Saturday's Song for the Soul: I Am Light, India Arie

Thought for the Day: I heard the song, for the 1st time during the cool down at the end of a Zumba class. It blew me away. I asked the instructor who it was singing. I have not shared a Saturday Song for the Soul for some time, but believe this one, I Am Light by India Arie,  is an important one for these divisive times. We all need to remember that we are the light that emanates from within. May the wisdom of this song strengthen you and give hope that we will find a way to heal the great divide in our nation. Be the light. Shine on your neighbors. Help one another. This too shall pass.

Saturday's Song for the Soul: High School Choir Gives An Impromptu Performance in a Hotel Pool

Thought for the Day: Sometimes the best experiences in life are the ones that happen by chance. In this day and age they may get recorded. Here's what happened when a The Stillwater High School Chorus from Minnesota began to sing in a hotel pool.
Have you ever sung in a great place with friends. I did it when I was just 18 in Jerusalem. We realized it was Christmas Eve and the group of Jewish kids from around the world on a leadership training course sang Christmas Carols on a public bus. The Israelis applauded our impromptu concert as well!
I hope you enjoy this and the rest of your weekend!
http://www.stillwatercurrent.com/watch-re-watch-stillwater-area-high-school-choirs-viral-hotel-pool-video/

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: Psychology, Health, Art, Music & Comics

Thought for the Day: Here's some interesting articles about #Alzheimer's research, #Couples & #Memory, A #Blind Artist accomplishing their dreams, #stress, & reducing the calorie count of rice along with some great #GIF's and some funny #comics & a #Multimedia, #Music, #Dance and water sculpture video. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did. Have a great weekend!  View my Flipboard Magazine.

Part II: 2014 Reader's Choice Top 10 Blog Posts: #Music, #Inspiration, #Psychology, and More

Here's Part II of the Reader's Choice 2014 Top 10 Posts. Thanks to all of you for reading, liking, commenting, sharing and for over 145, 000 page views! Have a wonderful start to the New Year!

#5 Saturday's Songs For The Soul: "Brave" By Sara Bareilles With A Video That Will Touch Your Heart

#4 Thursday's Psychology Trivia: True Or False: Children Raised By Single Moms Tend To Be Emotionally Handicapped For Life 

#3 Thursday's Psychology Trivia Question: IQ Counts 4 What % Of Success In Life?

#2 Wednesday's Words Of Wisdom: Guest Post From Margie Bogdanow, LICSW

#1 #FF Friday's Fabulous Finds: Designing A Good Life, Photos, Homelessness, & Tornadoes

Part I Readers' Choice: Top 10 Posts of 2014: Country Music, Marital Therapy, Quotes & More

Thought for the Day: As the year draws to an end, I like to look back and see which posts have been viewed the most by my readers. Here are the #10, #9, #8, #7 and #6 most read posts of 2014 with a wide range of topics from psychology, inspiration, music, therapy and more. Click on the links below to read the posts:

#10 Saturday's Songs For The Soul:
"She Misses Him In Memory Of Tim Johnson, Hit Songwriter

# 9 Miraculous Mondays:
Can Our Marriage Be Repaired After An Affair?

# 8 Wednesday's Words Of Wisdom:
Carl Rogers And Dr. Barbara Lavi
On Optimism And Psychotherapy

# 7 Wednesday's Words Of Wisdom:
 Rebound Relationships And Brokenhearted Blindness

# 6 #FF Wonderful Weekend Review:
Fabulous Finds From Psychology, Art, Music, Quotes
& Comics Plus Delbert McClinton

#FF Holiday Special Edition: Music, GIFs, Why Jews Eat Chinese Food on Christmas & A Love Story

Here's a Holiday Special

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: Music, Humor & Inspiration

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Thought for the Day: Today, I had the 2nd phase of my December miracle, which began 2 weeks ago. I'm feeling great and taking it easy today while I'm trying to catch up by posting a flipboard review planned for last Friday! The picks are lighter than usual with some inspirational music and some funny selections. Hope you enjoy them and have a wonderful holiday season!

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#FF Weekend Review 11/23/14: Psychology, Art, Quotes & More

Thought for the Day: The weekend seems to have disappeared, but here's my weekend review from Flipboard. Enjoy!

Check out #FF Weekend Review 11/23/14 Psychology, Art GIFs & More by Barbara Bogdanow Lavi http://flip.it/fSr3C

#FF 11/7/14 Weekend Review: Architecture, Psychology, Quotes, GIF's, Music and Comics

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Thought for the Day: Here's the weekend magazine. Click to see the cool GIF of waves and water in motion, that is on the cover. There are articles on: Architecture, Psychology, why we listen to Sad #Music, An example from #ABBA, some great #Quotes and as always an assortment of fun comics & GIFs. The survey on Children and Violence is also posted in the magazine. I hope you will take a few minutes to share your thoughts. Thanks & have a great weekend!

