Living a healthy life

I put together some values, quotes and ways to make your life healthier, happier and more balanced. Hope you enjoy it.


























7 habits to make you more happier, healthier and likable...

1) See the world in the form of a question
2)Give specific feedback/compliments
3) Don’t Just Let Go of Your Physical Health
4)Give Value to Others at Every Turn
5) Smile Unrelenting
6) Stop Trying to Find Your Passion
7) Surround Yourself with Greatness
































Happiness comes from an inner peace, understanding and acceptance of life; a perspective of truth that opens your eyes to the beauty of life all around us. Happiness cannot be achieved by external status, it must be an internal state that we realize when we see our innate perfection.











Action: Realize that happiness is a choice. In every decision you make ask yourself “how can I respond to make myself happy and fulfilled?”






































Action: Each time you find yourself complaining about something, re-direct your focus to something you are grateful for. Make a habit of transforming your awareness of troubles into an awareness of abundance.



















Action: Make a commitment to never go against yourself. Practice non-judgment and realize that the same part of your mind that condemns you is the same voice that caused you to take the action in the first place. We don’t even have to believe what we say to ourselves.




















To make sure you have balance in your life, make a balance wheel.

1) write down the 5-10 most important areas in your life
(for example: relationships, health, career, marriage, love, happiness)
2) using these areas, make a wheel and divide each area into an even section of the circle.
3) rate each area from 1-5 (1=poor 5=great) of how much time you give to it and how much you need to work on it.
4) try to pay attention to your wheel every day or so and try to work on those areas that are below 5. For example, if you are lacking in the health area, work on eating healthier, relaxing, sleeping and working out more.
5) watch your wheel become more balanced and your life become more simple and happy.

































































Do you sweat the small stuff?

>If so, you can improve this by rating the situation 1-10 of importance.

Example:

You woke up in the middle of the night because of a mosquito. You're frustrated because you are having trouble going back to sleep and you have an early meeting tomorrow. But will this matter in a week? Probably not. What do you rate it? I give it a 3. If it's not rated a 9 or 10, let it go and think of how it won't be a problem in a few days, week or month. And always remember, someone else has it worse than you do.

Problem solved and you're feeling better!















































Great quotes to live by:















Glance into the world just as though time were gone: and everything crooked will become straight to you.



















Love is friendship that has caught fire.
It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence,
sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good
and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and
makes allowances for human weaknesses....Ann Landers.




























“Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they lead to actions.
Watch your actions, they create habits.
Watch your habits, they build your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

~Upanishads

















“Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.”
- Benjamin Franklin

























A BOB MARLEY QUOTE ABOUT LOVE
"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life."
-Bob Marley






















PLEASE check out this website! Ashrita Furman, also known as Mr. Versatility, has set 318 official Guinness Records since 1979 and currently holds 123 standing records (and has won the most records ever)! He was never involved in sports growing up, but it was practicing yoga and meditation that has led him to his huge and shocking accomplishments. He finds happiness in life by conquering unthinkable challenges and proving that he can do anything, like juggling underwater in a shark tank.

Although Ashrita is only a health food store manager from Queens, New York, he has accomplished so much in life and has such an inspirational outlook on life. Check out his website and you will want to learn more about him and his world records!

http://www.ashrita.com/





































Conquer with the 100 rule.


If you are feeling down or negative about something, make a list of 100 positives. These should focus on that area that you are feeling negative about, but also remember other areas as well.
These are positives things, moments, people, anything that is currently in your life or coming up soon in your life or things that are in your past (focusing on the present is best though).

For example:

-my teaching job
-my amazing husband
-my family supporting me living overseas
-skype
-my friends here in jeju and those who stay in touch with me at home
-being able to travel often
-the amazing wedding we had

(try to be as specific as you can)

Questions that will make you ponder

I saw this in an article on stumbleupon.com and loved it. Hope it makes you reflect. I added the pictures to help you visualize the situation. Comment below if you have an answer to share.


How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
















Which activities make you lose track of time?













Is it possible to lie without saying a word?




















If you could do it all over again, would you change anything?




















If not now, then when?















What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?














When was the last time you tried something new?

















Are you holding onto something that you need to let go of?




















Do you celebrate the things you do have?




















If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would your message be?




















Have you done anything lately worth remembering?















Who do you love and what are you doing about it?















Do you think crying is a sign of weakness or strength?




















Would you break the law to save a loved one?




































When you're 80 years old, what will matter to you the most?



















Do you ask enough questions or do you settle for what you know?






















If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

Silence Is Golden

Yesterday, as I was walking to the bus stop, I bumped into 2 young Korean children (a grade 3 boy and a grade 2 girl) who I always see at the bus stop. They go to the elementary school near the school I work. I have tried a few times to say hi to them but they don't seem to know any English, except recently the boy has been saying hi to me.

