Happy Holidays From The Universe Guru!

 

Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season.  Stay warm, and safe!

Happy Holidays From The Universe Guru!”

Creating my Village…

You know the age old saying “it takes a village to raise a child…,” well I have become a newfound  believer.  And it has hit me harder since I made the move from Chicago, IL to Greenville, South Carolina.  I consider myself to be a fairly “private” person – yes even with my blog, facebook account, and twitter page – so allowing others into my child’s life has been a challenge to overcome.  But I’m glad I made the transition.

Here is my modern day child rearing village:

1. My personal network of immediate family and friends.  This includes my mother, sister, aunts, uncles, in laws, etc.
2. My Community of friends, teachers, and neighbors right here in my new hometown.
3. My facebook account where I can post pictures of my child and ask other mothers important questions.
4. My momslikeme.com account where hundreds of local women offer their motherly advice and expertise.
5. My intent.com  account where I can find a community of spiritual and holistic leaders – offering advice on nurturing myself and my needs so I can be a better person.

In creating this global and local village – I have noticed a huge shift in my parenting style – as I have found great inspiration and encouragement from other parents.  Living in Chicago – I used to find myself getting offended if someone criticized me or offered me unsolicited advice on my parenting style or skills.  I now appreciate and welcome such advice – even when I don’t completely agree with other parents.  There is so much we can learn from each other – and a sense a community has become my greatest resource in raising my son.  I find myself becoming a more informed, and even more loving parent – and my son a happier child as a result.

What do you guys think?  Do you believe in having a village parenting style or do you prefer to stay independent?

Creating my Village…”

How do you Celebrate Thanksgiving?

There is no doubt that the world has changed.  Times are different, priorities have shifted – and even the energy around us feels different.  This change, in my humble opinion, is a step in the right direction.  For the first time in decades, we are putting family before things, and spirituality before consumerism.  Thank God!

My husband and I were thinking about our Thanksgiving menu for this year and it dawned on me how this Thanksgiving felt so different -So much more precious and special.  In times when people are doing without – Why is it that we suddenly have more to be grateful for?  I think my husband might have had something with his Goodness of Situation theory.  The more we have – the less our ability to appreciate it.

So what is it that you are grateful for this year – that perhaps you have been overlooking in the past?  Also, would love to hear how your family will be celebrating this year.

Here are some things I am grateful for:

Obviously I would say my family and friends – but that hasn’t change from previous years.  I am truly grateful this year in my ability to find the silver lining and keep positive in any situation.  I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to get to know my mother on a personal level – as a whole person – instead of just my mom.  But most of all – I am truly Thankful that the world is changing.

The Universe Guru

How do you Celebrate Thanksgiving?”

Ask Guru: Mother-in-law Troubles

Note:  I apologize to all that have written in the last few weeks.  I was away visiting my mother and was not able to answer all questions in a timely manner.  I will get to everyone in the next few days.

Thank you for your patience.

The Universe Guru

******************************************************************

Dear Guru,

I recently got married and my mother in law flew in from overseas to be at our wedding and spend some time with us.  The problem is that every time I am around her – she doesn’t pay much attention to me.  She speaks to my husband and her daughters but not to me.  What can I do to make her like me?

Newly Married

Dear Newly Married,

Congrats on your marriage!  This is truly a joyous time in your life – enjoy it instead of worrying about everyone around you! 

Due to your union with your husband – you will be forming many new relationships with his family and friends.  Some will come easily and naturally – while others will require some work.

Relationships with in-laws don’t come as naturally as relationships with our blood related families – the obvious reason for this is because we have known our families all our lives!  We have had the time to get to know them – the good, the bad, and the ugly!  We often give our own families the benefit of doubt because we know them, love them, and accept them for better and for worse. 

First and foremost, change your expectations.  Realize that your relationship with your mother-in-law will take some work and some time.  Get to know her- not only as the mother of your husband, but also as a woman, a friend, and as a whole person.  What are her hobbies?  What are her passions, her fears, and her joys in life?

Look at it this way – she flew in from another country to be there for you and her son for this joyous occasion.  She is a guest in your town, in your home.  Perhaps she feels the same way you do – that you are not paying her much attention!  You are the hostess – not her! 

Remember – Mothers-in-law and Mothers are not two separate women – but two roles for the same woman.  Treat her as you would treat your own mother.  This also means giving her the same benefit of the doubt as you would to your mother.

We published an article on Mother’s day – Celebrate Your Mother in a New Way this Year – it highlighted some ways in getting to know your mother on a more personal level.  I recommend you read it and apply it to getting to know your mother-in-law.

Be patient and keep working at forming these wonderful new relationships.  Realize that these relationships are a blessing and added perks to your marriage – not something that you must “deal with,”  but something you should embrace with open arms and a open heart.

Good Luck to you.

The Universe Guru

Ask Guru: Mother-in-law Troubles”

3rd Edition: The Universe Guru Blog Carnival

Welcome to the August 1, 2009 edition of The Universe Guru Blog Carnival.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful submissions - unfortunately, do to the unique content of our website, not every submission could be included.  Please support our fellow writers by reading and commenting on their wonderful posts.

Anmol Mehta presents Natural Liver Detox Technique posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment and Kundalini Yoga, saying, "Excellent technique with which to cleanse the liver and detox the body. Also, very good for improving your digestive system."

