Let your mom pick you up!

by Christina Rowsell
The Brighter Side

For every mother who ever picked you up after you fell, Thank you!  And thank you to the children who let their moms be there for them!  LOVE LOVE LOVE this clip from P&G.  Here's to the athletes of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi!

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5 Ways to Reduce Your Stress At Work : Living Healthy and Happy 2014

by Christina Rowsell

The Happiness Adventure

for Brighter Business Empower Magazine

This original article was written for The Brighter Business Magazine. Brighter Business Empower is the place small business owners learn BIG ideas. Learn more here www.brighterbusinessempower.com

We all know that running a business and living every day life are no easy task.  And it never helps when we’re stressed at work. 

1 out of 5 Canadians, which is approximately 6.7 million people, experiences a significant mental health problem in any given year. (Source: The Mental Health Commission of Canada, Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada, 2012)

The Mental Health Commission of Canada estimates that in the year 2011 Canadian employers incurred $6 billion in lost productivity costs.  Including job turnover costs and "presenteeism" costs.  Presenteeism occurs when an employee is physically present but mentally absent.

Every day 500,000 Canadians are off sick due to mental health problems.  But there are ways to reduce stress at work. 

Take Care of Yourself - You've running around taking care of everyone else but you.  Do what YOU need to do to take care of YOU.  It might be as simple as giving yourself permission to take 30 mins to do something you love like reading a book, watching a TV show or going for a walk.  But if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of anyone else.

© Christina Rowsell

Take a Deep Breath – There’s a great saying, “Life is 10% of what happens and 90% of how you react.”  If we can just take a deep breath, and take a step back before reacting, you may reduce your stress by calming yourself first. 

Validate your feelings - Either take the time to write out in a journal how you’re feeling to make it real, or find a friend who will listen. Once we validate that what we're going through is real we can deal with

the issues head on.  If you find yourself overwhelmed, know that it's real.  Once you can identify what you're feeling you'll be able to find

a solution towards making a change.

Be Thankful - Starting your day off on the wrong foot is never a good way to begin.  But you can make a choice on how you go about your day.

Find something to be grateful for.  Once you have an attitude of gratitude, it will create blessings.  And by having a positive attitude, you'll be able to enjoy your day more.  Besides if you're happy,

everyone else around you will be too.  Happiness is contagious.

Surround yourself with GREAT people - If you are constantly hanging around with people who bring you down, your stress will go up.  Find those people who lift your spirits.

© Christina Rowsell

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A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

by Christina Rowsell
The Brighter Side

© Picture by Hudson - 6 yrs old

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  It tells a story of memories waiting to happen.  But what happens if a child took that picture?  To see through the eyes of a child is a way of reclaiming our youth.  It takes us back to the way we use to see the world.  What if you gave your child your camera?  What a remarkable story that would be, just waiting to be told.  

And now, you can do just that.  Teach your child the basics of taking pictures.  Thanks to Janet Pliszka.  Janet is a professional photographer with children of her own.  And her love of pictures and snapping shots started at a very young age.  As she got older her love of photography lead her to document absolutely everything she had ever experienced.  That lead her to her profession.  

It didn't matter where she went, she was always drawn to people. While photographing them, she developed a passion for capturing the feelings little ones spark in others, and she started to notice the interest children took in her camera. And with her own children she understood more than ever how valuable the memories of children in the photo really are, as are the memories they are creating through their own eyes. Which is why she developed Kids Photography Academy.  

© Kids Photography Academy

Every kid has a story to share. Kids Photography Academy shows them how.  These lessons will have you looking at the world, and all that's in it, from different perspectives. She will introduce your child to a concept that will make a big difference in the overall impact of their images.  These lessons include 3 HD videos.  They’re only 4-6 minutes in length and can be accessed through a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or phone.  The lessons are geared for kids aged 6-13 with a wide range of experience with photography.  

Imagine the photo books you will create for your children.  They’ll look back on them for years to come.  And hopefully when they’re older, they’ll remember what it was like to be a child and how the world looked.  A beautiful keepsake for them and for you!  Embrace these amazing years of their lives that is gone in the blink of an eye.  

Go to http://kidsphotographyacademy.com for more information.  

LIKE them on FACEBOOK 

Follow them on TWITTER  

and check them out on INSTAGRAM  

© Kids Photography Academy

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