Well, this morning, we were both surprised to see each other in front of my apartment so we walked together to the bus stop. The whole way they tried to speak to me but I didn't understand because it was all in Korean. I'm guessing they were saying "I know you. You stand at the bus stop and take our bus." But this is only a guess. This was a huge reminder of how my students probably feel when I talk too fast or use unfamiliar words to them, or when they really want to tell me something but just can't find the right English words to use. I just stood there with a questioned look on my face and shrugged my shoulders (as my students sometimes do).

Since I didn't know how to respond in Korean I used ALL the Korean I knew to make conversation, and from my little Korean I found out that they're in 3rd and 2nd grade and their names (although I can't remember now!) and well, that's about it. I felt frustrated that I couldn't communicate more with them. I usually don't have this big of a problem with middle school or upper elementary (when I teach on Sat), but with the younger ones...they really don't know what you're saying and all they can say to you is Korean. I even tried using the easy English that my students always know, "How are you?" but even this was too difficult for them.

ESL is an amazing subject to teach. It is an especially unique experience when you are teaching ESL overseas. It is so easy to put yourselves in the shoes of your students because you are living in a world where so many things are confusing and where there are so many language barriers and culture shock. This is an ideal spot for an ESL teacher to be. I have found numerous ways to communicate and this exemplifies teaching techniques that I can use in the classroom to help my students. For example, hand gestures, facial expressions and using clues or other easy words to figure out the meaning.

Back to the bus stop story. As I was waiting to cross the street with the 2 children at the crosswalk, another group of upper elementary students walked past us. One boy I recognized because lately he's been making it a habit to say hi to me, asking me what my name is and where I'm from, and even telling me, "Welcome to Jeju". I am amazed by his English and outgoing attitude towards foreigners. Well, he said hi to me again and asked how I was and then asked where I was going. This is where I told him that I was a teacher and which school I worked at. At the time, I couldn't remember the Korean name for middle school, so the student didn't understand what I was talking about. Luckily, I remembered the name of the town where my school was (Hwabuk) since they always say this name when I get off the bus. I also pointed in the direction of my bus and these two clues gave the student the help he needed to figure out what I was saying.

It is interesting how lil of the Korean language I know, but how great I have become at communicating in other ways.

I even figured out what the 2 children were trying to tell me in Korean when we finally reached the bus stop. We were both searching the bus TV screen which shows which buses are approaching. Since we can take either bus 10 or 100 and both were approaching, I knew the students were probably asking me which bus I was going to take because they wanted to take the same bus as me. How cute, right? I felt like a sister figure to them. They gestured me to the bus, sat right next to me, and told me bye in Korean when they left and some other Korean things that I didn't understand. They even waved to me a few more times outside of the bus. I love the friendly Korean kids here.

It was a wonderful morning as I was reminded how meaningful language barriers can be. Because you really have to be aware of your surrounding, body gestures and be able to take the time to read people just by taking note of the situation and the person's habits. I feel like it's a puzzle worth taking the time to figure out, rather than being told. ALthough, dont get me wrong, there has been plenty of times where I wish there wasn't any language barrier and I didn't have the time to figure the puzzle out. However, I have also experienced situations in which it is better that we don't know the whole side of the story. Silence is golden and just being around someone can make you feel close to them.

I've actually made quite a lot of acquaintances from just waving or nodding at people who I see on a regular basis. For example, everyone who regularly takes the bus, the bibimbap food shop owner who works right next to the bus stop....I bow to him and say hi every day. We have something in common which brings us closer and creates respect to one another.

Living overseas teaches so many lessons. It also makes you not worry about the small things as much and also allows you to see the whole picture.

Well, I will be doing a hair show next week and then we'll be having many holiday celebrations and events, so I'll have pictures and updates very soon!

Today and the rest of the week I am enjoying my free time in the office while the students take their finals. I have been doing some exercises (yoga, pilates, jump rope, sit-ups) in the English classroom, planning for winter camps, preparing for our winter trips and just relaxing and taking it easy. I love being an ESL teacher!
Oh, and I just got the movie "Home Alone" with Korean subtitles for my students to watch (and listen to in English) during our last week and a half of classes. They seem to all love that movie here...it must be played on TV, since they all know it.

Well, hope you're enjoying the first of the snow back at home! I do miss it and hope to be able to play again in the snow on Mt. Halla this year like we did last winter. One more update...I've been constantly sick- stuffy noise, sore throat and coughing. It's because of the change in weather. We have warm days and then cold, very windy days. Everyone seems to be sick all the time. Hopefully, the weather will stay the same soon so we can all feel better.

Have a great week!




Here is a funny youtube video that was dubbed from an old movie. It explains what every ESL teacher in Korea has to go through....desk warming during holiday vacation, which makes it impossible to take long vacations through SE Asia! It's so true and very funny. :)

Hitler Has To Desk Warm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIeHeJ0V4LY