Blogging

Little Pleasures… a journal writing session

Published May 13, 2013 | By Debra

Tonight’s journal writing exercise is a fun one… life’s little pleasures. Not the big stuff (or perhaps the little stuff is the big stuff…), but the little things that truly make life and daily existence worthwhile.

Writing in our journals is a wonderful chance to focus on things we love.

Remember, what we focus on grows.

What we appreciate, appreciates.

Life’s little pleasures is one of those things that just makes it all worthwhile, y’know? I even have a Pinterest Board devoted to life’s little pleasures.

What little things put a smile on your face? Little things that you look forward to? Your guilty little pleasures…? Hmmm? It’s okay. This is a safe place to share.

As always (or most of the time at least), I will start my own entry and then you write too. I invite you all to comment at the end of your post to share a few of your little pleasures. It is fun to share with each other.

Ready to start? I know I am! Let’s see…

Little Pleasures…

1. The sound of the birds singing as I sit here on my back patio writing in the early evening…

2. The smell of my roses interwoven with the honey suckles that are in full bloom right now this wonderful May evening. I am breathing the intoxicating fragrance now as I write this…

3. Going for a walk and saying hello to the friendly neighbors (I live in the South and everybody is so nice and friendly here)!

4. Being out in public and enjoying the babies and toddlers (I remember when my children were that little once and it makes me happy to remember those precious days)

5. Knowing I have a great dinner planned for my family (I love to cook)!

6. My back patio garden.

7. My first cup of coffee in the morning.

8. When we first turn off the light, melting into my husband’s arms and resting my head on “my spot” (his shoulder) that is just right.. and falling asleep…

Your turn, Dear friends. I am not by any means through with my entry. This is a really fun one. Enjoy and remember to share a few little pleasures on your list with all of us by commenting in… don’t be shy now…

Much love and peace to all of you. I am so glad we are sharing a sweet sliver of this life journey together.

Debra

Sleep Yoga (a.k.a. Yoga Nidra) A guest post by Aryn Youngless

Published May 6, 2013 | By Debra

Photo credit: studioserenity.com

I used to teach these two lovely ladies once a week at 6:30 in the morning. Every week, they would show up like clockwork, them and them alone. My morning class went from that of a general open level setting, to a very friendly, and personal semi-private – to the point we carried our friendship off the mat, and out into the world. Every now and then, when the weather was terrible, or someone had worked too late the night before, I would receive a text that said, “Sorry, Aryn. Today we’ll be practicing sleep yoga.”

photo credit:thewell.spafinder.com

Now, they were just letting me know they were going to sleep an extra hour, and they would see me at my next class, but in the realm of yoga – sleep yoga does actually exist. Yoga Nidra is a style of yoga that helps you glide into a sleep like state, by means of guided meditation. By concentrating on our breath, and following the instruction of a Yoga Nidra teacher, Sleep Yoga can helps us, simply, let go of the stress and tensions of every day life.

Benefits of Yoga Nidra include: Improved concentration and focus, a clear mind, and improved performance at work and in other areas of life. According to The National Sleep Foundation it also helps improve menstrual problems, and even helps relieve post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD).

Personally, I love yoga nidra. It is something I do at least once a week to help ensure I am getting the amount of sleep that I need. As the Dalai Lama said, “Sleep is the best meditation.” But remember, sometimes meditation is the best way to get a full nights sleep.

~Namaste
Aryn

Bio:

Aryn Youngless:

I’m Aryn, a mother of one born in Ohio, living in California. I love ice cream, but I don’t eat it and couldn’t even if I wanted to, and I hate popcorn. I love carnivals and summer, the beach and ocean, I love yoga and to live every moment the best that I can with my family, and I really, really love to write.

You can find Aryn at her wonderful blog Weekly Adventures. Ordinary Girl.

or she is quite active on Twitter at @ArynYoungless

A special note from me to to Aryn:

Aryn,

From the very beginning of my blogging journey (about three years ago now) you have been there. You are someone I can always share things with about my writing, my yoga practice, and life. Thank you for being a guest blogger here at The Warm Milk Journal and
most of all,

thank you for being my friend.

Debra

A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world. ~ Leo Buscaglia

Why I love my husband: an important (possibly the most important) journal writing session

Published May 5, 2013 | By Debra

If we nurture the most important relationship in our life, we will sleep better at night, guaranteed.

