Tag: 30 Seconds for Hope

Anchors of hope, Encouragement

Need Some Gratitude? Prepositions “To” and “For” Rescue Thanks-Giving (Plus one more thing)

Rita Bergen

30 Seconds for Hope: Who actually gives thanks on Thanksgiving Day? Do you? Will I? And what is “thanks giving?” Is it that 15-second prayer before eating turkey till you’re stuffed? No, there’s definitely more. Gratitude becomes simple when you can complete two prepositions: to and for. Give thanks to someone for something—either something they are to you or something they have provided. Do this on Thanksgiving, and at the end of the day you will actually have given thanks! Then add one more thing, an exchanged life, and you can elicit automatic gratitude without even trying. What’s that? Read on…

Continue reading “Need Some Gratitude? Prepositions “To” and “For” Rescue Thanks-Giving (Plus one more thing)” →
Anchors of hope, Encouragement

Hurt Again? Helpful Steps During Emotional Pain

Rita Bergen

30 Seconds for Hope:

Has someone mistreated you? What now? Should you retaliate, hibernate, or maybe pursue? Whether intentional or clueless, disregard often feels horrible, so I searched for a path through that pain. Now I want to share a path I discovered that moved me toward respect, boundaries, empathy, and forgiveness—steps that benefited me as well as others. After learning more about forgiveness (often a process over time), I decided to develop a worksheet (below) that for the past twelve years has helped me whenever I’m wrestling with the costs and benefits of forgiveness. Take steps forward. Some hope for you.

And now the full story:

Continue reading “Hurt Again? Helpful Steps During Emotional Pain” →
Anchors of hope, Encouragement

Dead Possum in Our Garbage. (Be Mindful of Explosions!)

Rita Bergen

trash-313711_128030 Seconds for Hope: Your mind is a powerful gatekeeper. When you are faced with challenges, the core person who is you will choose what to believe and how to think. Believe it or not, becoming aware of that fact infuses help and hope!

Now the full story:

I didn’t act fast enough when my husband, Mike, first informed me, so you could say that I brought the explosion on myself. But I’m getting ahead.

“There’s a dead possum under our neighbor’s front porch,” Mike said on Wednesday. “And Continue reading “Dead Possum in Our Garbage. (Be Mindful of Explosions!)” →

Encouragement, Help from Mentor Moms, Tips for parenting

Help! I’m at Home with Kids All Day! Survival Tips Beyond Screen Time.

Rita Bergen

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30 Seconds for Hope: Last month in our nation’s previous “culture,” your children went to school or daycare—out of the house. But suddenly all has changed. You take care of your children. At home. All day. To help you through these days, many have posted links to websites that entertain or educate kids, and that’s great—but you might desire less screen time for your children. So I’ve created this toolkit of ideas not requiring the screen as you transition into a new “culture.” You can Continue reading “Help! I’m at Home with Kids All Day! Survival Tips Beyond Screen Time.” →

Encouragement, Time to Refresh

“I’ve Failed As a Mom…” Silencing the Mom Guilt

Rita Bergen

sunset-3087474_192030 Seconds for Hope:

Countless moms wilt under the thought of “I’ve failed as a mom” when their child struggles. Have you faced that mom guilt? If so, consider this: You impact your child, but you’ll never have the last word about his or her mature choices. This means no one should ever declare you to be the ultimate reason for your child’s mess-ups. Even if you could have been an ideal mom, your child’s life could still go awry because kids have choices, too. A mother isn’t an all-powerful determiner of destiny.  So have you been discouraged, thinking “I’ve failed as a mom?” Silence that thought with this reality: “I impact my child, but I’m not the end of their story.” Now that’s more like it. Why? Read on… Continue reading ““I’ve Failed As a Mom…” Silencing the Mom Guilt” →

Anchors of hope, Encouragement

Empty Nest Prep Begins at Birth. Have you taken the key step? (It’s never too late!)

Rita Bergen

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30 Seconds for Hope:

Empty nest? The thought can make you cringe. Or cry. You look at your baby and think, “No, don’t ever fly away!” Yet kids do grow up. That’s a given. So today–right now–is your opportunity to cultivate a different mindset that will pay big benefits at the time of empty nest. It becomes easier to let go later if Continue reading “Empty Nest Prep Begins at Birth. Have you taken the key step? (It’s never too late!)” →

Encouragement

The “Change Your Attitude” Time Bomb (vs. Change Your Perspective)

Rita Bergen

cookies-1264263_960_72030 Seconds for Hope:

Have you puzzled over Suzie’s protest? Or Johnny’s pout? And then wondered, “Whoa! Where did that attitude come from?”

Have you reflexively commanded, “Change your attitude”? But what does that even mean?

I was slow to realize that children can’t just magically poof themselves into Continue reading “The “Change Your Attitude” Time Bomb (vs. Change Your Perspective)” →

Encouragement, Help from Mentor Moms

Five Priceless Gems from My Mentor Moms: #1 – A Lesson from the Nursery

Rita Bergen

Number 1-heart30 Seconds for Hope: Everyone is significant. Even though children don’t contribute much to society (except for contributing messes to clean!), every child has intrinsic value. As I watched my first mentor create enjoyable activities Continue reading “Five Priceless Gems from My Mentor Moms: #1 – A Lesson from the Nursery” →

Encouragement, Help from Mentor Moms

Five Priceless Gems from My Mentor Moms: #2 – Two Words

Rita Bergen

Number 2-heart30 Seconds for Hope: Do you ever wonder if you are following the right path on how to raise a child? Do you feel mystified by all the conflicting advice? For every question you’ve ever asked, it seems a multitude of answers abound (which can be so confusing). Yet all over the world Continue reading “Five Priceless Gems from My Mentor Moms: #2 – Two Words” →

Encouragement, Help from Mentor Moms, Tips for parenting

Five Priceless Gems from My Mentor Moms: #3 – Stop and Stoop

Rita Bergen

Number 3-heart30 Seconds for Hope: Do your children talk almost non-stop? Do your ears get tired? The prattle of children can feel like background noise that’s always there (and readily tuned out). Yet we know that kids express things they consider valuable, so how can we hear their heart? A friend gave me two keys Continue reading “Five Priceless Gems from My Mentor Moms: #3 – Stop and Stoop” →