question of whether restaurants should ban children below the age of 9 during certain hours. Should children not be seen or heard at dinner time in family friendly restaurants? What do you think?

I hope you enjoy the finds & have a great weekend!

Anti-Suffragette Postcards Show Fighting For Change Has Never Been Easy The Huffington Post  |  By Julie Zeilinge These postcards really give perspective on how far we have come. However, some things have remained the same & still need to be changed. What do you think?

*Image

Judy Woodruff, Gwen Ifill Named 'PBS NewsHour' Co-Anchors  The Huffington Post  |  By Katherine Fung I love the PBS NewsHour and applaud them for choosing to place two trailblazing female news anchors at the head of their operations. They are true role models for girls and women. Their presence at the helm lets girls know they can be intelligent and accomplish whatever dreams they set for themselves.

'Omaha Girls Rock' Summer Camp Turns Teen Girls Into Rock Stars (VIDEO Huffington Post Parents This summer camp is also teaching girls that they can reach for their dreams. Great video as well!

La Fisheria, 'Family Friendly' Houston Restaurant, Bans Kids Under 9 At Night The Huffington Post  |  By Mandy Velez What do you think of this policy? Is it family friendly? How will it impact on single parents who want to take their kids out for dinner?

*Image courtesy of: Palczewski, Catherine H. Postcard Archive. University of Northern Iowa. Cedar Falls, IA.

 

Triumphant Thursday: Newtown Little League Team Headed to World Series

 

Photo from The Hartford Courant

Thought for the Day: Those of you reading my blog have seen several posts about the Sandy Hook Tragedy (When Bad Things Happen to Children: Helping Children Process Traumatic Events, The Sandy Hook Promise, Sandy Hook Revisited: Where Were You Last December 14th are just a few). I have traveled to Washington DC to lobby with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense and voiced my concerns for the mental health of our nation's children. I was filled with joy when I learned from a Newtown resident that the Newtown Renegades Little League team won the New England regional competition last week. They will be heading to Florida for the Cal Ripkin World Series next week! It is a tribute to the kids, their families, coaches and the entire community of Newtown for providing support and encouragement in spite of the challenges they have faced this year. It is clear the parents and coaches want to help their children just be kids and play ball, but they are also teaching invaluable life lessons. These children are continuing to reach for their dreams while honoring those lost with the simple symbolic green ribbons on their tee shirts and hats. Their resilience is inspiring. Good luck Renegades in Florida! You are already winners regardless of what transpires on the baseball diamond.

If you would like to read more or see a video, here's a link to an article in the Hartford Courant: Newtown Baseball Team Headed to the Cal Ripkin World Series

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom: Dr. Barbara Lavi's TipTap: Women's Health Haiku

TipTap: Women's health

Haiku

"If women want their health to last. They should put their health needs first, not last." Dr. B Lavi

Dr. Barbara Lavi

Clinical Psychology

Thought for the Day: I must admit that I am tired from an amazingly successful free download program on Amazon. I decided to take my own advice & simplify today's post by sharing something I created on HealthTap.com. It is a wonderful site. Check it out.

Tuesday's Psychological Trivia: Like A Lover's Hug Or A First Kiss

Thought for the Day: Instead of my regular Psychological Trivia today, I'm posting another short video clip as part of the free download of my book on Amazon.com I guess you could call it trivia, but the funny campaign seems to be helping. The promotion has been very successful pushing the book to #1 in both categories where it is listed. It has been a lot of work for me & my amazing Dream Team. Keep downloading & letting friends know. The link is http://goo.gl/8F2TbU after 11:59 PM (PST) the link will still work but to get the book you will have to pay! We are still hoping to move to the top 100 e-books in all categories (fiction & nonfiction) in the Kindle Store. Thanks for your help & for sharing!