I invite you to think about your significant other… focus on how blessed you are that they are in your life.

Then just write what you appreciate about them.

Remember:

What we appreciate, appreciates!

What we focus on grows!

Who does not want more love in their lives, right? What is more important when it comes right down to it, hmmm…?

Okay, so my journal entry may look like this. I will begin, then you do your own. Deal?

What I love about my husband is:

1. his optimism

2. his kindness

3. his rugged good looks

4. his smile

5. his flexibility

6. his ability to put up with silly me!

I will continue in my private journal so that you may begin your own entry…

*note: if you are not married or in a relationship right now, you can write about the qualities that you appreciate about your ideal partner (in present tense with feeling as if they are in your life now).

Love has no desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. ~ Kahlil Gibran

Be a guest blogger here at The Warm Milk Journal!

Published April 1, 2013 | By Debra

I would like to offer you an opportunity to submit a guest post for The Warm Milk Journal. Our readership continues to grow and is now getting over 11,000 visitors from around the world a month. We have hundreds of followers on our Facebook page and at this writing, 16,461 people following us on Twitter.

I will share and market your post as much as I would my own. If your post is published here, I expect you to do the same.

A few guidelines:

1. Familiarize yourself with our site first. Our content is a bit eclectic. We welcome anything that supports living a well balanced life by day and sleeping restfully at night. Most posts are pretty short in length.

2. Sample topics may include anything to do with: insomnia, anxiety, health and wellness, journal writing, what makes us happy, how to relax and overcome stress, spirituality, meditation, poetry, travel, bedroom design and decor, etc.

3. People I would like to hear from: any person who is challenged and has solutions for above topics, people from the health and wellness industry, medical providers such as: doctors, nurses, counselors, yoga instructors, massage therapists, chiropractors, etc., hospitality industry (hotel managers or B&B owners), travel industry, mattress companies, sleep aid products, feng shui experts, etc.

4. Note, it is fine that you have a product or service but please offer content of value to our readership. I will not publish anything that is strictly a marketing piece.

5. Your submission needs to be an original post (not published on your own site or anywhere else).

6. Interested? Please email me: Debratech@msn.com. Attach your article via an editable Word document. You may include a brief bio, link to your site, and a photo you would like me to use.

This blogging journey has been a tremendously rewarding one. There is nothing like feeling passionate about something and sharing it with others. I feel very blessed to be sharing this experience with you. I am excited to see what comes of this. We are never alone and we can always learn from each other. I think it will be wonderful for you to be able to share here at The Warm Milk Journal and for our readership to enjoy new content from different voices.

Happy Writing!

In Peace,

Debra

Let’s share this adventure together! I look forward to hearing from you. Cheers!

I am content with how the day went, and I am ready to let it go…

Published February 21, 2013 | By Debra

As day turns to night,

I am quite confident that I will sleep well…

for I am content with how the day went,

I am ready to let it go…

and I Am centered NOW.

I invite all of you to join me!

In Peace,

Debra

Who, What, and How do I Love? A journal writing exercise.

Published February 15, 2013 | By Debra

For my journal writing time this morning, I wish to focus on love.

Simply,

Who do I love?
What do I love?
How do I love?

I can’t wait to get started!

Who do I love?

1. My husband
2. My son and daughter
3. My parents
4. My brother and sister in law
5. My various assortment of friends who have stuck it out with me throughout the years…

What do I love?

1. A beautiful sunset
2. Working out
3. Writing
4. My first cup of coffee in the morning
5. chocolate

How do I love?

1. By being patient with myself and others
2. Being affectionate
3. Choosing to forgive
4. Letting go of perfectionism
5. Listening more

This is really a great exercise. I could have added more to my lists but I need to get off to work and let you start your own…

Have a blessed day!

Debra

How To Get a Good Night Sleep With a Teenager Living Under Your Roof

Published January 29, 2013 | By Debra

To all of the parents who lose sleep because of the behavior of their teenagers or simply worrying about them…

I offer ten ways to get a good night sleep (despite) having a teenager or teenagers living under your roof.

1. If you are lucky, you were tough on them when they were younger. If you were a softie, now is the your last chance to toughen up. Set up clear boundaries and expectations with them about everything NOW.

2. When they need to talk, listen to them (without judgment).

3. Choose your battles: does it really matter if they choose to wear a tee-shirt and shorts in cold weather?(If they do get uncomfortable or come down with the cold or flu perhaps they will learn from the choices they made).

