To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
Six things I believe in right now! A journal writing prompt for this evening
Published February 13, 2013 | 
As I settle into this evening, I feel inspired to write in my journal. The prompt is a simple one… what do I believe?
Tonight, at this moment (February 13, 2013 at 7:38 PM)…
I Believe:
1. All storms do pass.
2. I am loved and supported.
3. I believe in The Warm Milk Journal and all the good we are doing in supporting one another…
4. I believe that people are basically good,
5. That my cat, Mew, is the sweetest-
6. And that my husband and daughter are the most precious things in the world to me!
Your turn, friends.
Right now, what do you believe?
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Three questions for our journal writing this Sunday morning
Published February 10, 2013 | Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~ Kahlil Gibran
Good morning! For this new day I offer three questions for your journal writing:
1. How am I blessed?
2. What brings me peace?
3. What is beauty?
I am eager to start my own entry… let’s see:
How am I blessed?
I am blessed:
1. With health
2. With love
3. With important work to do
4. with a beautiful home
5. with good food
7. with a lovely new gym to work out at
8, With an incredible beach just blocks way
What brings me peace?
Peace comes:
1. When I let things go
2. When I am secure and confident in myself
3. When I have faith that God loves me
4. When I give myself quiet times (such at this journal writing session)
5. When I am confident that I am doing my best
6. Forgiveness
7. Focusing on the good
What is beauty?
Beauty is:
1. a smile
2. light
3. confidence
4. kindness
5. simplicity
6. color
7. the shades of green I see outdoors right now..
Your turn. I wish you a blessed Sunday!
Debra
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Doing these five things will practically guarantee you a good night sleep.
Published February 6, 2013 | 
Doing these five things regularly almost guarantees that I will sleep well at night (and it will work for you too):
1. Remember to stop and pause from all the activity of the day. Going outside. Breathing, even for just a minute does wonders.
2. Going to bed happy and in harmony with my husband.
3. Not allowing myself to get caught up in indecision. It is okay to weigh a few options when needing to make an important decision but ultimately I find it is better to just do something rather than stew. Then when I take action, do not second guess myself.
4. Do my best not to complain (even when I feel like it).
5. Start my day and end my day writing down in my journal a few things I feel thankful for NOW.
Have a blessed day and restful night tonight!
In Peace,
Debra
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Posted in Benefits of Journal Writing, Getting a good night sleep, Gratitude list, insomnia, journal writing, Positive living, Tips to help insomnia, Ways to relax | 
breathing outside, confident in decision making, getting sleep, gratitude list, indecision causes anxiety, journal writing, tips for insomnia | 
Leave a commentWhat are you committed to? A journal writing exercise.
Published January 27, 2013 | 
There is nothing wimpy about commitment. If you are making a commitment to something, you care deeply about it.
This evening I offer you a simple but powerful journal writing prompt.
In your journal, write the question: “What am I committed to?” Or, if you prefer to make a declaration: simply, declare: “I Am committed to…” then begin to write. Just see what comes out.
I like this exercise because it quickly galvanizes my brain to focus on the stuff that is very important to me. In a world of limitless distractions (see prior post), I appreciate getting clear from time to time on what really matters to me.
Ready to get started? As I often do, I will start my entry and then it will be your turn!
Let’s see…
I Am committed to:
1. My marriage: keeping our love alive, being supportive, remaining best friends…
2. My kids: encouraging them to make good choices, loving them…
3. My students: being positive, providing meaningful instruction (in academics and in life)…
4. My health: working out, eating good foods, drinking more water, spending time outside, getting “quality me time”…
5. My faith: knowing God loves me and that life works with me.
6. My community: being a good neighbor, a friendly person, and in service as a public school teacher (I work right where I live).
7. My character: working on improving myself always. We are never too old to learn new things!
8. The Warm Milk Journal: Continuing to grow and improve this site so that it remains valuable and a source of support for everyone who wants to live a well balanced life by day and sleep restfully at night.