Motivational Monday: The Fortune Teller's Tragedy Revisited Get Motivated Now

Thought for the Day: If you missed the free download that ended on August 6th, don't despair. According to the fortune teller's forecast, this bestselling, self help book can bring you more good fortune than she can. You can still get the Wake Up and Dream Challenge on Amazon.com and 1/2 of the profits will go to whichever Dream Non-profit organization you choose or to all 21(Read about all the organizations here) . As you start the new school year,  it's time to get motivated, reassess your goals and start moving towards your dreams. This book can help.
     This new review came in after the promotion:

5.0 out of 5 stars I woke up, and my dreams are becoming realities August 14, 2013

By pablo-d-ablo

Format:Kindle Edition

The Wake up and Dream Challenge is an innovative approach to helping people get out of a rut, find balance in their life, and achieve their potential. The practical advise, and how it applies to daily life helped me realize how much I allowed the stress of everyday responsibilities to inhibit my ability to think big. I feel optimistic about my future again, the dreams I thought long forgotten are coming true.

Praise for Dr. Lavi for helping others. Her selfless donation of the proceeds to benefit Non-Profits that help others achieve their dreams is unprecedented. If more people thought of others before themselves like this, the world would be a better place.

In case you missed this video, take a look, it's one of the BurmaShave style ads we prepared for the promotion:

Motivational Monday: A Bestseller on The Kindle Store: All Work No Dreams

Play the video to see what baffles her about her parents...

Thought for the Day: Have you ever realized that you should have done something a while ago? Today, I look back at my reluctance to try a free offer (See Why We Have a Love/Hate Relationahip with Free Offers) on Amazon & realize it was a mistake to avoid it for so long. Thanks to the offer, my book has already moved up to the Bestselling #1 free ebook offering on the Kindle Store in two self help categories: Happiness & Dreams!  I guess that makes me a best selling author! My ranking in the Kindle store in all book categories has also moved up significantly & I'm hoping it will rise to the top 100 free e-book before the promotion is over! In this way more people will find my book. Thank you for downloading it & for telling your friends!
     Here's another installment in my #BurmaShave style videos.

Sunday's Comic Strips: Some Funny Signs

 

Thought for the Day: Today I decided to share some of the humorous "Signs" that my interns & I have been preparing & will be posting many more on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr & LinkedIn for the next 3 days as part of our Social media campaign. Some are like these single signs, others are a series of signs. Although all of this is about a self help book related to serious endeavors in the fields of psychotherapy and psychology, these photos are just fun to make! Feel free to share them with friends & make sure you get your free copy as soon as possible. It will only be available for 3 days! Here's the link:  http://goo.gl/8F2TbU

 

Saturday's Songs For the Soul: Using a Classic Song for a Gift

 

Somewhere on Amazon dotcom Way Up High

There's a Free Three Day Offer

Don't Let It Pass You By

Thought for the Day: Today, I could really use some relaxing music. As the free download of the e-Book version of my book quickly approaches, I keep remembering additional things I need to do. I had planed to just post a sneak peak at one of the photos from the campaign today, but realized that I had a more musical one that I could share with you. The only problem was that I only prepared tweets for this series & I needed some Photo signs to go along with it. You will be the first to see this "Over the Rainbow" series. It feels a bit improper to use the classic song in this way, but it is all for a good cause & with a dose of #BurmaShave humor. Let me know what you think. The first verse actually aired on the press release that went out yesterday, but here it is with visuals. The link at the end of the last verse will be active on Sunday at 12 AM (PST) till Tuesday at 11:59 AM (PST). I hope you will download a copy & share this offer with friends, family & colleagues as well! Thanks & I promise I will return to normal blogging after this promotion is over!

 

Somewhere on Amazon dotcom Skies Are Blue

And an E-Book Will Help You

Make All Your Dreams Come True

 

Don't Have to Wish Upon a Star

To #WakeUpAndDream

Where Clouds Are far Behind You

Don't Need a Kindle or a Nook

To Download This Amazing Book

For Three Days It's Free!

Click Here to grab a copy