4. Sit down and have dinner most nights with your kids. Talk. Listen. Eat. Good stuff. Important!

5. Do the above without the smartphones and iPods

6. Get to know their friends.

7. Be clear on when it is to be quiet time in the house (i.e. no laundry, tv, or loud music) after a certain agreed upon time.

8. Find and use your leverage. What does your teen really care about? Use that to your advantage. You are the adult. You are in control. Do not be manipulated. They won’t admit it, but teens feel secure when we are firmly in charge.

9. Love them. If you have to, look in their faces and see the darling babies that they once were… (they’re still there)!

10. Above all else: DO NOT STALK OR TAG OR POST ANYTHING ON THEIR FACEBOOK WALL (that is, if you are lucky enough to have been befriended by them in the first place).

Best of luck. Much love. This too shall pass!

In peace,

Debra

Follow these twelve Mew Way principles and you will never be sleep deprived again!

Published January 17, 2013 | By Debra

When is the best time to sleep? I posed this question to my sweetest muse, Mew… and he pondered the question at great length.

This is what he came up with (if we truly want to live life The Mew Way we had better pay attention now…)

The best times in the world to sleep are:

1. When the family is watching a movie after dinner. The living room is dark (except for a soothing glow from the television). There is a comfy couch and many more comfy laps to sink into…

2. After breakfast.

3. After lunch.

4. After dinner.

5. After a late night snack.

6. After doing the look out the window at back patio critter meditation.

7. During mommy’s blogging time.

8. During mommy’s coffee and newspaper time.

9. After a good stretch.

10. After a stressful event (such as when a door is slammed too loud or strange people come into the house).

11. At night, after living a full and rich Mew Way life (plenty of naps, eating, observing human life indoors and nature outdoors…)

12. If feeling sleep deprived after applying these eleven rules, then apply the final twelfth rule:

sleeping anytime is the perfect time to sleep!

Thank you, Mew!

This is Mew’s brother Patches, demonstrating the perfectly timed nap.

Five ways blogging can help you get a good night sleep!

Published January 11, 2013 | By Debra

How can blogging give us a good night sleep?

Here are five ways:

1. Blogging is a terrific creative outlet. However you want to express yourself, you can do it by blogging. There is something very relaxing and satisfying about creating something. I feel so fulfilled and at peace after I have posted (especially when I know it is a really good one)!

2. Blogging helps you be heard! We all have voices that need to be heard. When you put something you believe in that is a part of you out there to the world and the world responds back in a positive way- that is enormously affirming! Feeling affirmed and valued will definitely help you sleep at night.

3. Blogging is good for connecting with like minded and supportive people. We are social beings. When you become a part of a community and you feel like you are contributing to it… that is a very satisfying feeling to drift off to sleep with.

4. Blogging is writing and writing is healing….

5. If your day job is not fulfilling you, blogging can keep you feeling motivated and your spirits high.

Whether you feel like you are a writer or not, I encourage you to give blogging a try. Whatever your interests may be, there are certainly people out there who share your enthusiasms or experiences too. Blogging does not have to cost you a thing! There are many free blogging platforms such as WordPress.com, Blogger, and Tumblr just to name a few.

Here’s to expressing ourselves, being affirmed and validated, and contributing to and being supported by our community!

The bottom line is we all have the need to be significant and have purpose.

Blogging about something you care about can give you that.

Guess what? If you feel significant and feel as if your life has purpose, you will not have much issues with anxiety or getting to sleep at night…

In peace,

Debra

Our Top Twenty Warm Milk Journal Posts for 2012!

Published December 30, 2012 | By Debra

Yes, 2012 is almost over. It has been a great year. I wish to thank you for all of your support these past twelve months. Out site has grown so much. It is my wish that we continue to support you in our mission of:

To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.

I know we have about a day and a half of 2012 remaining, but I would like to share with you the twenty posts that got the most views these past 365 days. The most viewed page was not a post, but our home page (with over 30,00 views).

Here is the countdown of our most popular posts for 2012 (not including the home page).

20. Anxiety and dealing with our fear bubbles: 3 approaches to take

19. An affirmation for insomnia from Louise Hay’s “Heal your Body”

18. Hot Bedtime Drinks

17. Top Ten Ways To Make Friends On Twitter, One Tweet At A Time