Vincent presents 33 Things You Should Stop Doing To Double Your Productivity posted at Hit Your Goals.

Dragos Roua presents The Law Of Attraction And Creation posted at Dragos Roua - The Choice Of A Personal Path.

Russ Wood presents 6 Tips on How to Deal with Negative Thinking posted at Russ Wood, saying, "This article is about over coming negative thinking. Thanks for your time."

law of attraction

Rick Foreman presents A War Against Something Just Creates More Something posted at Waiting for the Singularity.

Kathleen Gaga presents Do this one thing to generate more abundance and prosperity posted at Daily Awareness, saying, "With over three decades of studying how the law of energy works, I now know that most limitations are simply a matter of our thinking."

Kaushik Chokshi presents Banish the ANGST of the Law of Attraction posted at Beyond Karma, saying, "Awareness and the Law of Attraction"

Lana Kravtsova presents Law of Attraction Tips-What Is Your Vision? posted at Dream Followers.

personal development

Sam presents NEW !! Yoga Exercise for Beginners. Become Your Best. posted at Surfer Sam and Friends, saying, "Thanks for including my article. Here's an excerpt. I hope you have a very happy day. Practicing yoga is a daily exercise routine that helps you grow as a person. It teaches you how to live with awareness, while it strengthens you in both body and mind. The practice of yoga is a learning process. You will come to a better understanding of your own strengths, limitations and needs. Whether you repeat a specific sequence of exercises, or just muddle through a few of your favorite poses, you're still doing yoga. Explore the poses you enjoy. Tune in to how your breath feels. Notice where your mind goes and the sensations that each pose invites. Advance at your own pace. For a beginner's workout, the suggested poses are not complicated and are held for very short periods of time. When you are ready to advance, find a nearby yoga class and a teacher that you like. Beginning a Program of Yoga Exercises Yoga Exercise for Beginners The exercise program we in the West call yoga is technically known as Hatha Yoga. Modern Hatha Yoga focuses primarily on an exercise plan of yoga postures, which are called asanas. Yoga starts with centering poses, gentle stretches bringing awareness and quiet to your senses. Next are standing poses to release tension, increase circulation, expand the lungs, and help you breathe more deeply. Next, there are forward bends cool the body and bring quiet to the nervous system. The final restorative poses are so relaxing that you may fall asleep. Traditional Yoga is a vast collection of spiritual techniques and practices through recorded history. Yoga is not a religion, but an approach to integrate mind, body and spirit and achieve a state of enlightenment or oneness with the universe."

Vincent presents How To Eliminate Mediocrity From Your Life posted at Hit Your Goals.

Scientific Living presents Fearlessness posted at Scientific Living.

Christopher X. Gerber presents The Joy Inside posted at Experiment: Gerbus, saying, "The art of finding joy in quiet sitting is a great (if long) experiment of mind."

Vincent presents 10 Ways To Help You Get Out Of A Slump posted at Hit Your Goals, saying, "Get out of your slump now and start achieving again using these 10 ways."

Gary Mullen presents The Health Benefits of Chinese Baoding Balls posted at HandcraftedUk: Interesting Articles, saying, "For centuries Chinese Baoding balls have been used to promote many health benefits. This article will explore these benefits, the use of Baoding balls in Chinese alternative therapies and, how to use the balls effectively."

Dean Davis presents Beautiful Man, Ugly Stranger posted at WORLD SAVING RANTS, saying, ""It may have been an unorthodox way to ask a stranger for the time, but it struck me how orthodox it was to assume that an unkempt man is out to steal....""

personal growth

Scientific Living presents What Is Scientific Living? posted at Scientific Living.

Scientific Living presents How to Tell Your Own Future posted at Scientific Living, saying, "How to scientifically tell what is going to happen in your future, why, and how to alter it."

christopher foster presents A little time in Heaven ? waiting in a medical clinic posted at thehappyseeker.com, saying, "This personal story tells how a half-hour wait in a medical clinic turned into a time of rare bliss and happiness -- because I followed Eckhart Tolle's advice and stopped thinking."

positive thinking

nissim ziv presents Good Job Interview Test posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, "Being prepared for the interview is one of the most important aspects that count towards the success of the job interview. A good test for a job interview (i.e. Mock Interview) plays a great roll whether you be selected or not. "There are only two kinds of job interviews in the world – one which we successfully passed and the ones that we have forgotten.. This article suggests and points out good interview prep techniques for a successful interview."

Zenmasterben presents The positive side of anger posted at zenmasterben.com.

Warren presents Six Success-Enhancing Behaviours that Good Moods Bring You posted at GenerallyThinking.com, saying, "You might have thought of happiness as being a result of things that happen to you, but research is now showing it can actually be a cause of things too. Here's a quick review of how it works."

Patricia Turner presents 100 YouTube Videos to Instantly Improve Your Mood posted at MRI Technician Schools.

relationships

Christopher X. Gerber presents Senses, Physics and Inter-being posted at Experiment: Gerbus.

christopher foster presents True integrity ? the day Dad was sent to prison posted at thehappyseeker.com, saying, "Hello from Chris"

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the universe guru using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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3rd Edition: The Universe Guru Blog Carnival”