9. Creating wealth: being a an excellent steward of money, creating an income that will afford my family the life I want for us (which includes a lot of travel and giving back to the community).
If it’s not on this list, I’m not going to sweat it or lose sleep about it. It is gone.
Your turn, friends.
In Peace,
Debra
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My Cozy List of 22 Comfortable Things for a Cold and Rainy January Night….
Published January 6, 2013 | 
When we were kids and we had a scraped knee, we’d have mom clean and kiss our “boo boo”, have a little milk and cookies, and all would be well with the world again.
This January night I would like to look at what comforts us. In your journals I invite you to write a list of anything that comforts you. This will be a list sure to warm you tonight…
My cozy list of comfort tonight might look like this:
1. My favorite blanket I’ve had since college. Yes, it is still with me…
2. Our comfortable living room couch (made even more cozy with cats, daughter, and husband on it with me)…
3. My morning cup of coffee
4. My afternoon cup of tea
5. My evening glass of wine (yes my beverages are a great source of comfort. Is it any wonder this site’s name is Warm Milk Journal)? lol 
6. My comfy clothes: yoga pants, sweatshirt or flannel jammies and green fleece bathrobe.
7. Watching a great movie at night
8. Good food! Salad, soup, a nice hearty baguette.
9. My journal
10. My cat
11. My husband: how he holds my hand and hugs me and encourages me to be and do my best in all things.
12. My mom and dad
13. The knowledge that I am giving out love and good stuff to others as a mom, wife, friend, teacher, and blogger.
14. My home here in Atlantic Beach, Florida ( it is just the best place on the entire planet)!
15. Smiles and kindness from strangers, colleagues, and neighbors.
16. The friendships and support from good people I have met online through The Warm Milk Journal, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc.
17. Fire in a fireplace or a campfire
18. My socks
19. Gooey chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven!
20. Various inspirational reading I have on my nightstand (such as I Declare by Joel Osteen or poetry by Rumi)
21. A hot bath
22. My wonderful bed and pillows and plush linens and warm husband at bedtime…
I will keep going in my private journal. This is a wonderful exercise to tap into feelings of warmth, love, and gratitude.
In Peace,
Debra
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What do I want my story to be?
Published January 1, 2013 | 
In my childhood home, Hawaii, we would use the term “talk story” to mean anytime we chatted with one another, shared something with each other, or made small talk with strangers.
What stories are we telling people? What are we sharing about ourselves and our lives?
I have caught myself lately while talking with my husband, daughter, and close friends… some of my “stories” are not really want I want to affirm for myself. In this past year, for example, I’ve started to talk about my 46 year old body in terms of “getting softer”. When my 15 year old daughter wants or needs something, I am in the habit of telling her how I can’t afford these things because I am on a teacher’s salary…
Are these the kinds of stories I want to put out for myself and my life? I think not! I greatly prefer talking about how strong my body is getting from regular workouts at our gorgeous new gym and how I am working towards providing a life that can afford many wonderful things for my daughter, my husband, myself, and our community…
What stories are you in the habit of telling? Some of these tales may be very old , with their beginnings sowed back in early childhood. Are they still what you want to identify with and affirm for your present life? If not, The good news is that we can change our stories anytime we want.
This day, New Years Day, I invite you to consider the story of your life. How do you want to think of yourself, your work, your marriage, your aspirations? If you have some good old stories rattling around that are still serving you well, then that is great. You also may choose to edit and tweak some stories, or perhaps write a new draft all together….
Today during my journal writing time I am going to write down my story for 2013 and beyond. In so many ways, this is a fresh new start.
Remember,
Each time we focus, we create a new beginning.
I just can’t wait in the coming days, weeks, and months of this new year to get together with folks, and “talk story“!
To all the wonderful storytellers out there, the stories that need to be told, and the ones who care enough to listen…
Aloha!
Debra
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Five Journal Writing Prompts to Welcome in the New Year
Published December 29, 2012 | 
We are winding down 2012 and gearing up for the new year…
Today I offer you five prompts for your journal writing time to help you get 2013 off to a great start!