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: #Psychology, #Education, #Banksy, #EnriqueIglecias, & #Comics

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Thought for the Day: Here a mix of great articles on why Exercise fights Depression, What to subject to avoid in your next job interview, How giving can lead to success. There's music from Enrique Iglecias and somc funny comics and GIF's like the cover. Hope you enjoy this weekend reading!

#FF 10/19/14 Wonderful Weekend Review: #Psychology, ##Songs 4 the Soul and #Comics

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Thought for the Day: This weekend's review includes some interesting articles on #mentalhealth and gun control; how to have fun, a wonderful new movie, "Skeleton Twins," that deals with the difficult topic of suicide in a sensitive;  thought provoking way, #Inspirational #Music from +Carrie Underwood   and a creative, colorful video with music from +The Rolling Stones . Then there's lots of #comics and #quotes for your enjoyment on this beautiful fall weekend.

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: #Psychology, #Songs 4 the Soul & Sunday #Comics

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Thought for the Day: Today's magazine has more comics than usual. Somehow, I kept finding funny photos, GIFs and video clips, so I kept adding them. Don't miss, the amazing gif on the cover, the walk on water or water skiing that demonstrates how to make the best of a bad situation. Although the funny and inspirational quotes may distract you, interspersed among them are some great serious articles related to psychology. There's a report on why adolescents don't sleep well and a Harvard researcher's findings on "thinking dispositions." The story of the accomplishments of a man with Down's Syndrome can be an inspiration to parents of people with special needs. There is also a touching story of how the Utah Jazz Basketball team helped a young boy with cancer accomplish his dream. Finaly, for songs for the soul, I chose a new song by Neil Young, "Who's Gonna Stand Up." I love the message, but the orchestration doesn't work too well for me. What do you think? I also found a great video clip of Eric Clapton's pick of the best guitar rendition of "Hey Jude."

Have a great end of the weekend! Tomorrow I plan to begin to share the stories behind people's 2 word advice to their younger selves and what we all can learn from their words of wisdom. If you have not shared your 2 cents, I mean words yet, feel free to add them. Here's the initial assignment photo:

Click to read more about this research assignment

#FF 9/19/14 Wonderful Weekend Review: Self Help, Earth Wind & Fire's September and Sunday's Comics

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Thought for the Day: Somehow I thought things might slow down once the summer ended, but it feels like life has speeded up. Here's this week's review of Fabulous finds. It's a mix of psychology articles, a little music for your soul from Earth Wind and Fire and a lot of funny photos and GIFs (like the one on the cover). Have a great weekend!

#FF 9/13/14 Wonderful Weekend Review: #911Memorial, #Psychology Finds, #Songs4theSoul & #Comics

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Thought for the Day: I chose the GIF cover of today's magazine because it was filled with sunshine, butterflies and a feeling of hope for the future. I hope it eases the sadness which the moving photos from the 9/11 Memorial bring. It is hard to believe it has been 13 years since the attack. The magazine also includes some interesting psychology finds on "The Power of Sleep." a different photographic perspective on #Autism, and ways to improve To-Do lists. Saturday's Songs for the Soul include a powerful musical tribute by Neil Young to the 9/11 heros on Flight 93, "Let's Roll," and an article in honor of Bob Crewe, singer and songwriter for Jersey Boys ("Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Rag Doll") who died Thursday at the age of 82. In addition, some music from Ravi Shankar and some amazing dance moves. Perhaps it should become a new area of  competition at the Olympics. Finally, a few comics for your weekend enjoyment. 

Have a great weekend! 

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: #Psyhology, #ColbieCallait and #Comics

Thought for the Day: I don't know about you, but I'm on vacation and trying to take advantage of the final days of fabulous summer weather. I hope you enjoy these finds as easy reading and music for your weekend! I will be back blogging more regularly next week! Enjoy!

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: Fabulous Finds in Psychology, Photography, Music, Comics & more

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                8/22/14 Wonderful Weekend Review via @flipboard

Thought for the Day: This has been a busy week. On Wednesday, I had the pleasure and honor of being interviewed by Chicago  documentary film maker, Steve Simon for the film, "Feeling Judo," which will be released later this year. House guests later in the week and attempts to work and enjoy the summer have distracted me from writing the blog, but here is a great compilation of finds for this weekend's magazine.

       Included in the magazine are articles on psychology, depression, parenting, photography. music (Amy Winehouse, Robin Williams and John Lennon) and of course an array of funny videos (Kermit the Frog's ALS Challenge) and GIFs for Sunday's comics.

     I hope you enjoy these articles and finds and have a great end of the summer!

#FF 8/15/2014 Wonderful Weekend Review: Robin Williams, Depression,Michael Brown, Songs for the Soul, and Sunday's Comics

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Thought for the Day: It has been a very difficult week beginning with the tragic death of Robin Williams bringing mental illness, suicide and then Parkinson's Disease to the forefront of the news. I have chosen a few articles which look at this difficult psychological issue with sensitivity and compassion. Jimmy Fallon fought off tears and then used humor and shared Williams first appearance on the Tonight Show. His daughter touching words as she faces this enormous loss is also a testimony to his caring parenting. An article in the Huffington Post by Katie Hurley, psychotherapist and a survivor of a father's suicide, makes it clear how little most people understand about suicide which she says "Suicide Is not a Selfish Act." She makes suggestions of how to help people when they are struggling with the suicide of a loved one.

I also shared some wonderful music that I was able to hear last week as part of Saturday's Songs for the Soul from Lincoln Center Out Of Doors. I hope you enjoy Rosanne Cash, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, and the Lone Bellow and The Campbell Brothers.

Finally there are Sunday's Comics. Have a great weekend!

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: Psychology. Music, Comics & More

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Thought for the Day: Another wonderful week has passed and it's time to share some great finds. There are two great articles from the field of psychology. The Brain and Creativity Center at the University of Southern California is doing very interesting research on the impact early intensive training in music versus sports on brain development of children. They are also doing studies of the brains of accomplished musicians. The article includes some videotapes and should be a great summer read. I also found some sage advice on healthyplace.com on how to help if someone you know suffers from bipolar disorder. News of professionals heading to Africa to help fight the Ebola outbreak is also admirable, interspersed with some great inspirational quotes.

     I jump-started Saturday's Songs for the Soul section of this magazine when I shared some of my impressions from Wednesday's Lincoln Center Out Of Doors Americana Music Festival's NYC's 1st event with  +Emmylou Harris & +Rodney Crowell on Thursday. 
     Today, I was able to make up for my iphone recording challenges and to share some videos of three songs they performed that I loved. "Red Dirt Girl" and "The Rock of My Soul," are hauntingly beautiful semi-autobiographical songs that brought tears to my eyes. I grew up in a very different part of Houston from Rodney Crowell, but was fascinated by how he has incorporated some of his tough early life experiences into his music. The 1st two songs were recorded recently, while "Till I Gain Control Again" is an interesting studio recording session of Harris and Crowell from earlier in their careers. 
     You can also stream Wednesday's concert by going to Lincoln Center Out of Doors' website. This weekend there is an awesome lineup of performances which will be streamed live online if you are not in the New York area, tune in to hear Cassandra Wilson on Friday, +Rosanne Cash on Saturday +Buddy Miller and more on Sunday! 

Finally, there are inspirational photos and quotes, fun animated GIFs and comics for your enjoyment!

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: Psychology, Music, Dance, Photography, Comics & More

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Thought for the Day: This morning as I went through my various social network sites' feeds, I found a song by +Mary Gauthier, a great singer songwriter who attended several of my songwriting retreats many years ago, before she sold a small Cajun restaurant in Boston and decided to devote her life to her music. When I tried to find the post using flipboard. I could not find it, but found many other great songs, photos, videos and articles to share with you today. Be sure to check out +Sarah McLachlan's rendition of  "The Rainbow Connection,"and LIGHTS singing "Drive My Soul." A great video showing how 3 musicians surprised a homeless man. There are two dance videos, one that may help change the trend in the dance world to turn away dancers who don't fit the image usually required for professional dance troupes. Keep reading to find an article on ways that hiking is good for your mental and physical health and another on how to motivate yourself to do things you don't want to do. My heart is heavy each time I hear the news from the fighting in Gaza and Israel. I chose a few things about how to make peace and helping others in need. Sadly, it does not look like the efforts to attain a cease fire are holding.
Read on to listen to "Oh Soul" Marry Gauthier's new song...

#FF Wonderful Weekend Review: Fabulous Finds from Psychology, Art, Music, Quotes & Comics Plus Delbert McClinton

I haven't posted on my blog for some time & decided to repost some of my older blog posts. Hope you have a great weekend & enjoy this weekend review:

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Thought for the Day: Here's #FF Wonderful Weekend Review for your pleasure. There are some interesting articles to read about psychology, parenting, the impact of sleep on honesty, things you can do with your iphone and a touching way that social media helped a grieving stranger. In addition, to an TED video on how playing music impacts on the brain, a video of musical swings that light up, there are two music videos of new artists: Beyond The Veil - Lindsey Stirling, an amazing violinist (Original Song) & a song, My Silver Lining, by two sisters, First Aid Kit. There are more great comics, Gifs and quotes. Hope you enjoy the magazine & have a great weekend.

I'm not sure how to mix videos that I make into the magazine, but wanted to share some music from Wednesday night's Jazz Up July 2014 Delbert Mc Clinton concert in Stamford. The grammy award winning artist was wonderful. His backup band was equally phenomenal. The 1st piece is "Honey Can You Squeeze Me In," the 2nd is a xong called "Why Me," and the 3rd is a clip from Kevin McKendree, the keyboardist's new album. Excuse my poor clipping, but it gives you an idea of some great musicians to check out!