1. What new things I am I going to learn about this coming new year?
2. What new things am I going to do?
3. What things did I do this past year that I am going to stop doing?
4. Who am I going to spend more time with?
5. What is truly important?
Happy Writing and Happy New Year!
In Peace,
Debra
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Eleven ways to write away worry in a journal for a better night’s sleep
Published December 11, 2012 | 
Worrying is a major cause of losing sleep at night. One of the main reasons why this site is called The Warm Milk Journal is that I highly recommend writing in your journal when you are feeling worried and anxious.
1. Writing focuses your attention on something other than tossing and turning endlessly in your bed.
2. Writing is taking action and you will feel like you are doing something rather than hopelessly worrying.
3. Writing allows you to get some perspective. Your troubles may not seem so bad once you get them on paper.
4. Once on paper, you can give yourself permission to release them.
5. Writing enables you to turn a negative thought and recreate it into something more positive and constructive.
6. You can write your worst case scenario down, visualize it happening, and then picture yourself getting on with your life. From that lowest of low points there will be no place to go but up!
7. You may write to God and ask for guidance.
8. You may get creative and write some poetry which can be quite soothing to a tired and anxious mind.
9. Ask questions in your journal. Asking the right questions may give you insights and ideas you may never have previously thought of. If you turn out your light shortly after writing the question(s) down, your sub-conscious mind will go to work on it as you sleep.
10. Write down affirmations that center you. I really like: “I Am safe”, “I Am loved”, or simply “Peace”.
11. A little drawing and doodling can be quite relaxing. I enjoy drawing organic and geometrical shapes and then shading or coloring them in.
Any of these eleven journal writing strategies will get you back to sleep soon!
In Peace,
Debra
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Posted in Affirmations, anxiety, Benefits of Journal Writing, Getting a good night sleep, insomnia, Journal Prompts, journal writing, Meditations, panic attack, Positive living, Prayers, safety, security, Self-empowerment, stress, The Warm Milk Journal, Tips to help insomnia, Visualization, Ways to relax, worry | journal writing for better sleep, journal writing therapy, writing away worry, writing to help anxiety | 2 CommentsI Am…..! A quick, simple, yet highly powerful and effective journal writing exercise.
Published December 10, 2012 | 
Our life experience tends to be the things we think about, focus on, appreciate, and feel strongly about. Why not affirm (make stronger) the things we want to have in our life?
This is a simple and powerful exercise for our journal writing. Simply state: “I Am __” ! And write.
What are you? Who are you? Own it. Declare it. Affirm it. Now!
I can’t wait to do this.
Let’s see…
I Am:
1. Healthy!
2. a writer!
3. a lover!
4. a teacher!
5. well rested and vibrant!
6. irresistible!
7. at peace!
8. enjoying abundance!
9. happy!
10. thankful for my family, job, and all of my friends here engaging at The Warm Milk Journal!
This little exercise took very little time and yet I feel fantastic and affirmed. I highly recommend it.
Your turn, Dear friends!
In Peace,
Debra
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Wouldn’t it be interesting if…? ( a fun journal writing exercise)
Published November 12, 2012 | 
Let’s have a little fun with our journal writing, shall we? On the top of the page,
write ” Wouldn’t it be interesting if…” and then just see what comes out. This exercise can be as lighthearted or serious as you want to make it (depending on your energy and state of mind). Just go with it and see where it takes you…
Wouldn’t it be interesting if…
1. teachers and military service people were among the highest paid people in our society?
2. The Warm Milk Journal was helping millions of people around the globe to get a better night sleep?
3. Experience in life was more prized than youth and beauty?
4. We all took a day off to unplug and reconnect with each other (in person) and with nature?
5. All the money that was spent on our recent US presidential campaign went towards paying off our debt, helping hungry children, or rehabilitating neighborhoods and schools that are in need?
Your turn…
In peace,
Debra
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